As a motorcycle rider, and as an Alexandria Va, motorcycle accident lawyer, I have seen a lot when it comes to motorcycle crashes. Riders come to me all the time with stories of crashes. While every crash is different, I have noticed some recurring patterns. When I ride, I try to stay vigilant and watch out for these situations. But crashes can occur even with vigilance, due to factors largely beyond your control; From distracted driving, and failure to yield, to hazardous road conditions and impairment.
Here is my list of the top causes of motorcycle crashes in Alexandria and things motorcyclists can do to minimize the risk:
Distracted Driving + Invisible Motorcyclists = High Risk
You see the bumper stickers all the time: motorcycles are everywhere. These serve as a reminder to drivers: PAY ATTENTION- & LOOK OUT FOR MOTORCYCLISTS. And to riders: ASSUME YOU ARE INVISIBLE.
Distracted driving is a huge risk to everyone, but especially riders. For reasons including texting drivers, and in-car entertainment, drivers fail to pay full attention to the road. But even a brief lapse can be catastrophic for a motorcyclist, as a minor impact may lead to serious injury or fatality. In Alexandria, busy intersections like Duke Street and Van Dorn Street have seen numerous incidents, many of which can be attributable to driver distraction.
Knowing that the roads are full of distracted drivers, motorcyclists must always drive assuming they are invisible. Avoid driving in blind spots more than is absolutely necessary, use your horn, wear bright clothing.
Left-Turning Vehicle – Failure to Yield
One of the most common recurring patterns I see in crashes is when an approaching driver takes a left turn in front of the motorcyclist at an intersection. Under Virginia law, unless the turning driver has a green arrow, the vehicle driving straight ahead has the right of way. See Va. Code § 46.2-825. Under that provision:
Left turn traffic to yield right-of-way.
The driver of a vehicle, intending to turn left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction if it is so close as to constitute a hazard.
While this code section clearly puts blame for crashes in this situation on the turning driver, that’s no consolation for the motorcyclist who faces the prospect of serious bodily injury if hit. Riders should approach every single intersection cautiously, assume that someone is going to turn in front of you, and plan your speed and escape route in advance.
Speeding and Reckless Driving
The higher the speed, the faster you must react to conditions. This is true for drivers and motorcyclists. And risks at high speed are compounded because the higher the speed the worse the likelihood of potential injury. High speed, and terrible crashes go hand in hand. According to motorcyclesdata.com:
Speeding is among the most common contributing factors in motor vehicle crashes worldwide, especially when it comes to motorcycle crashes. For example, in 2021, 33% of all motorcycle accidents that resulted in fatalities were due to speeding.
While motorcyclists cannot control other drivers’ speed, they can control their own. Motorcyclists passing other drivers need to be especially alert: Passing too slowly means you’re traveling in the driver’s blind spot for longer, but passing too quickly means that you may be too far away to be seen even if the driver actually checks their mirror before changing lanes which they are required to do.
Under Va. Code § 46.2-804(2). Special regulations applicable on highways laned for traffic; penalty, the law is as follows:
A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as is practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from that lane until the driver has ascertained that such movement can be made safely;
Under this code section, the burden is on a driver changing lanes to ensure the lane change can be made safely. Again, while the law protects them, that’s no consolation for the motorcyclist who faces the prospect of serious bodily injury if hit by a driver who changes lanes without looking. Riders should tread wearily when passing other drivers and give yourself a zone of safety when doing so.
Besides sideswipe crashes, high speed can also lead to other common types of crashes, such as rear-enders, or where a motorcyclist takes a turn too fast and drives off the road or into an object.
Hazardous Road Conditions
Gravel, potholes, uneven pavement, and poorly marked lanes pose a serious threat to motorcyclists. Unlike cars, motorcycles have less stability, making them more susceptible to losing control on hazardous road surfaces. Inclement weather, such as heavy rain, or icy conditions in winter, can also make roads more dangerous. Alexandria’s older roads, particularly in historic districts, often have conditions that contribute to crashes. And given all the construction in the area, gravel on the roadway is a real threat and something to watch out for.
Drunk or Impaired Driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs remains a major cause of crashes in general, and motorcycle crashes in particular. Impaired drivers have reduced reaction times and compromised judgment, making them more likely to collide with motorcyclists or other vehicles.
Unfortunately, if a motorcyclist is found to be impaired at the time of the crash in Virginia, there’s precious little any lawyer can do to help that driver even if the crash doesn’t otherwise seem to be their fault. In Virginia if a person who brings a lawsuit is found to be even 1% negligent in causing a crash, they cannot recover anything. This is true even if the other driver did something clearly wrong. It’s a complete defense to a claim.
But when an unimpaired motorcyclist is hit by an alcohol or drug-impaired driver, they can potentially recover punitive damages on top of their compensatory damages. Punitive damages are aimed at deterring not only the defendant but also sending a strong message to society about the severity of the offense. Under Virginia law, you may recover a maximum of $350,000 in punitive damages.
Va. Code § 8.01-44.5 governs “Punitive damages for persons injured by intoxicated drivers,” and provides that in a personal injury crash, the finder of fact may, in its discretion, award punitive damages of up to $350,000 to the plaintiff if the evidence proves that the defendant acted with malice toward the plaintiff or the defendant’s conduct was so willful or wanton as to show a conscious disregard for the rights of others. While this standard can be hard to prove, the statute provides a “presumption” that the standard is met in certain cases.
The presumption applies if the defendant’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was 0.15% or more. In that situation, there is a rebuttable presumption that the driver’s conduct was willful or wanton and showed a conscious disregard for others’ rights.
The BAC level can be proven using a certificate from:
- A breath test under § 18.2-268.9
- A blood test under § 18.2-268.7
- A forensic analysis under a search warrant
The defendant can try to rebut this presumption by providing evidence to challenge the accuracy of the test, timing of the BAC measurement, or other mitigating circumstances.
DUI-related crashes in Alexandria often occur late at night or on weekends, particularly in areas with a high concentration of bars and restaurants, such as Old Town. But they can happen anytime so be wary.
Local Statistics and Trends
Recent data from the Virginia DMV Traffic Crash Report 2023, available here provides additional insight into the broader impact of motorcycle crashes in Virginia, which are reflective of trends in Alexandria:
- Crashes & Trends:
- 2,127 motorcycle crashes in 2023—a 3.6% increase over 2022—accounting for 1.7% of all traffic crashes.
- 125 motorcycle fatalities in 2023 (13.8% of all traffic fatalities), marking a 12.6% increase over 2022.
- 1,558 motorcycle injuries (2.4% of all traffic injuries), a 2.8% increase over 2022.
- Fatality Breakdown by Roadway Type:
- Rural Roadways: 66 fatalities (a 10.0% increase).
- Urban Roadways: 59 fatalities (a 16.0% increase).
- Interstate Roadways: 22 fatalities (a 10.0% increase).
- Non-Interstate Roadways: 103 fatalities (a 13.2% increase).
- Crash Categories:
- Fatal Crashes: 123
- Injury Crashes: 1,469
- Property Damage Crashes: 535
- Injury and Fatality Details:
- Motorcycle Drivers Killed: 119
- Motorcycle Passengers Killed: 6
- Motorcycle Drivers Injured: 1,444
- Motorcycle Passengers Injured: 114
- Serious Injuries: 528 motorcycle persons (7.1% of all traffic serious injuries), including 486 drivers and 42 passengers.
- Driver Actions & Conditions:
- Failure to Yield was implicated in 7.8% of cases, while following too closely accounted for 11.2% of incidents.
- Approximately 45.4% of crashes involved no improper action by the motorcycle driver, emphasizing the external factors at play.
- Only 2.9% of motorcycle drivers were recorded as drinking at the time of a crash, compared to 90.2% not drinking, suggesting that external driver behavior and road conditions are key contributors.
These statistics underscore the increasing risks associated with motorcycle travel in Virginia, especially in urban areas like Alexandria.
Conclusion
Motorcycle crashes in Alexandria are terrible for all involved. The best way to avoid them is with intense situational awareness. Long time riders sometimes seem to develop a “spider sense”- allowing them to predict what’s going to happen before it happens. And this is useful. Increased vigilance, adherence to traffic laws, and better road maintenance can help reduce these incidents. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle crash due to someone else’s negligence, contact us to help you recover the maximum for pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. At the Law Office of Stan M. Doerrer, we love helping injured riders. As a fellow rider, Stan M. Doerrer understands the risks motorcyclists face every day and the challenges they encounter after a crash. We are committed to fighting for injured riders, ensuring they receive the compensation and justice they deserve. Contact us.
