Augusta County Virginia Motorcycle Accident
The Virginia State Police is reporting a fatal motorcycle accident which occurred on July 3, 2020 in Augusta County just on Lyndhurst Road (Route 664). According to the press release from the State Police, Brandon Galloway of Waynesboro, Virginia, was driving a 2014 Lexus when he ran off the right side of the road, over-corrected. Galloway then swerved into the westbound lane of Route 664 hitting Timothy Painter, who was driving a 2003 Harley Davidson. The driver of a second motorcycle, Roger Holmes, ran off the road and struck a highway sign to avoid a collision with Galloway.
Timothy Painter died at the scene of the accident. Roger Holmes was flown to UVA Medical Center with serious injuries. Galloway has been charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Motorcycle Accidents = Deadly Results
The outcome of many motorcycle crashes is unfortunately deadly. Because motorcycles are frequently less visible to other drivers and are more easily turn over, motorcyclists and their passengers are often more susceptible to injury when involved in a collision.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2017, 5,172 motorcyclists died in crashes. The data from 2017 shows that motorcyclists are about 27 times more likely to die in crashes than are occupants of passenger vehicles.
The NHTSA also estimates that, in 2017, helmets saved the lives of 1,872 motorcyclists involved in crashes and were 37% effective in preventing fatal injuries to riders and their passengers. If all motorcycle accident victims who were involved in a collision in 2017 had been wearing a helmet, an additional 749 lives could have been saved.
How Long Can I Wait to Call a Lawyer?
When you’re injured in a motorcycle accident in Virginia and West Virginia, you must be aware of the statute of limitations which applies in your particular case. The statute of limitations refers to the time you have following an accident to file a lawsuit. In Virginia and West Virginia, this time limit depends upon the circumstances of your accident and injury. The time limitation starts to run on the date of the accident. Filing a claim with an insurance company does not extend or delay the time.
The longer you wait to contact an attorney, the greater the risk that the statute of limitations time limit will expire. If it does, you may lose your right to sue the at-fault party and recover compensation for your injuries. If you have suffered a motorcycle accident injury and someone else is at fault, you should contact a personal injury attorney at the earliest possible time. Contacting an experienced personal injury lawyer early in your case will help prevent deadlines from expiring and will allow your case to be properly prepared.
To be able to determine whether you have a case, your lawyer needs to thoroughly investigate the details about your accident and injuries. Investigating the accident and collecting information is much easier if it occurs quickly after the accident has happened. A time delay can result in many problems like lost evidence and witnesses who can’t be found.
When you hire a lawyer to handle your motorcycle accident claim, he or she will first negotiate with the insurance company to try to settle your claim. If settlement negotiations break down, your attorney will prepare to file a lawsuit and prepare your case for trial. For this reason, it is especially important that you get an experienced lawyer to help with your case, such as one certified through the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Here’s how we can help you with your motorcycle accident case today
- Download our free book, Serious Auto Accident Injuries. This resource can help you start thinking about your car accident case.
- Call our office at (800) 277-6124 and speak to our staff about your case. You can schedule a time to talk with one of our attorneys, or just ask a few questions about your motorcycle accident case. It doesn’t cost anything to give us a call!
- Browse our collection of articles, FAQs, and blog posts about personal injury cases. If you don’t see your question answered there, fill out a contact form on our website and tell us more about your situation.
At the Ritchie Law Firm, our top priority is helping you get a fair result for your case so you can get back to living your life. We have 5 offices where we can meet with you in Virginia as well as West Virginia.
Talk with a Virginia Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one suffered significant injuries in a motorcycle accident in Virginia or West Virginia, Ritchie Law Firm is here to help. The experienced, certified attorneys at the Ritchie Law Firm has helped thousands of injured victims and their families recover the compensation they deserve after an accident. Contact us by phone at
800-277-6124
or by using our online contact form.
Ritchie Law Firm is a personal injury law firm devoted to helping individuals who have suffered serious and catastrophic injuries or lost a loved one as a result of someone else’s negligence. Ritchie Law Firm serves all of Virginia, while helping clients in cities and surrounding areas of Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, Staunton, and Winchester also serves clients in West Virginia, including Martinsburg, WV.
The Ritchie Law Firm handles motorcycle accident cases in the counties of Virginia, including Augusta County; we are Augusta motorcycle injury lawyers/Augusta motorcycle accident lawyers.
