Virginia Motorcycle Accident Statistics

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles reports that there were 2,127 motorcycle accidents statewide in 2023, the most recent year with available data. This represents a 3.6% increase in the number of motorcycle crashes reported in 2022. The crashes resulted in 125 fatalities, a 12.6% increase over the previous year.

In 2023, there were:

• 2,127 motorcycle crashes
• 121 motorcycle crashes resulting in fatalities
• 1,620 motorcycle crashes resulting in injuries
• 386 motorcycle crashes resulting in property damage only

Overall, 125 motorcycle riders were killed in traffic collisions in 2023, including 118 drivers and seven passengers. While motorcycle collisions accounted for just 1.7% of all traffic collisions, they resulted in 13.8% of traffic fatalities.

Furthermore, 1,719 motorcycle riders were injured in crashes that year, including 1,620 riders and 99 passengers. Motorcycle accidents accounted for 2.7% of all traffic injuries in 2023. Of these, 738 injuries were designated as serious, accounting for 9.9% of all serious traffic injuries that year.

About 10% of fatal motorcycle accidents occurred on interstate highways. Some 56.8% of fatal collisions involved multiple vehicles, while 43.2% involved a single vehicle.

Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Virginia

According to the DMV, motorcyclists did not take improper action in 37.7% of the accidents that police investigated. Among crashes involving operator error on the part of the motorcyclist, the most common mistakes were as follows:

• Speeding, 7.8% of accidents
• Following too close, 6.6% of accidents
• Attempt to avoid other vehicle, 3.0% of accidents
• Improper lane change, 2.4% of accidents
• Failure to yield, 1.7% of accidents
• Improper passing, 1.6% of accidents
• Ran traffic control, 1.5% of accidents

Of the 2,184 motorcyclists involved in accidents in 2023, 115 were found to have been drinking, while 1,976—over 90%—were sober.

Types of Compensation

A motorist or other party who causes a motorcycle accident could owe the injured rider compensation for what they’ve suffered. This could include money for the following:

• Medical expenses, including for emergency transport, surgeries, hospital stays, pharmaceutical drugs, and ongoing rehab
• Lost income, including wages, salary, tips, bonuses, benefits, and promotions
• Decreased earning potential if the rider’s injuries affect their career prospects
• Repair or replacement of damaged property, including the affected motorcycle
• Pain and suffering, or the physical and emotional discomfort of the rider’s injuries
• Reduced quality of life if the rider’s injuries affect their ability to take part in favorite activities or result in visible scarring and disfigurement

If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident in Virginia, get in touch with an experienced personal injury lawyer. They can review your case and determine how much you could be owed.

Do I Have a Case If I Was Partially at Fault?

Virginia follows the old contributory negligence law, which holds that an injured party cannot recover compensation if they are in any way at fault for their injuries. So, if you are partially to blame for the motorcycle accident, you cannot recover any compensation at trial—even if the other party was primarily at fault.

Fortunately, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, if the other driver had the last clear opportunity to avoid the accident but failed to take it, they could owe you compensation. An experienced Virginia motorcycle accident lawyer can investigate the accident, determine whether the other motorist failed to prevent the accident from happening, and help you demand the compensation you deserve.

Contact a Virginia Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Have you been injured in a motorcycle accident in Virginia? If someone else is to blame for what happened, you could be owed compensation. Contact a Virginia motorcycle accident lawyer with Law Tigers to discuss your options during a free consultation, and ask us about our Rider Benefit Kit.