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Key Takeaways
Virginia law generally requires left-turning drivers to yield to approaching motorcycles, but proving negligence is necessary to establish responsibility for a collision.
Virginia’s contributory negligence rule can bar compensation if you contributed to the accident, even slightly, making allegations of shared fault particularly consequential.
Injured motorcyclists may recover compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, property damage, and long-term losses resulting from the crash.
Huffman & Huffman has represented injured Virginians since 1973, offering experienced motorcycle accident representation, a Virginia Beach office, and free consultations.
A left-turn collision can leave a motorcyclist with broken bones, road rash, traumatic brain injuries, or spinal cord damage in a fraction of a second. When another driver’s carelessness was the cause, Virginia law may entitle the injured rider to compensation for their medical expenses, lost income, and other losses.
These cases are rarely open and shut. Insurers often raise arguments over what happened, who was responsible, and how much a rider’s claim is worth. That’s where having strong legal representation can make a key difference.
At Huffman & Huffman Brothers-in-Law, our motorcycle accident lawyers have represented clients in Virginia Beach and throughout Hampton Roads for over 50 years. If you were hurt in a left-turn crash, we offer a free consultation to talk through what happened and what your options may be.
Click here to schedule a confidential consultation or call our office at 757-760-3502.
Is the Driver Making a Left Turn Responsible for a Motorcycle Accident?
Often, yes. That’s because Virginia law places a specific duty on left-turning drivers: before completing the turn, they must yield to oncoming traffic close enough to create a hazard. The exception is when a protected left-turn arrow is present, in which case the turning vehicle has the right of way.
That being said, fault is never automatic. What actions both parties took in the moments leading up to the crash are what ultimately determine who can be held responsible. This means that as the injured rider, you still need evidence showing the driver acted negligently, whether by misjudging your speed, failing to see you, or turning despite inadequate time to clear the intersection, and that this negligence caused the crash.
Do You Need a Lawyer After a Left-Turn Accident in Virginia Beach?
You are not required to hire a lawyer after a motorcycle accident, but in Virginia, having one matters more than many people who have never been hurt in an accident before realize. That’s because it is one of only a handful of states that follow a contributory negligence rule, which completely bars an injured person from recovering compensation if they are found even slightly at fault for the crash.
This rule gives insurance companies a strong financial incentive to look for any way to shift blame onto the rider. An adjuster might argue that the motorcyclist was speeding, failed to brake in time, or contributed in some other way to the accident.
Even when fault seems clear-cut, insurers often raise separate arguments about the injuries themselves, questioning whether a symptom is really connected to the collision, or disputing the value of future medical care and lost earning capacity.
These challenges are why having an attorney who can independently investigate the crash, push back on unsupported allegations with clear evidence, and document the full extent of your damages often puts you in a much stronger position to recover what your claim is actually worth.
How Our Virginia Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Can Help
Huffman & Huffman has represented injured Virginians since 1973, and over that time we have served tens of thousands of families across Hampton Roads. We have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients, and our past results in motorcycle cases include a $2 million recovery for a rider who suffered serious orthopedic injuries and a $635,000 settlement for a client who sustained an ankle fracture requiring two surgeries after another driver ran a stop sign.
When you hire our motorcycle accident attorneys in Virginia Beach, we get to work by:
- Establishing how the collision occurred: We investigate the circumstances of the crash, examine relevant traffic controls and signal timing, collect witness statements, and pursue available video footage to build evidence of the turning driver’s negligence.
- Building evidence of injuries and damages: We document medical treatment, consult with providers about future care needs, and gather proof of missed income and the lasting physical consequences of the crash.
- Handling insurance negotiations: We manage all communications with the insurance company, challenge attempts to shift blame onto you, and present a demand backed by the medical and factual evidence we’ve developed.
- Pursuing litigation when necessary: When an insurer won’t offer a fair settlement, we file suit, pursue additional discovery and evidence, and prepare the case for trial.
Our Virginia Beach office at 4780 Euclid Road gives local riders a place to meet face-to-face with their legal team rather than dealing with an out-of-state call center. We also represent injured riders on a contingency fee basis, meaning there’s no attorney fee until we recover compensation on your behalf.
What Damages Are Available After a Left-Turn Motorcycle Crash in Virginia Beach?
Motorcycle crashes tend to produce more severe injuries than comparable car accidents, since riders have no frame, airbag, or seatbelt to absorb the force of impact. Fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord damage are common outcomes of a left-turn collision, and that severity matters because a claim needs to account not only for immediate medical bills but also for how the injury affects the rider’s life going forward.
Depending on the facts of the case, compensation in a left-turn motorcycle claim may include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and ongoing care
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent impairment or disfigurement
- Motorcycle repairs or replacement and other property damage
Our attorneys look beyond the initial round of medical bills to understand how an injury is likely to affect you months and years down the road, so your claim reflects the full scope of what’s been lost.
Click here to schedule a confidential consultation or call our office at 757-760-3502.
How Can You Strengthen Your Left-Turn Motorcycle Accident Claim?
Building a strong claim isn’t something that only happens in the moments right after a crash. Several steps matter throughout the life of a claim, from the emergency room to settlement negotiations or trial.
Riders who are working toward the best possible outcome should keep these practices in mind:
- Continue recommended medical treatment and document ongoing symptoms, even if they seem minor or come and go.
- Preserve photographs of the vehicles, the intersection, traffic signals, and the damage to the motorcycle.
- Keep contact information for any witnesses, along with copies of accident reports and correspondence with insurers.
- Save medical bills, pay stubs or income records, and documentation of any other losses connected to the crash.
- Avoid guessing about fault or making statements that could be read as accepting responsibility.
- Decline to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company without first getting legal advice.
- Avoid accepting an early settlement offer before you understand the full extent of your injuries and future needs.
- Consult an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer who can evaluate your claim and help you pursue the full compensation available for your injuries and losses.
These steps can help protect your claim by preserving evidence of what happened, documenting the impact of your injuries, and avoiding decisions that could jeopardize your recovery.
Virginia Beach Left-Turn Motorcycle Accident FAQs
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Virginia Beach?
You generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, certain exceptions can apply depending on the circumstances of the accident, and missing the applicable deadline can prevent you from recovering compensation. That’s why it is always best to consult an attorney as soon as possible after an accident.
What If the Driver Who Hit Me Fled the Scene?
You may still be able to recover compensation after a hit-and-run motorcycle accident. If the driver is identified, you can pursue a claim against them and any applicable liability insurance. If the driver cannot be identified, your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage may provide compensation for your injuries and losses. Our attorneys can evaluate your claim and help identify all potential avenues for compensation.
What If the Other Driver’s Insurance Isn’t Enough to Cover My Injuries?
If the responsible driver’s liability insurance is insufficient to cover your losses, your underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage may provide additional compensation. The amount available depends on the applicable policy limits, coverage terms, and other insurance that may apply. Our attorneys can review these policies, determine how the coverage works together, and pursue compensation for losses that exceed the other driver’s available insurance.
What Types of Evidence Matter Most in a Left-Turn Motorcycle Accident Case?
The most important evidence helps establish how the driver made the turn, who had the right of way, and whether the driver’s negligence caused the collision. Traffic signal information, surveillance or dashcam footage, witness statements, vehicle damage, and physical evidence from the scene can all help establish what happened. Medical records, treatment history, and employment documentation are also necessary to establish your injuries and losses. Because no single piece of evidence necessarily tells the whole story, our attorneys examine multiple sources to build a well-supported claim.
Speak With a Virginia Beach Left-Turn Motorcycle Accident Lawyer at Huffman & Huffman
Left-turn motorcycle crashes often turn into disputes over who had the right-of-way, and insurance companies know that Virginia’s contributory negligence rule gives them an incentive to argue the rider shares some of the blame. Building a case that holds up against that kind of argument takes a thorough investigation into how the crash happened and a clear presentation of the evidence supporting the rider’s account.
Our firm has spent decades investigating motorcycle accidents and handling claims where the insurance company disputes fault. If you were injured in a left-turn crash, contact Huffman & Huffman to schedule a free consultation. Our Virginia Beach office at 4780 Euclid Road gives you the option to meet with our legal team in person, and we handle motorcycle accident claims on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney’s fee until we recover compensation for you.
