Key Takeaways
Virginia law generally requires drivers making left turns to yield to approaching motorcycles, but establishing fault requires evidence that the turning driver’s negligence caused the collision.
Virginia’s strict contributory negligence rule can bar compensation if your own negligence contributed to the crash, making allegations of shared fault especially consequential.
Injured motorcyclists may recover compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and future losses resulting from the accident.
Huffman & Huffman has represented injured Virginians since 1973, offering experienced motorcycle accident representation, a Newport News office, and free consultations.
A left-turn motorcycle accident can cause serious injuries, extensive medical treatment, lost income, and lasting physical limitations. If another driver’s negligence caused your crash, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses.
However, recovering compensation isn’t always straightforward. Insurers may question your actions or rely on unfair assumptions about motorcyclists, and Virginia’s strict contributory negligence rule can make allegations of shared fault particularly damaging to your claim.
Huffman & Huffman Brothers-in-Law has represented injured Newport News residents since 1973. Our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers understand the challenges these claims present and can help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your case and legal options.
Click here to schedule a confidential consultation or call our office at 757-525-9820.
Who Is at Fault When a Car Turns Left in Front of a Motorcycle?
In most left-turn motorcycle accidents, the turning driver is considered responsible because Virginia law requires drivers making a left turn to yield to oncoming vehicles that are close enough to present a hazard. Traffic signals also matter. A driver turning on a regular green light must yield to oncoming traffic, while a protected green arrow generally gives the turning driver the right of way.
However, fault is not automatic simply because a driver turned in front of a motorcycle. To hold the turning driver legally responsible, you must establish that they acted negligently and that their negligence caused the collision. Examples of negligence in a left-turn motorcycle accident include:
- Failing to yield: Turning across an approaching motorcycle’s path when there isn’t enough time to complete the turn safely.
- Failing to keep a proper lookout: Not checking carefully for approaching motorcycles before beginning a turn.
- Misjudging speed or distance: Incorrectly assuming there is enough time to turn before an approaching motorcycle reaches the intersection.
- Distracted driving: Looking at a phone, GPS, or passenger instead of watching oncoming traffic.
Establishing negligence requires examining the circumstances of the collision, including the traffic signals, the movements of both vehicles, and the actions of the turning driver. This evidence can help establish whether the driver violated the rider’s right of way or otherwise failed to exercise reasonable care, causing the accident and resulting injuries.
Why Do You Need a Lawyer After a Left-Turn Motorcycle Accident?
Even when fault seems clear, recovering compensation after a left-turn motorcycle accident can be challenging. Motorcyclists often face unfair assumptions that they are reckless, speed excessively, or take unnecessary risks. This bias can influence how insurance companies evaluate claims, leading them to argue that you contributed in some way to the collision.
These allegations are particularly concerning in Virginia, which follows a strict contributory negligence rule. If your own negligence contributed to the accident, even slightly, you may be barred from recovering compensation entirely. An insurer’s accusation doesn’t establish that you were at fault, but challenging it requires strong evidence of what actually happened.
In addition, proving the other driver’s responsibility is only part of the challenge. Insurers may also dispute the severity of your injuries, their connection to the crash, or the value of your losses. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can investigate the collision, challenge unsupported allegations, and build a case that establishes both liability and the full extent of your damages.
How Huffman & Huffman Helps Injured Motorcyclists in Newport News
Huffman & Huffman has represented injured Virginians since 1973, helping tens of thousands of families pursue compensation after serious accidents. Our attorneys bring more than 150 years of combined legal experience to personal injury claims, including cases involving severely injured motorcyclists.
That experience has helped us secure significant recoveries for riders, including $2 million for a client with serious orthopedic injuries after a motorcycle accident and $635,000 for a motorcyclist injured when another driver ran a stop sign. While every case is different, these results demonstrate our experience pursuing substantial compensation when another driver’s negligence causes serious injuries.
When you hire our Newport News motorcycle accident lawyers, we can help you by:
- Investigating the crash and establishing liability: We examine how the collision occurred, gather witness statements, obtain available footage and other evidence, and work to establish the turning driver’s negligence.
- Identifying available insurance coverage: We review applicable policies and investigate potential sources of compensation for your injuries and losses.
- Documenting your injuries and calculating damages: We review medical records, assess future treatment needs, and account for lost income, pain and suffering, and other consequences of the accident.
- Negotiating with insurance companies: We handle communications, challenge attempts to shift blame onto you, respond to disputes over your injuries, and pursue a settlement that reflects your losses.
- Taking your case to court when necessary: We file a lawsuit, obtain additional evidence through discovery, and prepare to present your case at trial if a fair settlement cannot be reached.
As a family-owned firm with an office in Newport News, we offer personal attention and local accessibility throughout your case. We also work on a contingency fee basis, so you owe no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Left-Turn Motorcycle Accident?
The severity of injuries in a left-turn motorcycle accident can have a significant impact on the compensation available. A broken bone may require surgery and months of rehabilitation, while a traumatic brain or spinal cord injury can lead to permanent limitations, ongoing medical care, or an inability to return to work. These consequences matter because a personal injury claim should account for both the immediate costs of an accident and the losses you may experience in the future.
Depending on your injuries and circumstances, compensation may include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and ongoing care
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Motorcycle damage and other accident-related property losses
The full financial and personal impact of a serious motorcycle injury may not be clear right away. Understanding your long-term medical needs, ability to work, and lasting physical limitations is essential to evaluating a settlement offer and determining whether it adequately compensates you for your losses.
Click here to schedule a confidential consultation or call our office at 757-525-9820.
What Should You Do After a Left-Turn Motorcycle Accident in Newport News to Protect Your Claim?
What you do in the days and weeks after a left-turn crash can shape how strong your claim ends up being, whether you’ve already started treatment or you’re just beginning to deal with the other driver’s insurer.
Consider taking the following steps to protect your claim:
- Continue necessary medical treatment and document any ongoing symptoms
- Preserve photographs of the motorcycle, the damage, the crash scene, and visible injuries
- Keep records of medical expenses, missed work, and other accident-related losses
- Preserve available witness information and any communications relating to the crash
- Avoid speculating about how the accident happened or accepting blame when speaking with insurers
- Avoid giving a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer without legal advice
- Don’t accept a settlement before you understand the full extent of your injuries and future needs
- Speak with an attorney about preserving evidence that may otherwise disappear, particularly nearby surveillance footage
Evidence from a left-turn crash doesn’t last forever. Surveillance footage gets overwritten, memories fade, and vehicles get repaired or scrapped, all of which can make it harder to establish what happened the longer you wait.
Newport News Left-Turn Motorcycle Accident FAQs
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Motorcycle Accident in Newport News?
In Virginia, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Note, however, that certain exceptions can apply, such as in cases involving minors and other unique circumstances. Missing the applicable deadline can prevent you from recovering compensation, even if the other driver was clearly responsible.
Can I File a Claim If the Driver Who Turned Left Wasn’t Ticketed?
Yes. Whether the other driver received a traffic citation does not determine who was legally responsible for the accident. A ticket is not conclusive proof of negligence, and the absence of one does not prevent you from pursuing compensation. Fault must be established through evidence of how the collision occurred, which may include witness statements, surveillance footage, vehicle damage, and other findings from an independent investigation.
What If the Driver Who Hit My Motorcycle Was Uninsured?
You may still be able to recover compensation through your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. This coverage can help pay for injuries and losses caused by an uninsured driver, subject to your policy’s limits and applicable requirements. Coverage under other household policies may also be available. Huffman & Huffman can review your insurance policies, identify applicable coverage, and handle the claim with your insurer.
Can a Motorcycle Passenger File a Claim After a Left-Turn Collision?
Yes. If you were riding as a passenger, you may have a personal injury claim against the driver who turned left in front of the motorcycle. If the motorcycle operator was also negligent, you may have grounds to pursue compensation from that driver as well. Our attorneys can investigate both drivers’ actions and identify the parties and insurance policies that may be responsible for your injuries.
Contact Our Newport News Left-Turn Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Since 1973, Huffman & Huffman has represented injured motorcyclists throughout Newport News and the surrounding communities. Our attorneys understand how insurance companies try to shift blame onto riders in left-turn collisions, and we work to build strong, evidence-based claims that withstand unsupported fault allegations. When a fair settlement isn’t possible, we’re prepared to take your case to court.
If you were injured when a driver turned left in front of your motorcycle, contact Huffman & Huffman to schedule a free consultation and discuss your legal options. With an office at 12284 Warwick Boulevard, Suite 2A, we offer the convenience of meeting with our attorneys face-to-face. We also handle these claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.
