There’s nothing quite like taking your motorcycle for a spin along the coastline of Virginia Beach or touring the majestic Blue Ridge Parkway with the wind at your back. All that fun, however, comes to an end once you have a motorcycle accident. If you’ve been in a crash with your bike, understanding Virginia motorcycle laws is a must.
Below, Geoff McDonald & Associates explains Virginia’s complex motorcycle laws and how they can impact your personal injury case, especially for motorcylce accidents.
Motorcycle License Requirements
You’ll need a Class M license to operate a motorcycle in Virginia. The three Class M designations are as follows:
- Class M: Can operate both two- and three-wheeled motorcycles
- Class M2: Can operate only two-wheeled motorcycles
- Class M3: Can operate only three-wheeled motorcycles
To add a Class M designation to your license, you must visit the local DMV and pass a knowledge, vision, and road skills test. You can skip the road skills and knowledge test if you’ve completed the Virginia Rider Training Program.
Additionally, you must carry a motorcycle learner’s permit before adding a Class M designation to your license. If you’re 18 or older, you must carry the permit for 30 days. Those under 18 must carry the permit for nine months.
Registration Requirements
Adding a Class M designation to your license is not enough to legally operate a motorcycle in Virginia. Per Virginia motorcycle laws, you’ll also need to register your ride with the DMV, which currently costs $27.65. You’ll also need to purchase motorcycle insurance from a Virginia auto insurance company.
Helmet Laws
Virginia requires all motorcycle operators and passengers to wear a helmet while riding, regardless of age. Your helmet must meet or exceed the standards set by the Snell Foundation, U.S. Department of Transportation, or American National Standards Institute.
Virginia Motorcycle Laws for Safety Equipment
Other than a helmet, Virginia doesn’t require you to wear any specific protective gear, such as boots or reflective clothing, although it’s a good idea to do so anyway. Motorcycle crashes can seriously injure or kill you without such equipment.
The state does require your bike to be outfitted with certain safety features, including:
- A headlamp that’s visible from 200 feet away
- A tail light that’s visible from 500 feet away
- A working brake light
Passenger Laws
Motorcycle passengers must have their own footpegs, and they’re required to wear a helmet. You must also provide proper seating for the passenger. Your seat should be large enough that you don’t have to sit forward more than usual to fit the passenger on your bike.
Lane-Splitting
Lane-splitting is the act of riding your bike between two lanes of traffic; it is illegal in Virginia. Lane sharing, however, is perfectly legal. Lane sharing is the practice of riding in the same lane alongside another motorcycle.
If you’re involved in or cause an accident due to lane-splitting, you may not be able to recover any damages.
Virginia’s Contributory Negligence Rule
In Virginia, if you’re even slightly at fault for a motorcycle crash, you’re barred from recovering damages in a personal injury case. That’s because Virginia is just one of a few states with a pure contributory negligence rule, according to which you can’t recover any damages if you are even 1% at fault.
Learn More About Virginia Motorcycle Laws and Traffic Violations
Virginia motorcycle laws are complex, and it’s easy to accidentally break one without meaning to. If you’ve been involved in a collision or want to know more about speeding laws before hitting the road, call Geoff McDonald & Associates at 804-888-8888 or contact us online for a free consultation.