Motorcycle Accident Frequently Asked Questions

Sep 10, 2013
McDonald Injury Law

How many Virginia residents were injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2012?

The number of Virginia residents who were injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents increased in 2012.  According to the Commonwealth of Virginia 2012 Virginia Traffic Crash Facts, 123,579 traffic crashes were reported in 2012 – a 2.5% increase from 2011.  Of those, 67,004 persons were injured, a 5.7% increase from 2011 and 775 persons were killed, a 1.4% increase from 2011.

How can a Virginia car accident attorney help me?

An experienced Virginia car accident attorney understands Virginia driving laws, how the DMV and legal process for driving infractions works and the types of compensation available to car accident victims under personal injury and wrongful death laws.  Having an advocate on your side can make all the difference and the experienced car accident attorneys at Geoff McDonald & Associates may be able to increase the amount of compensation you receive.

How many fatal car accidents occur in the United States every year?

According to the 2013 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Traffic Safety Facts, an estimated 34,080 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2012 – an increase of about 5.3 percent from 2011.

How many fatal auto accidents involve unsafe driving behavior?

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, more than half of all deadly auto accidents involve at least one unsafe driving behavior – usually aggressive driving.

How many fatal motor vehicle accidents specifically involve distracted drivers using cell phones, texting and reading text messages?

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, distracted driving is responsible for over 3,000 motor vehicle fatalities every year.

There are three main sources of driver distraction – and the possibility of fatalities occurring increases when more than one of the following is present:

  1. Visual distraction (eyes off the road)
  2. Manual distraction (hands off the wheel)
  3. Cognitive distraction (mind off the task)

Who are the riskiest drivers on the road?

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, teens are among the riskiest drivers on the road, crashing four times more often than adult drivers do.  In fact, car crashes are the leading cause of death among people age 16-20, killing more than 5,600 teens each year.

How many fatal motorcycle accidents occur in the United States every year?

According to a recently published Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) national study, there were 4,612 motorcycle accidents that resulted in fatalities in 2012 – an increase of 9% from 2011.

How many fatal truck accidents occur in the United States every year?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) 2013 Traffic Safety Facts, 3,757 (12%) of all the motor vehicle traffic fatalities involved large trucks (gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000 pounds) in 2011. Of the fatalities that resulted from crashes involving large trucks, 72 percent were occupants of other vehicles, 17 percent were occupants of large trucks, and 11 percent were non-occupants.

What types of damages are available in a motor vehicle accident?

Depending upon the type of accident, how the accident occurred and what type of injuries (or death) were suffered, motor vehicle accident victims and their families may be entitled to compensation in the form of:

  • Medical bills – past and future
  • Loss of wages / income – past and future
  • Physical & Emotional pain and suffering – past and future
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • & many more

An experienced accident attorney will be able to determine exactly what types of damages you might be entitled to receive.

How long do I have to file a lawsuit seeking compensation from a motor vehicle accident?

Virginia’s statute of limitations prohibits filing a lawsuit for motor vehicle accident compensation after two (2) years.  If you’ve been injured, it’s important to contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney in Richmond to protect your rights.