Motorcycles represent nearly 2 percent of all crashes in Virginia (approximately 2,000 crashes a year), and of those riders and passengers involved in such incidents, roughly eight out of 10 are injured.
When it comes to motorcycle law, Virginia is a friendly state to riders, and lawmakers
and regulators often rely on advice and guidance from the Motorcycle Law Group when making decisions that would impact our community.

Through our work with the Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists (VCOM) and ABATE of Virginia, we have helped create laws that are fair to the motorcycling community and fought against overly restrictive regulation. Over the years, we have built a solid reputation in the motorcycling community and earned credibility with the women and men who make the state’s motorcycle statutes and regulations.

Important Virginia Motorcycle Laws

Motorcycle laws in Virginia must be followed if you want to preserve your chances of getting full compensation after an accident. If you were breaking any of the laws and the rules of the road, you could be liable for your damages, which can defeat your chances of getting any compensation at all.

Two important motorcycle laws in Virginia include:

  • Lane-splitting: The act of riding a motorcycle in between two occupied lanes of traffic is called lane-splitting. It is illegal in Virginia and can be penalized with a ticket or citation. If you were hit by a car while lane-splitting, then the driver will have an easier time blaming you for what happened.
  • Helmet use: All motorcyclists regardless of age or experience must wear a motorcycle helmet at all times while their vehicle is in operation. If you suffered a head injury in your crash but did not have a helmet on, then you could be blamed for any damages related to your head or brain injury.

It is crucial that you understand these laws and know how to fight against any arguments that say you were breaking the law when the motorcycle accident happened. Virginia uses a pure contributory negligence rule, which requires you to be 0% at fault for your crash to retain the right to sue the other party or parties for compensation. If you are even 1% at fault or liable, then your case will end.

As part of our service to motorcycle riders in Virginia, we maintain up-to-date, annotated versions of state laws and statutes for Virginia, as well as several other states where we practice. Getting accurate information starts by choosing a trusted source, and our Virginia motorcycle accident lawyers are immersed in these laws on a daily basis.