Virginia Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

On this page:

• Why the Right Virginia Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Matters
• Recent Motorcycle Accident Settlements
• Common Causes of Virginia Beach Motorcycle Accidents
• What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash
• Motorcycle Accident Injuries
• Compensation Available
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Contact Us

Recognition and Accolades

We are proud to have been recognized by our peers and organizations for our Virginia Beach motorcycle accident and personal injury practice with the following awards:

• Attorney Rick Shapiro has been named “Lawyer of the Year” in Railroad Law for 2019 by Best Lawyers®.
• Attorneys Rick Shapiro and Eric Washburn have been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.
• Rick Shapiro has been inducted into the Virginia Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame, Class of 2026 — one of the program’s highest honors, reserved for attorneys who have practiced for 30 or more years and made a lasting impact on the legal profession.
• Rick Shapiro has been recognized as a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly.
• Attorney Rick Shapiro has been selected to Super Lawyers every year since 2009, attorney Kevin Sharp has been selected to Super Lawyers every year since 2024, and attorney Eric Washburn has been selected to Super Lawyers every year since 2021.
• The firm has been named a “Best Law Firm” by Best Lawyers® for 2026.
• Rick Shapiro received the President’s Award from the National Board of Trial Advocacy (2023).
• Our firm is recognized as a Tier 1 “Best Law Firm” for general personal injury and railroad worker injury law by U.S. News & World Report (since 2010).
• The firm has earned the Client Champion Silver distinction from Martindale-Hubbell (2026), and holds an AV Preeminent® rating, the highest peer rating available for legal ability and ethics from that organization.
• Attorney Rick Shapiro has been board-certified in civil trials by the National Board of Trial Advocacy for more than 20 years.

Our Key Wins for Motorcycle Crash Victims and Their Families

Our firm has achieved settlements and verdicts for our clients of more than $100 million. When a fair and full settlement is not forthcoming to our clients through negotiation and/or mediation, we will not hesitate to take a case to trial and let a jury determine fault and liability.

The following are examples in which we have achieved significant settlements for clients injured in motorcycle crashes:

• $1.85 Million Settlement – Navy servicemember was killed in a truck-motorcycle collision when a truck driver illegally turned into his motorcycle lane.
• $1 Million Settlement – Retired registered nurse riding as a passenger on a Harley was permanently disabled when a negligent car driver crossed her lane line.
• $975,000 Settlement – Commercial delivery truck driver turned left at an intersection directly into a Harley-Davidson rider’s path resulting in multiple fractures.
• $450,000 Settlement – Motorcyclist lost leg below the knee when inexperienced driver cut him off; amputation occurred at the accident scene.
• $175,000 Settlement – Motorcyclist suffered multiple broken bones and psychological trauma when teen driver changed lanes without warning on Dam Neck Road.
• $150,000 Settlement – Motorcyclist hit and suffered fractured pelvis.

NOTE – Every motorcycle crash case is different, and there can never be any guarantee of a positive outcome for any case, even if the facts of your matter are similar to the case results noted above. You should also not base the value of your case on the case results noted above.

Our Virginia Beach Motorcycle Crash Representation

We represent motorcycle accident victims not only in Virginia Beach, but also throughout Virginia and northern North Carolina.We represent motorcycle injury victims on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only receive a fee if compensation is received. Our interests are aligned with yours in seeking full compensation – not one penny less.

We also advance all litigation costs, so you will not need to pay these expenses as they are incurred. These costs are typically repaid from a settlement or verdict.

If you are looking for the best motorcycle accident lawyer for your case, we invite you to call us for a free consultation and case evaluation to learn how an experienced Virginia Beach motorcycle accident lawyer can help. 

What Should You Know if You’ve Been Injured in a Motorcycle Crash?

• The more severe your injuries are, the more vigorously the defendants (and their insurance companies and lawyers) can be expected to fight.  Insurance companies don’t like paying large settlements, even if their client is responsible. When severe injuries have been sustained (such as road rash, broken bones, internal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries), defendants and their counsel will usually do everything possible to minimize damages and blame the victim or others. You need a tough, experienced motorcycle accident attorney in your corner who will vigorously oppose these efforts.
• You will be best served by retaining an experienced, tenacious motorcycle accident law firm with attorneys who will demand full compensation for you. Depending upon the specifics of a motorcycle case, crashes involving severe injuries often result in:
  • Extensive medical treatment. Medical treatment may involve not only surgeries and fixing broken bones immediately after a crash, but also future treatment and rehabilitation.
  • Significant pain and suffering. If you’ve been injured in a crash, you are entitled not only to all past pain and suffering that you have endured, but also future pain and suffering that it likely (such as with future surgeries or chronic pain that may last a lifetime). Pain and suffering also include psychological suffering. As motorcycle crash attorneys, we can review with you how pain and suffering is often calculated by juries.
  • Lost wages. Lost wages include not only past lost wages, but future lost wages. If your ability to work has been diminished because of your injuries, you are entitled to receive the difference between the wages you would have earned if not for your injuries and the lower wages in a new job.
  • Loss of lifestyle activities and interference with relationships. If your injuries prevent you from engaging in physical activities that you once enjoyed or interfere with your relationship with your spouse or family members, you are also entitled to fair compensation for these matters.
• There is only one opportunity to recover full compensation for all damages for motorcycle accident injuries. It does not matter if injuries end up being worse than initially believed, or if they result in lifelong pain. Claims for all matters – both past and future – must be made in a lawsuit. A Virginia Beach motorcycle accident lawyer can ensure that no compensation opportunities are overlooked.
• You also will be best served by retaining a Virginia Beach motorcycle accident attorney willing to engage in the painstaking effort required to build a strong case for compensation, especially if your injuries are severe. 
  • We retain medical experts, vocational experts, and job wage experts when needed to help document the full extent of our client’s damages, including past and future pain and suffering, impact on enjoyment of life, and wage loss.
  • We stand ready to invest considerable resources in seeking full compensation for your injuries.
• We take cases to trial if a settlement for full compensation cannot be achieved. We are personal injury trial lawyers. Insurance companies know this. They also know that we will not hesitate to take a client’s case to trial and present it to a jury to determine fault and damages if full compensation cannot be achieved.

Was a Family Member Killed in a Motorcycle Crash Caused By Someone Else?

If so, please accept our sincere condolences. No one should ever have to experience the loss of a loved one due to someone else’s wrongful actions or negligence.

We know that not only does the loss of a loved one leave an emotional impact on the family members left behind, in many cases family members also suffer a financial impact if the loved one was a financial provider for the family.

If your family has suffered a fatality, as motorcycle fatality lawyers we can help in seeking full compensation for the emotional and financial loss that you have suffered. Please see our Virginia Beach wrongful death lawyers page to learn more about how we can assist you and your family.

Why Choose Our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys for Your Injury Claim?

• We are a personal injury law firm. Our practice is devoted solely to helping those injured and the families who have lost a loved one due to the negligence of someone else. We do not practice other areas of law.
• Our firm has achieved more than $100 million in combined settlements and verdicts for our clients.
• We take the time to listen to the goals and needs of every motorcycle accident victim that comes through our door so we can determine the best steps to move forward for their situation.

Should an Injured Rider Speak with the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Adjuster?

No. An injured rider should not speak with the at-fault driver’s insurance adjuster before consulting a Virginia Beach motorcycle accident lawyer. Adjusters often contact riders within hours of a crash and ask questions designed to elicit statements that can later be used to reduce or deny the claim.

This risk is especially high in Virginia because of the state’s pure contributory negligence rule, one of the strictest in the country. Under Virginia law, if a jury finds that an injured rider was even one percent at fault in causing the crash, the rider can be barred from recovering any compensation at all. A single stray comment to an adjuster suggesting the rider bears any share of fault can jeopardize the entire claim. As Virginia Beach motorcycle accident lawyers with decades of legal experience, we can tenaciously seek to overcome these assertions with an exception, such as the last clear chance doctrine, whenever possible.

Riders should politely decline to give a recorded statement, refer the adjuster to their attorney, and understand that they are not legally required to provide one.

What Steps Should I Take Immediately After Being Injured in a Motorcycle Crash?

Seek Medical Attention

The first step is always to seek medical attention. This applies even if you may feel that you were not injured severely.

It will be important to be thoroughly examined by a physician. However, in many motorcycle cases, those injured do not seek prompt treatment, often under the belief that they are not injured that badly, and that they can just “tough it out”. This can be a mistake.

The rush of adrenaline in crashes can often mask pain. Injuries that are initially thought not to be that bad often turn out to be much worse than initially believed.

Importantly, not seeking medical attention can often be used against an injury victim in a lawsuit. Opposing counsel may assert that if you had significant injuries, you would have sought prompt treatment, even if you innocently believed that you were not severely injured at the time of the incident.

In particular, a motorcycle crash victim should always seek treatment if they sustained a head injury or impact to their head. Head trauma often does not become immediately apparent, but if head trauma occurred, it can be critical.

Seek the Assistance of a Virginia Beach Motorcycle Crash Attorney

If you’ve been injured by someone else in a motorcycle accident, it’s time to consult with an experienced motorcycle crash attorney. A motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to undertake a thorough investigation on your behalf, determine who is believed to be legally responsible for your injuries and damages, and seek to hold accountable those who are liable for full and fair compensation.

Does Your Firm Provide a Free Case Evaluation and Consultation?

Yes, we do. We invite you to contact us and tell us about your crash.

Does an Injured Rider Really Need a Lawyer? Can the Rider Handle It Personally?

Virginia law does not require an injured rider to hire an attorney, but motorcycle accident cases involve legal and evidentiary complexities that make self-representation risky. Several factors specific to motorcycle cases in Virginia make legal representation especially important:

• Pure contributory negligence. Virginia is one of only four jurisdictions (along with Alabama, Maryland, and the District of Columbia) that still applies the pure contributory negligence rule, which can bar recovery entirely if the injured rider is found even slightly at fault.
• Biker bias. Insurance adjusters and juries often carry unspoken assumptions that motorcyclists are reckless. A lawyer familiar with these cases knows how to counter that bias with evidence.
• Evidence preservation. Motorcycle wreckage, black box data, and surveillance footage can be lost within days without prompt legal action.
• Multiple insurance layers. Identifying every applicable liability, umbrella, and uninsured/underinsured motorist policy typically requires a lawyer’s review.

Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp offers free consultations for injured riders and their families, and no attorney’s fee is owed unless the firm recovers compensation.

How Can a Virginia Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Help Me?

Motorcycle accident claims are often challenging. Defendants and their insurance companies typically point the finger at the motorcyclist. The implied belief may be that motorcyclists ride dangerously, or that simply choosing to ride is an acceptance of the risk of being hit.

This is not fair or true. As experienced Virginia Beach motorcycle accident lawyers, we vigorously oppose any unwarranted bias against our clients and conduct thorough investigations to identify all those liable. We will also ensure that our clients are evaluated by trusted medical and economic professionals in order to determine their total expected losses.

We also will retain accident investigation specialists when needed to help prove the cause of the crash. While the cause of a crash may appear clear to the victim, insurance companies and their lawyers will often strenuously contest the “facts” of a case.

As an example, how can it be proved that the driver went through a red light, or that it wasn’t the motorcyclist who swerved into a car? Insurance companies will often make these and similar assertions in order to try to escape liability; it is up to counsel for the injured motorcyclist to prove why these and similar assertions are incorrect.

Using all information from our investigation, we will negotiate in a position of strength with the insurance carriers involved while also preparing the case for trial. As a motorcycle crash trial law firm, we take cases to trial when insurance carriers fail to offer fair compensation.

Additional Motorcycle Accident FAQs

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Virginia Beach?

Motorcycle accidents are common across Virginia. An examination from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles shows that there were 1,827 motorcycle crashes across the Commonwealth of Virginia in the latest reporting year on file. Of those incidents, 88 were fatal crashes and 1,405 were injury crashes, meaning the overwhelming majority of reported motorcycle crashes in Virginia result in an injury or fatality.

Virginia Beach consistently ranks among the highest-volume crash localities in the state due to the city’s mix of year-round residents, military families, college students, and millions of tourists visiting the Oceanfront each summer. Coastal weather patterns, dense summer traffic on corridors such as Shore Drive, Virginia Beach Boulevard, and General Booth Boulevard, and heavy interstate use on I-264 and I-64 all contribute to the risk for riders.

What are the Common Causes of Virginia Beach Motorcycle Accidents?

Virginia Beach is a thriving community and popular vacation destination due to its 35 miles of coastline, which includes a three mile boardwalk. The surrounding areas also offer vibrant community, in addition to beaches, tourist and family attractions, restaurants, and other cultural destinations. As both a popular tourist destination and with a wide variety of attractions, distracted driving is unfortunately common.

Distracted driving, as well as impaired driving, often results in collisions between vehicles and motorcyclists. Some of the more common causes of motorcycle crashes include:

• Failing to yield the right of way
• Operating too fast for conditions
• Following a motorcyclist too closely, causing catastrophic rear-end motorcycle accident injuries
• Passing a motorcyclist too closely
• Operating while distracted by phones or other devices
• Operating while impaired by drugs or alcohol
• Changing lanes without using a turn signal

When collisions occur, it is almost always the motorcyclist who bears the brunt of the injuries.

Why Motorcycle Accidents Are Especially Dangerous on Virginia Beach Roads

Virginia Beach is one of the highest-volume traffic environments in the Commonwealth. The city’s mix of year-round residents, permanently stationed military families, college students, and millions of tourists visiting the Oceanfront each summer produces sustained congestion on a road network that was never designed for the volume it now carries. For riders, that combination of dense traffic, seasonal spikes, and coastal weather creates conditions where a single careless driver can cause catastrophic injury in seconds. As experienced Virginia Beach car accident lawyers, we know how to identify all potentially liable parties to increase the chances of securing maximum compensation from inattentive and negligent drivers.

The Roads and Intersections Where Motorcycle Crashes Happen Most

There are numerous dangerous roads and intersections in Virginia Beach. Several corridors in Virginia Beach appear repeatedly in motorcycle crash reports:

• Virginia Beach Boulevard — The primary east-west arterial running from Norfolk through the heart of the city to the Oceanfront. Heavy retail traffic, frequent turning movements at Pembroke, Town Center, and Lynnhaven, and driver inattention around shopping centers all produce recurring left-turn and rear-end motorcycle crashes.
• Independence Boulevard — A high-volume north-south corridor connecting the Norfolk line through Pembroke and Town Center to Kempsville. Multiple lanes, complex intersections, and constant lane-change activity make it particularly hazardous for riders sharing the road with drivers who fail to check blind spots.
• General Booth Boulevard — The main southern approach to Sandbridge, Rudee Inlet, and the Oceanfront. Summer traffic loads, tourist unfamiliarity with the road, and frequent stops for beach access, Nick’s Seafood Pavilion, and the Virginia Aquarium contribute to rear-end and left-turn collisions.
• Shore Drive (U.S. Route 60) — The scenic route paralleling the Chesapeake Bay through First Landing State Park. Shore Drive has a documented history of serious and fatal crashes and has been the subject of multiple Virginia Department of Transportation safety studies. Narrow shoulders, tree-lined curves, and heavy traffic to and from Chic’s Beach and the Lesner Bridge create high risk for riders.
• Princess Anne Road — A long arterial running from the Municipal Center south into rural Pungo and north into central Virginia Beach. Speed differentials between rural and developed segments, combined with agricultural equipment and driveway turns, produce serious motorcycle crashes.
• Holland Road — Connects Chesapeake through southern Virginia Beach. Multiple uncontrolled intersections and driver failure to yield contribute to broadside and left-turn crashes involving motorcycles.
• Interstate 264 — The primary interstate corridor from downtown Norfolk to the Oceanfront. Rush hour congestion, sudden traffic slowdowns near the Witchduck, Newtown, and Independence interchanges, and heavy lane-change activity produce high-speed rear-end crashes that are catastrophic for riders.
• Interstate 64 and the I-64/I-264 Interchange — One of the busiest interchanges in Hampton Roads. Merging traffic, weaving movements, and driver confusion in this multi-level exchange create constant risk.

Beyond these arterials, a persistent set of intersections generates a disproportionate share of crashes across the city. Independence Boulevard at Virginia Beach Boulevard, Lynnhaven Parkway at Virginia Beach Boulevard, Rosemont Road at Holland Road, and Kempsville Road at Providence Road all appear consistently among the city’s higher-crash locations in Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles data. For a rider on any of these corridors, the difference between an uneventful commute and a life-changing injury is often a single driver looking down at a phone or misjudging a left turn.

Coastal Weather, Sun Glare, and the Oceanfront Tourist Season

Weather patterns unique to Virginia Beach compound the risk for motorcyclists in ways that riders in inland cities rarely encounter:

• Sudden coastal rain and hurricane bands. Summer storms rolling off the Atlantic can produce heavy rain and reduced visibility within minutes. Wet pavement dramatically increases stopping distance and reduces motorcycle traction on painted lane lines, metal manhole covers, and expansion joints on the bridges over Lynnhaven Inlet and Rudee Inlet.
• Fog off the water. Morning fog moving inland from the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic can reduce visibility along Shore Drive, Atlantic Avenue, and the roads approaching the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
• Sun glare. Riders traveling east on Virginia Beach Boulevard, Shore Drive, or General Booth Boulevard at sunrise, and westbound at sunset, face direct sun glare that can render an oncoming motorcycle nearly invisible to drivers making left turns.
• Sand and debris on coastal roads. Roads near the Oceanfront, Sandbridge, and Chic’s Beach frequently carry blown sand, which acts like ball bearings under motorcycle tires and can cause loss of control during braking or cornering.

The Oceanfront tourist season, generally running from Memorial Day through the end of September, dramatically increases the density of drivers unfamiliar with local traffic patterns. Special events including the Coastal Virginia Wine Fest, the North American Sand Soccer Championships, the American Music Festival on Labor Day weekend, and the Neptune Festival draw hundreds of thousands of visitors and produce measurable spikes in crash reports along the Oceanfront corridor and the routes leading to it.

The Hampton Roads Military Presence and Traffic Volume

Virginia Beach is home to Naval Air Station Oceana, the East Coast master jet base, along with Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story and Dam Neck Annex. Norfolk Naval Station, the largest naval installation in the world, sits directly across the Norfolk line. The daily commute of tens of thousands of active-duty service members, civilian defense workers, and contractors across these installations produces sustained traffic loads on Shore Drive, I-64, I-264, Northampton Boulevard, and Oceana Boulevard.

For motorcyclists, the combination of high commuter volume, shift changes producing traffic spikes at unusual hours, and drivers navigating unfamiliar routes between installations creates additional risk that Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp regularly encounters in the motorcycle cases the firm handles across Hampton Roads.

What Types of Compensation Are Available in a Virginia Beach Motorcycle Accident?

One of the first questions often asked by motorcycle crash victims is “how much compensation will I get for my motorcycle accident injuries?”

As a general principle, injured motorcyclists may recover for all foreseeable damages that directly result from their injuries. In legal terms, damages fall into two categories – economic damages (these are also referred to as “special damages”) and non-economic damages (called “general damages”).  So, what exactly makes up these categories of damages?

What are Economic (or Special) Damages for Motorcycle Injury Victims?

Economic Damages (or “Special Damages”) are damages that are subject to monetary calculation. Economic damages include matters such as:

• Past and future medical expenses arising from your crash. In calculating your damages, we’ll want to document all of your past medical bills, as well as the expected cost of future medical treatment that you are likely to need.
• Past and future rehabilitation costs. If you’ve incurred rehabilitation costs, these are recoverable. So too are rehabilitation costs that are likely to be needed after your case.
• Past and future lost income. If you’ve missed work because of your injuries, the amount of lost pay is recoverable, as well as the expected lost income if you will need to take time off for future medical treatment.
• Diminished earnings capacity. Do your injuries prevent you from continuing to work in your current job? If they do, and if you need to work in a different position where your earning capacity will be reduced, you are entitled to the difference in what you would have earned compared to what you will earn in your new position for the remainder of your career.
• Property damage expenses. Normally, this will include the value of your motorcycle if it is totaled and whatever other property of yours that might have been damaged in the crash.
• General household out-of-pocket expenses. As an example, if you’re injured and need to hire someone to clean your house, care for your yard, or even go grocery shopping because you cannot do so, you are entitled to compensation for these costs and expenses.

These are only some of the economic damages that are often recoverable. Your case may involve some (or all) of these damages, or possibly other damages. As your motorcycle crash lawyers, we’ll carefully compile a list of all compensable damages for your case.

What are Non-Economic (or General) Damages for Motorcycle Injury Victims?

Non-Economic (or General) Damages are damages that cannot be directly tied to a specific  monetary value or loss. As a result, at trial, it will be up to a jury to determine fair compensation for non-economic damages.

Examples of non-economic damages include:

• Pain and suffering. Pain and suffering not only includes physical pain, but also mental anguish. When a jury is determining compensation for pain and suffering in a motorcycle crash case, they will usually want to consider the following;
  • How severe was the pain and suffering? All of us have suffered pain and suffering in one form or another, perhaps from a sports injury or other incident. Jurors often rely upon their own experiences in trying to assess the pain and suffering endured by a victim.
  • As your motorcycle accident lawyers, we’ll present the full scope of your injuries so that jurors can get a sense of exactly the amount of pain and suffering that you have endured. If your injuries left you with a chronic disabling injury – such as a back injury – that may cause lifelong pain, you are entitled to recover for the future pain that you will likely endure.
  • Once jurors know about the pain you suffered, they can then collectively determine what they think is a fair award for past and future pain and suffering.

• Emotional and psychological distress. Being severely injured often results in emotional and psychological distress. After all, if you’ve suddenly been severely injured, you may be concerned about paying your rent or mortgage, supporting your family, or not knowing whether you’ll be able to work again. As Virginia Beach motorcycle accident lawyers, we’ll build a strong case to clearly document exactly how you’ve been impacted by your injuries.
• Loss of quality of life. In some cases, those injured are unable to engage in many of the activities they previously enjoyed, especially those involving mobility. Relationships with a spouse often are also affected, and sometimes parents are unable to participate in the physical activities with their children after an injury.  If you’ve been impacted by any of these matters, then you deserve fair compensation.

How Much Is a Virginia Beach Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?

No lawyer can quantify the value of a Virginia Beach motorcycle accident case in the first conversation. Case value depends on several factors that require review of medical records, insurance policies, and evidence of liability. The key factors that determine the value of a motorcycle accident case in Virginia include:

• Severity and permanence of the injuries, particularly whether the injuries produce long-term disability
• Past and future medical expenses, including surgeries, rehabilitation, and life-care planning
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity, especially where injuries reduce a rider’s ability to return to their previous occupation
• Pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life
• The available insurance coverage from every applicable policy, including the at-fault driver’s liability, any umbrella policies, and the rider’s own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage
• The strength of the liability evidence, including police reports, black box data, and witness statements

After a Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp attorney reviews the medical records, police report, and applicable insurance policies, the firm can provide a meaningful case evaluation.

Can Punitive Damages Be Recovered in a Virginia Beach Motorcycle Crash?

Yes. Punitive damages may be recovered in a Virginia Beach motorcycle crash case when the at-fault driver’s conduct was willful, wanton, or showed conscious disregard for the safety of others. Two Virginia statutes govern punitive damages in motor vehicle cases:

• Virginia Code § 8.01-44.5 specifically authorizes punitive damages in cases involving a drunk driver with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 percent or higher, or where the driver knew or should have known that their consumption of intoxicants would substantially impair mental or physical faculties.
• Virginia Code § 8.01-38.1 caps all punitive damages awards in Virginia at $350,000, regardless of case type.

Punitive damages are designed to punish the at-fault driver and deter similar conduct, and they are awarded in addition to compensatory damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Virginia?

The statute of limitations for a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Virginia is two years from the date of the crash, under Virginia Code § 8.01-243. If a rider does not file a lawsuit within that two-year window, the right to bring the claim is generally lost, regardless of how strong the case might have been.

Several important exceptions can shorten or extend this deadline:

• Wrongful death claims arising from a fatal motorcycle crash have a separate two-year deadline measured from the date of death rather than the date of the crash, under Virginia Code § 8.01-244.
• Claims involving a government employee or vehicle (a city worker, a state employee, or a federal employee on the job) can trigger much shorter notice deadlines, sometimes as brief as six months.
• Cases involving minors or incapacitated adults can follow different tolling rules that extend the deadline.

Because these deadlines vary, families should consult a Virginia Beach motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible after a crash.

When Should an Injured Rider Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

An injured rider should contact a Virginia Beach motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as reasonably possible after the crash, ideally within the first 24 to 72 hours. Several time-sensitive factors make early legal representation critical:

• Evidence deteriorates quickly. Motorcycle wreckage may be released to salvage, black box data can be overwritten, and surveillance footage from nearby businesses is often deleted within days or weeks.
• Insurance adjusters begin contacting riders within hours. A single recorded statement can jeopardize the entire claim under Virginia’s pure contributory negligence rule.
• Preservation letters may be needed. A prompt spoliation letter to the at-fault driver, insurance carrier, and any commercial party can preserve the vehicle, dashcam data, and cell phone records before they are lost or destroyed.
• Insurance notification requirements have deadlines. Most Virginia auto policies require prompt notice of a crash, and delay can give the insurer grounds to deny coverage.

Free consultations at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Does the Firm Offer a Free Case Evaluation and Consultation?

Yes. Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp offers a free, no-obligation case evaluation for every prospective motorcycle accident client. Consultations are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by phone or through the firm’s online contact form:

• Phone: 757-321-3983 (local) or 833-997-1774 (toll-free)
• Online: Contact form available at hsinjurylaw.com

During the consultation, a Virginia Beach motorcycle accident attorney will listen to what happened, review the police report and any available evidence, discuss injuries and treatment, and walk the rider or family through their options under Virginia law. There is no pressure to hire the firm.

If Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp is retained, the case moves forward on a contingency fee basis, meaning no attorney’s fee is owed unless the firm recovers compensation.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Top Virginia Beach Motorcycle Accident Attorney?

Hiring a Virginia Beach motorcycle accident attorney at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp costs nothing upfront. The firm accepts every motorcycle accident case on a contingency fee basis, which means:

• No attorney’s fee is owed unless the firm recovers compensation for the rider or family.
• The fee is a percentage of the recovery, not an hourly rate.
• The firm advances all litigation costs during the case, including court filing fees, accident reconstruction professionals, medical record retrieval, and expert witness fees.
• Advanced costs are typically repaid out of the settlement or verdict at the end of the case.

This structure allows injured riders and grieving families to pursue full compensation without paying anything out of pocket while the case is pending.

Contact a Virginia Beach Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today

If you or somebody you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by the negligence of another driver in Virginia Beach or around the Hampton Roads region, we invite you to call us to speak with an experienced motorcycle crash attorney for a free consultation and to learn about the compensation to which you may be entitled.

My family and I could never ever repay Mr. Appleton for all his hard work to bring justice and peace to my family after the awful experience that forever changed our lives. My father’s wrongful death occurred in 2017 and we hired Mr. Appleton shortly after. What stood out to us was that he was always present and responsive. Never did he pass us off to a junior partner or a paralegal. He was personally responsible for our case and stood by our side through it all no matter how long or how frustrating it all was. He saw it through to the end and brought us a settlement in late 2020. I honestly didn’t know people like Mr. Appleton still existed. God bless him! – J.J.

Our lawyers want to make sure that you recover full compensation for your injuries, medical bills, and property damage expenses. When you need a Virginia Beach motorcycle accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by filling out the contact form or calling us at (833) 997-1774.

Content reviewed by Rick Shapiro, Civil Trial Advocate (National Board of Trial Advocacy), inducted into the Virginia Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame Class of 2026. See attorney biography.