The Realities Vermont Riders Face
Motorcyclists in Vermont contend with conditions that make crashes more likely and injuries more severe. Sand and gravel left over from winter road treatment, frost heaves, leaf debris on fall foliage routes, and sudden mountain weather can all destabilize a bike. Worst of all is the driver who simply does not look — the classic left-turn collision, where a car turns across a rider's path at an intersection.
Popular riding routes through the Green Mountains, along Route 100, and over Vermont's gaps and notches bring riders into contact with tourist traffic, RVs, and distracted drivers unfamiliar with the roads. A rider has none of the protection a car offers, so even a moderate-speed crash can cause life-altering harm.
Overcoming Bias Against Riders
Insurance companies often assume a motorcyclist must have been speeding or riding recklessly, and they use that bias to reduce or deny claims. An experienced attorney counters these tactics with hard evidence — scene measurements, witness statements, and reconstruction — to show what actually happened and to protect you under Vermont's comparative negligence law.
Because Vermont reduces (or bars) recovery based on your share of fault, the insurer's effort to pin blame on the rider is not just unfair — it directly threatens your compensation. That is why building an objective, well-documented case matters so much.
Recovering for Serious Motorcycle Injuries
Motorcycle crashes commonly cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, severe road rash, broken bones, and amputations. Compensation can cover emergency and ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, lost income and earning capacity, and the pain and lasting impact of these injuries. The three-year filing deadline under 12 V.S.A. § 512 generally applies.
Injured in Vermont? Get a free, confidential case review today. There's no obligation, and you pay no fee unless you win. Call 973-566-5599.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nothing upfront. Our network attorneys work on contingency, so you pay no fee unless they recover compensation for you. The case review is always free.
Generally three years from the date of injury under 12 V.S.A. § 512. Claims involving a government entity under the Vermont Tort Claims Act can have shorter notice deadlines, so it is important to act quickly.
Vermont's modified comparative negligence rule (12 V.S.A. § 1036) lets you recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault. Your compensation is reduced by your share of fault.
This page is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed Vermont attorney.