How Failed Motorcycle Inspections Can Impact Your Accident Case
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Virginia is home to nearly 200,000 registered motorcycles. If you own one, you’ll need to arrange to have an annual motorcycle inspection performed to help avoid liability in case of a potential motorcycle accident.
A Virginia motorcycle inspection will ensure your motorcycle is in good enough condition for you to safely drive it. As long as the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles deems your motorcycle “roadworthy,” you’ll receive an inspection sticker and be good to go for another year.
If, however, you drive your motorcycle down to the DMV and it leads to a failed vehicle inspection, you’ll need to make the necessary repairs before taking it back out on the road. You’ll also need to understand how a failed Virginia motorcycle inspection could impact an accident case. Learn more below.
Why Is a Virginia Motorcycle Inspection Required?
The State of Virginia requires motorcycle owners to have a motorcycle inspection done every year. The state does this to make sure all the motorcycles that travel on its 57,867-mile-long highway system as well as its 10,561-mile-long urban street system are safe.
During an inspection, the Virginia DMV will look closely at these motorcycle parts:
- Airbag
- Brakes
- Exhaust
- Lights
- Mirrors
- Horn
New Virginia motorcycle owners will also need to meet certain licensing requirements to legally ride motorcycles. This will involve passing tests and securing a permit before becoming fully licensed.
What Can Cause a Failed Vehicle Inspection for a Motorcycle?
If you own a new motorcycle, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about failing a motorcycle inspection in Virginia. As your motorcycle begins to age, though, there is a greater chance of it failing an inspection at some point.
Here are several common causes of a failed vehicle inspection for a motorcycle in Virginia:
- Damaged frame
- Misaligned wheels
- Loose steering
- Faulty shock absorbers
- Broken suspension
- Disconnected hoses
In some cases, making motorcycle repairs after failing an inspection won’t present any problems. Replacing a broken hose, for example, is a quick fix that can help you pass when you bring a motorcycle back to the Virginia DMV for a reinspection.
Can a Failed Motorcycle Inspection Impact an Accident Case?
If your motorcycle ever fails an inspection, a rejection sticker will go on it, and you’ll have no choice but to make the right repairs to help it pass a reinspection. You’ll have 15 days to schedule the appropriate repairs and have your motorcycle inspected again.
In the meantime, you may want to opt to drive another vehicle to prevent a failed motorcycle inspection from impacting an accident case if you’re involved in a crash. Otherwise, you might struggle to file a successful claim in the aftermath of this type of accident.
You might not think a failed inspection had anything to do with your involvement in an accident. But if you take legal action against another driver, their lawyer could attempt to pin liability on you for the crash because of your failed inspection sticker.
If nothing else, it’ll complicate your case and possibly prevent you from collecting the compensation you need to recover from a motorcycle accident. This is why it’s so important to repair a motorcycle right after failing an inspection instead of putting it off and continuing to ride a motorcycle with faulty parts.
Call a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer From Our Law Firm for Assistance
Were you involved in an accident on a motorcycle that failed an inspection just prior to your crash? Geoff McDonald & Associates can speak with you more about how a failed motorcycle inspection could impact your case. Reach out to us at 804-888-8888 or contact us online for more information.