Motorcycle riders can suffer serious injuries in a motorcycle crash because they have little protection from a much larger and heavier automobile or truck striking them. The dangers increase when they are riding at night. If you were injured in a nighttime motorcycle accident, you need to understand how the negligence of the other motorist could have caused it and what your rights to compensation for your injuries are in Virginia.
Common Causes of Nighttime Motorcycle Crashes
All drivers must exercise even more care when driving at night because driving in the dark is inherently more dangerous. However, many motorists breach their duty of care when they cause a nighttime motorcycle accident. Common reasons they cause motorcyclists to suffer injuries include:
- Low visibility. Motorcycle riders are harder to see in general due to the smaller size of their motorcycle. The dangers increase dramatically at night when inattentive drivers fail to watch closely enough for nearby motorcycles.
- Drunk driving. Drivers who are intoxicated due to alcohol consumption or drugs have reduced vision, judgment, and reaction time. They are also more likely to engage in reckless driving practices, such as speeding, tailgating, and weaving between lanes of traffic.
- Distracted driving. A driver’s eyes are not on the road and their mind is not focused on driving safely when they are texting, talking on a cell phone, fiddling with the radio or other controls, or eating and drinking. This can cause them to fail to see a motorcyclist before it is too late to avoid a collision. This danger increases when it is dark outside and visibility is already poor.
- Construction work. Motorcycle crashes in construction zones are more likely at night when drivers fail to slow down and visibility is reduced.
What Are Your Rights to Compensation in a Nighttime Motorcycle Wreck?
In Virginia, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries if you can prove that the other driver’s negligence caused your motorcycle crash. You can recover your future and past damages if you suffered a long-term injury—common in motorcycle crashes. Types of compensation you can recover include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity damages
- Property damages
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death damages if a loved one was killed in the collision
If you want to win your case and obtain justice, you need the assistance of an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer. At Tavss Fletcher, we handle these cases on a contingency fee basis so that you owe us no attorneys fees until we settle your claim. To learn more about your options and how we can assist you, call our Norfolk office or fill out our online form to schedule your free consultation today.
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