Motorcyclists are involved in nineteen percent of the fatal and serious injury crashes on Norfolk’s streets — far more than their share of the traffic. Then the claim starts, and in Virginia a rider found even slightly at fault recovers nothing at all. Decker Law has represented injured riders in this city’s courts since 1961. Call 757-622-3317 for a free consultation — any hour, no obligation.
IN VIRGINIA, A RIDER STARTS THE CLAIM BEHIND
Motorcycle claims are not car claims with a different vehicle on the form. Adjusters arrive with an assumption — that the rider was going too fast, filtering, taking a risk — and in Virginia that assumption is unusually dangerous. Under our contributory negligence rule, a rider found even slightly at fault recovers nothing at all.
So the work is front-loaded and specific. Establish the sight lines at that intersection. Document the driver’s failure to yield. Get ahead of the rider-fault story before it hardens in a claim file. The most common case we see is the left turn — a driver crossing a rider’s path and reporting that they simply never saw the bike. “I never saw the bike” is not a defense. It’s an admission, and it’s provable.
Where these cases are filed, they’re filed in the Norfolk General District Court or the Circuit Court, and we’ve appeared before nearly every judge who has sat in either.
HOW WE WORK A RIDER’S CASE
We attack the assumption first
The rider-at-fault story is the insurer’s opening move. It’s our first target, not an afterthought.
Left turns are provable
“I never saw the bike” is an admission of failure to look. We prove what was visible from where that driver was sitting.
Week one decides it
Virginia’s all-or-nothing fault rule makes early evidence everything. Scene photographs and witness memory don’t improve with time.
WHERE NORFOLK RIDERS GET HIT
The City of Norfolk’s own crash data puts motorcyclists in nineteen percent of the fatal and serious injury crashes on city streets — up from eighteen percent a few years earlier, and far above riders’ share of the traffic. Virginia as a whole sees more than two thousand motorcycle crashes a year.
Norfolk’s geography plays into it. Ocean View Avenue and Tidewater Drive carry steady volume past constant turn movements and parked cars. Downtown, the Granby Street grid puts riders alongside pedestrians and opening doors in tight quarters. The tunnel approaches stack traffic in ways that leave a rider with nowhere to go.
Riders here also tend to be hurt worse. A car crash at the same speed produces a claim about a bumper; the same collision on a bike produces one about a shoulder, a femur, or a career. We build the file for what the injury will still cost in five years, not what the first offer covers this month.
Joel Weintraub has been practicing law for over 40 years and focuses his practice on civil litigation involving disputes between individuals and corporations. Joel’s recent cases involve corporate litigation, personal injury, business law, will and trust contests and interpretation, shareholder rights, and estate administration.
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Peter Decker, III
Peter Decker, III focuses his practice on criminal, traffic, and personal injury. He regularly practices in the General District, Juvenile and Domestic Relations, and Circuit Courts of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Hampton, Suffolk and Newport News.
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George Neskis
George Neskis represents clients charged with criminal and traffic offenses — from DUI and reckless driving to felony matters — and also handles personal injury. A former Norfolk Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, he practices across all seven Hampton Roads cities and has been named to Super Lawyers for criminal defense.
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Martin Thomas, Jr.
Martin Thomas, Jr. focuses on personal injury, criminal, and traffic law, along with contract law and civil litigation. He tries cases in the courts of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake, and serves on Norfolk City Council.
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Martin Thomas
Martin Thomas is the firm’s president and managing attorney, concentrating on personal injury, criminal, and traffic law. He handles multimillion-dollar injury cases throughout Virginia and has been named to Super Lawyers for personal injury.
injury clients represented in Norfolk in the last two years
16,000+
injury clients represented since 1995
65+
years practicing in Norfolk’s courts
HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE DECKER LAW HAS HELPED
Roy T.
Attorney Peter G. Decker III is a great person of the year for Norfolk. Pete grew up with and has a lot of old school experience. He knows how to make you feel like he really cares about you. He has modernized the Decker law firm. It is a smooth running, efficient operation which contributes to his success.If you need an attorney and you like to win I recommend the Decker law firm in Norfolk Virginia. Mr. Peter G. Decker III is a winner.
When my wife and I were having safety issues within our apartment and needed to break the lease, we were put in touch with Mr. Thomas at the Decker Firm. He was able to swiftly negotiate the termination of our lease with no penalty to us, and ensured we were able to get out of an unsafe situation. We cannot overstate how exceptional his service was; professional, responsive, kind, and fast, we are grateful to have had their assistance. Highly recommend anyone from their Firm.
I was very happy with the work Jeff Partington did on my case, and the Decker law firm , confidently and meticulously covering all the details of my case, when we stepped into the courtroom that day, I was glad he was my lawyer. He actually took the time to make sure, i understood and had no questions, thank you for ALL your help.
I highly recommend Mr. Cole Roberts for anyone needing expert legal representation. I was facing a speeding charge of 20 mph over, and he successfully got it reduced to a non-moving violation for faulty equipment.Although his firm is based in Norfolk, he personally came up to Yorktown to handle my case, which I truly appreciated. As someone on active duty, it was a huge relief that the firm understood the unpredictability of my work. They were fully prepared to handle everything and work around my schedule if I had been sent out of town for my court date.Their communication was top-notch. They always picked up the phone or responded quickly, which gave me a lot of peace of mind throughout the process. If you need a firm that is efficient, proactive, and delivers results, this is the one to call.
Decker Law Firm represented me in Norfolk Traffic Court and the case was dismissed! Pete Decker III professionalism and courteous court appearance was refreshing, competent and very straight forward in all communications. I highly recommend this law firm for any representation needed in a court of law.
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