Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Hampton

We understand how painful a motorcycle accident can be. Even a minor collision can easily throw a rider and cause severe injuries. Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, P.C. has handled motorcycle accident claims in Hampton and throughout the Tidewater area for over 30 years. We represent motorcycle accident victims and fight to protect their rights.

Our personal injury lawyers have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for personal injury victims. Our experienced lawyers have decades of representing accident victims just like you. We know how to handle your claim and how to fight for the compensation you need. Contact us today for a free consultation about your best legal options.

Why You Need a Lawyer for a Hampton Motorcycle Accident Claim

A lawyer will help protect you and your family. Motorcycle accidents often cause severe injuries and even loss of life. Motorcyclists lack many of the protections that car passengers take for granted. A small miscalculation or a minor impact can cause injuries that last a lifetime. In a motorcycle accident claim, our experienced lawyers know how to represent you and build your claim. We’ll handle negotiations and we’ll fight for you in court to pursue the justice and compensation you need.
A lawyer is here to protect you and your interests. We’ll look out for you and your family – not for an insurance company’s interests. If you’re injured in a motorcycle accident, the insurance companies don’t see you as a person. They see a number. Our lawyers will listen to you, review your case, and do what’s needed to pursue the compensation you deserve.
A lawyer knows how to handle negotiations. If an insurance company wants to settle quickly, they may offer you far less compensation than you deserve. We know how to evaluate your claim and we’ll let you know if the insurer’s offer is fair. Experience matters in negotiations. A lawyer will put their experience to work for you.
A lawyer knows the law and process of building a strong claim. In a motorcycle accident claim, you’ll have to show many details about the accident. For example: when, where, and how the accident occurred; what caused the accident; and who was involved. You’ll also need to prove injuries and damages. A mountain of documents can be involved including medical records, police reports, expert statements, and witness testimony. We’ve handled motorcycle accidents for over 30 years and we know how to make a claim as strong as possible.
A lawyer will take the work off of your plate while you recover. Handling a motorcycle accident claim can be a tremendous amount of work. A motorcycle accident claim involves discussions with insurance companies, obtaining records, and in some cases a trial. A lawyer knows how to handle every aspect of a motorcycle accident claim. Concentrate on recovering from your injuries and let a lawyer handle the claim.
A lawyer will have your back if your case goes to trial. Many motorcycle accident claims can be settled before a trial, but sometimes a trial is necessary. Evidence rules, court rules, and trial strategy will all be involved. Our experienced trial lawyers have fought for victims like you in courts throughout Tidewater Virginia. We know how to build an effective and persuasive case to help you get the compensation you need.

Compensation After a Hampton Motorcycle Accident

If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident, an experienced legal team can help you recover the fair compensation that you may be owed. This compensation may include:

Medical bills. You can recover compensation for the treatment of injuries immediately after an accident and treatment of injuries into the future. A motorcycle accident can lead to broken bones, brain injuries, internal injuries, road rash, and many more problems. Emergency surgeries and other procedures can cost thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. Serious injuries like brain damage can require rehabilitation for the rest of a victim’s life.
Lost wages and income. Victims can recover lost wages and lost income that result from their injuries. It takes time to recover from a motorcycle accident. Physical and psychological injuries can cause victims to miss work for days, weeks, months, and even years. Injuries can cause victims to lose wages in short term, and they may also prevent a victim for working for the rest of their life. A lawyer can discuss the extent of your injuries with you and how they affect your income now and in the future.
Property damage. Compensation for damaged or destroyed property can be recovered in a motorcycle accident claim. This can include motorcycles, safety equipment, clothing, and other personal property that is damaged or destroyed in an accident. If you lost property in a motorcycle accident, it’s important to document your losses and their value. A lawyer can help you recover the value of what you lost during your accident.
Pain and suffering. Compensation for physical pain and psychological trauma may be recoverable in a motorcycle accident claim. Long-term pain can result from nerve damage, broken bones, back injuries and other conditions. This pain can prevent victims from working and doing activities they enjoyed and prevent them from leading the life they want to live. Disfigurement can cause long-term problems that severely damage a person’s long-term wellbeing. Anxiety, depression, and a host of other psychological problems can arise. A lawyer can work with you and experts to seek compensation for pain and suffering resulting from a motorcycle crash.

In Virginia, punitive damages may be available in motorcycle accident cases under certain rare circumstances. Punitive damages may be awarded in exceptional situations where the person at fault was extremely reckless. Punitive damage availability will depend on the facts of your case. A lawyer can help determine if punitive damages may be appropriate.

How Long Do You Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Hampton?

Virginia’s has a two-year statute of limitations on most personal injury lawsuits. That means that any lawsuit related to a motorcycle accident must be filed with a court before two years from the accident’s date. There are some very narrow exceptions that may extend the deadline. Failure to meet the deadline will likely mean you are barred from pursuing compensation. After an accident, don’t wait. Take action now.

For property damages, Virginia has a five-year statute of limitations on lawsuits. Maybe you walked away from the accident without injury but your motorcycle was totaled. Even if you weren’t physically harmed, there’s no reason to delay your property damage claim. The more time you and your lawyer have to work on your claim, the better off it will be.

Tips for Protecting Your Rights After a Motorcycle Accident in Hampton

After a motorcycle accident, follow these tips.

If anyone is injured, contact emergency services as soon as you can. Get the medical attention that you and others may need. Emergency medical technicians will help evaluate and treat injuries after the accident. If needed, they’ll transport victims to the hospital. Emergency services will also send police to manage the accident scene. The police will collect information about the accident and prepare a record of the incident.

Details Matter, So Document Everything.

If you can, begin documenting the accident and its aftermath. If you are injured or unable to gather information, try to get a friend or someone you trust to do that work for you.

Exchange insurance information with others involved in the accident. Give them your name, insurer’s name, and policy number. Get the same from them. Don’t give the other people involved unnecessary information such as policy limits and other coverages.
Exchange contact information with those involved in the accident. This will help police and investigators and police track down important parties.
Record the accident’s time, date, and location. If you can, draw a diagram about what happened in the accident. Stick to the facts of the accident that you’re sure about. Copy license plate numbers and be sure to note the make, model and other information about the vehicles involved.
Collect contact information from witnesses. Eyewitnesses have unique perspectives on an accident. A witness may be the only person who saw what caused an accident. If someone says they saw the crash, or you notice someone who may have witnessed the accident, gather their contact information.
Photograph the accident and the vehicles involved. This includes wide-angle shots of the scene and close-up details such as license plates and damaged parts of the vehicles. In an accident, there are many key details witnesses and police may miss. Photos can help create a permanent record of the scene. Don’t worry about taking too many photos. It’s better to have too much information than not enough.
Photograph the accident scene. Debris and pieces of vehicles can be thrown by the force of impact. Weather conditions, lighting, and other details can help give the accident context. The more detail you can capture, the better.
Document and photograph other people involved in the accident, witnesses, and emergency responders. These photos will help show who was at the accident scene and what they were doing. An accident can be a confusing time with many moving pieces. Photos will help you keep track of them.

Stay Alert and Focused on the Facts.

Accidents happen fast with a lot of moving pieces. It’s easy to miss important details. In accidents, the parties involved often think they know what happened, but they may not. Stick to the facts you’re certain of and leave the others to investigators.

Give police the facts, not opinions or assumptions. Investigators will take care of determining fault and what insurance should be involved.

Don’t blame yourself. Accidents happen in an instant, and people make assumptions about what happened. You may not have the complete picture, so don’t apologize for the accident. Liability can be determined later on when everyone is calmer and more collected.

Get a Medical Evaluation.

Some injuries are easy to see. Broken bones, cuts, and bruising provide clear symptoms that you can photograph. When you get a medical evaluation, a doctor will document them and add the injuries to your record.

Some injuries are easy to miss. Internal injuries and brain injuries, for example, may not cause problems immediately. Injuries such as whiplash may only show up after the shock of the accident has worn off. Medical evaluation will help uncover hidden injuries and document them. An evaluation also may help you get treatment for injuries you didn’t know you received.

Notify Your Insurer.

Notify your insurer that you were involved in an accident. Provide only basic facts about the accident such as when and where it happened and who was involved. If the insurance company asks for a recorded or written statement, decline to provide one until you have gotten help from a lawyer.

Keep a Journal After an Accident.

A journal can help you document how your injuries affect your life on a daily basis and over time. These details can be hard to remember without writing them down. A journal can be an essential source of information when you’re claiming particular types of damages from an accident.

Don’t Discuss the Accident on Social Media.

Social media posts are often public statements. If you’re injured in a motorcycle accident, stay off of social media and don’t talk about it with others. Investigators, insurance companies, and those who want to limit your claim will be on the lookout for your statements. Statements by victims can be misinterpreted and decontextualized. Preserve your claim and don’t give anyone else a chance to weaken it. Protect yourself and your claim by refraining from posting about the accident on social media.

Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Hampton Will Protect You!

We know how motorcycle accidents can permanently affect a victim’s life. At Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, P.C., we have represented victims injured in many types of motorcycle accidents. We’re ready to help motorcycle accident victims and their families pursue the compensation they need to rebuild their lives. With over 30 years of experience helping motorcycle riders and passengers in Hampton and throughout the Tidewater area, we know what it takes to build a powerful and convincing injury claim.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, we can help protect you and your future. Contact us today for a free consultation.