Tom McGrath left the comforts of a large law firm in 1991 to form a one-man personal injury practice dedicated to treating clients with a personal touch. Soon after, Tom – an avid motorcyclist – became aware that bikers were being denied access to the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes in Northern Virginia, an act he believed was discriminatory and violated the law.
Tom took on the fight at the General Assembly to open HOV lanes to motorcyclists – and won. From then on, Tom was not only the guy injured riders approached when they needed help, but the guy people turned to when their rights were violated, and the one lawmakers trusted to guide them on fair motorcycle laws. He quickly merged his legal practice with his passion for motorcycling.
“There were many attorneys advertising motorcyclist representation, but few lawyers if any actually rode bikes and no one was doing the work to protect the right to ride,” Tom recalls. “As a motorcyclist, I felt there needed to be someone who could not only represent riders when they are injured but tap into a personal passion of motorcycling to represent our community in front of lawmakers and regulators.”
Since Motorcycle Law Group began, there have been numerous changes in motorcycle laws in Virginia and in the states where the firm is active, thanks to Tom and the team’s efforts. He founded a political action committee, the Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists (VCOM), to create legislative support for motorcycle issues. In 2008, he challenged the City of Myrtle Beach, S.C.’s anti-motorcycle ordinances and had them overturned by the Supreme Court of South Carolina – all at no cost to his clients.
RECOGNITIONS
- Virginia Governor’s Transportation Safety Award
- “Hero,” Easyriders Magazine
- Silver Spoke Award, National Coalition of Motorcyclists
- Motorcycle Safety Award, Motorcycle Safety Foundation
SERVICE
- Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists (VCOM)
- ABATE of Virginia
- Virginia Biker’s Association
- Virginia Governor’s Motorcycle Advisory Council
- Commonwealth Transportation Safety Board
EDUCATION
- A., Belmont Abbey College
- D., University of South Carolina School of Law
Tom is retired from the Motorcycle Law Group, but still maintains licenses to practice law in Virginia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
