A motorcyclist has almost nothing between them and the road, so when a driver doesn’t see them, the results are life-changing. Too often those riders are then blamed for a crash a careless driver caused. Decker Law knows how to push back on that bias, prove what really happened, and pursue the full compensation an injured rider deserves. For more than 60 years, we’ve represented injured people across Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and all of Hampton Roads. Call 757-622-3317 for a free consultation, available 24/7.
WHY MOTORCYCLE CASES ARE DIFFERENT
Most motorcycle crashes aren’t the rider’s fault. The single leading cause is a car turning left across a motorcyclist’s path — a driver who “didn’t see” the bike, misjudged its speed, or drifted out of a lane and into a rider in a blind spot. Yet insurance companies count on a bias that riders are reckless, and they use it to shift blame and shrink offers. Overcoming that starts with evidence: the scene, the sightlines, the other driver’s account, and the physics of the crash.
Virginia’s rules raise the stakes further. Lane splitting is illegal here, and the Commonwealth requires every rider to wear a helmet — details a defense lawyer will try to use against you. More importantly, Virginia’s pure contributory negligence rule means that if the insurer can pin even a sliver of fault on the rider, it can deny the claim outright. That’s why how fault is framed matters so much, and why experienced local representation is worth having from the start.
THE RISK TO RIDERS IS REAL
1,500+
motorcyclists injured on Virginia roads each year
60+
years Decker Law has fought for the injured in Hampton Roads
10%
of Virginia traffic deaths is a motorcyclist — though riders are a small share of the road
MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS: WHAT TO KNOW
What causes most motorcycle accidents?
Left-turning vehicles are the leading cause, followed by drivers changing lanes into a rider’s blind spot, rear-end hits, and dooring from parked cars. Alcohol and speed play a role in many serious crashes too.
Is lane splitting legal in Virginia?
No. Riding between lanes of traffic is illegal in Virginia. If a crash happens while lane splitting, expect the other side to raise it — which is one more reason to have a lawyer.
Does not wearing a helmet hurt my claim?
Virginia requires helmets for all riders, and the defense may argue a missing helmet contributed to your injuries. It doesn’t automatically end your claim, but it’s an issue we address head-on.
What should I do after a motorcycle crash?
Get medical care immediately, document the scene and the other vehicle, and avoid giving the other insurer a recorded statement until you’ve spoken with a lawyer. Early evidence often decides these cases.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Joseph Rigney
A Chesapeake native and former prosecutor, Joseph Rigney focuses on personal injury and criminal defense, including traffic law. He tries both civil and criminal cases in the courts of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, and Newport News.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Jeffrey Partington
A Virginia Beach native, Jeffrey Partington serves clients in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and business law, and has worked both sides of the aisle. He practices in the courts of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News, Portsmouth, Hampton, and Suffolk.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
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.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Michelle Parker
Michelle Parker concentrates on personal injury, elder law, wills, trusts and estates, litigation, corporate law, and criminal defense. She handles civil, probate, and traffic cases throughout the seven cities of Greater Hampton Roads.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Cole Roberts
A Norfolk native and former Public Defender, Cole Roberts represents clients in criminal defense and traffic matters, from reckless driving and DUI to serious felonies. He has tried numerous jury cases across the seven Hampton Roads cities.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
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.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
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.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Joel Weintraub
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.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
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.
Insurers assume riders are reckless. We come ready to dismantle that assumption with evidence, not apology.
We reconstruct the crash
Left-turn and blind-spot cases turn on sightlines and speed. We rebuild exactly what happened.
We know Virginia’s rules
Helmet and lane-splitting laws get used against riders. We keep them from sinking your claim.
CONTACT DECKER’S MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS
The bias against riders is real — but it’s beatable with the right evidence and the right advocate. The sooner we start, the more we can preserve. Reach us by text, chat, phone, or email — or call right now at 757-622-3317.
KEEP UP WITH DECKER LAW
December 2 2025
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