MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYERS IN HOUSTON

Motorcycle Accident Risks in Houston

The unfortunate reality is that motorcycle riders in Texas are particularly vulnerable to serious and fatal crashes.

In 2023, nearly 600 motorcyclists lost their lives in accidents, and more than 2,400 riders were seriously injured. The number of fatalities increased by 7% from the previous year, while fatal crashes at intersections increased by 21%.

These tragedies underscore the critical need for rider safety awareness and the importance of seeking qualified legal representation after a motorcycle crash.

Types of Motorcycle Accident Cases We Handle

We have a long track record of successfully assisting motorcycle riders after all types of accidents in Houston, including but not limited to the following:

• Left-Turn Accidents
  ‍A leading cause of motorcycle crashes, left-turn accidents often involve vehicles turning left in front of oncoming motorcycles.
• Rear-End Collisions
  ‍These crashes occur when drivers fail to stop in time at intersections or in heavy traffic, causing them to strike the back of a motorcycle.
• Sideswipe Accidents
  ‍When vehicles make sudden lane changes or drift into a motorcycle’s path, dangerous side-to-side collisions can be the result.
• Head-On Collisions
  ‍Although less common than other types of motorcycle accidents, head-on crashes often result in catastrophic injuries.

Regardless of the specific circumstances of your accident, our skilled attorneys can help you seek fair and adequate compensation for your losses through a personal injury claim or lawsuit.

Understanding Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Motorcycle accidents can have a profound and life-altering impact. Unlike those traveling in a car, truck, or other enclosed vehicle, motorcycle riders have very little protection in a crash, leaving them vulnerable to catastrophic injuries. Here are some of the most common injuries we see in these cases:

Head Injuries

Head injuries can come in many forms, including concussions, skull fractures, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The latter are particularly devastating and may have lifelong consequences.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Motorcycle crashes frequently result in severe damage to the spine. Such damage can lead to paralysis, loss of sensation, chronic pain, and the inability to control body functions.

Broken Bones

Due to the force of impact and ejection from the bike, broken limbs, ribs, collarbones, and pelvic bones are practically guaranteed in these types of accidents.

Internal Injuries

Internal bleeding and organ damage occur when the body is subjected to extreme forces during an impact with a vehicle or the ground. These conditions often require emergency surgeries and lengthy hospital stays.

Road Rash

While it might seem like a minor injury compared to others, the intense abrasions caused by road rash can result in permanent scarring, skin infections, and even nerve damage.

Beyond the physical pain and trauma these injuries cause, you may be left dealing with the emotional stress of mounting medical bills, lost wages from missing work, and the uncertainty of how your life might change in the future.

Our compassionate attorneys are here to offer much-needed aid. We’ll guide you through the complex legal system, answer whatever questions you may have, and pursue the financial compensation you need to move forward after a serious motorcycle accident.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Many different factors contribute to motorcycle accidents in Houston, but several emerge as recurring problems, underscoring the grave risks motorcyclists face every day. They include:

Driver Negligence

Many motorcycle accidents happen when other drivers fail to spot motorcycles or don't properly judge their speed and distance while traveling near them. This can lead to dangerous maneuvers like cutting them off, turning left in front of them, or changing lanes into them.

Speeding and Reckless Driving

Excessive speed and aggressive actions are significant hazards on the road, both for drivers of large vehicles and especially for more vulnerable motorcyclists. Such behaviors can make collisions more likely and result in much more severe injuries.

Distracted Driving

Whether it’s using a mobile device, adjusting a radio, or occupying oneself with something inside the vehicle, distracted driving drastically reduces a driver’s awareness, posing a serious risk to motorcyclists and other road users.

Impaired Driving

Driving under the influence remains one of the top contributing factors to all types of accidents. The consumption of alcohol or drugs severely hinders a driver's ability to safely operate their vehicle, endangering everyone who crosses their path.

Poor Weather or Road Conditions

Rain, wet pavement, debris, potholes, and inadequate lighting can all increase the risk of a motorcycle accident.

Malfunctions or Defects

While less common, issues like faulty brakes, tire blowouts, or defects in motorcycle components can give rise to mishaps, potentially making the manufacturer liable for resulting injuries.

Establishing Liability in Motorcycle Accidents

Determining who’s responsible for a motorcycle accident can be challenging. It's therefore crucial to have an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer on your side to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your accident and take action against all liable parties.

Here are a few examples of potentially liable parties and their negligent behavior in motorcycle accidents:

• Other Drivers
  ‍A car or truck driver might fail to yield the right-of-way, misjudge a motorcycle's speed, or change lanes carelessly, resulting in a collision.
• Truck Drivers or Trucking Companies
  ‍Due to their size and blind spots, commercial trucks pose an enormous risk to smaller and less visible motorcycles.
• Government Entities
  ‍Cities or counties can be liable if poorly maintained roads, hazardous intersections, or obscured signage contributed to the crash.

Our Houston motorcycle accident lawyers will work to identify every party responsible for your accident and ensure that you receive the maximum compensation for your losses.

Proving Negligence After a Houston Motorcycle Accident

For your motorcycle accident claim to succeed, it’s not enough to show that you were injured. You’ll need to prove that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries.

In simple terms, negligence means a person or entity failed to act with the level of care that a reasonable person would exercise in a similar situation, and their careless actions directly led to your accident.

For example, a driver might be deemed negligent if they were texting and driving and failed to yield the right-of-way, leading to a collision with a motorcycle rider. Similarly, a municipality could be considered negligent if authorities failed to repair a known dangerous pothole on a roadway and the hazard caused a rider to lose control of their motorcycle and crash.

Our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys can carefully analyze the evidence in your case to effectively demonstrate negligence on behalf of the party responsible for your injuries. In doing so, they can lay the groundwork for a strong compensation claim.

Building a Strong Case: The Evidence that Matters

Building a winning motorcycle accident case hinges on securing compelling evidence to prove that another party's negligence caused the victim’s accident and resulting injuries. This might include:

Police Reports

The official police report is a critical document that provides objective details about the accident, including a thorough description of events and statements from involved parties and witnesses.

Photos and Videos

Visual evidence from the accident scene can help experts reconstruct how the crash occurred, indicate the severity of the impact, and depict adverse road conditions or other contributing factors.

Medical Records

Thorough medical records are necessary for demonstrating the nature and extent of your injuries. Make sure to document all diagnoses, treatments, medications, and medical bills, along with any ongoing therapies you require.

Witness Testimony

Eyewitnesses who were on the scene when the accident occurred can provide firsthand accounts to corroborate your version of events.

Expert Testimony

Our team might call upon accident reconstruction experts or medical specialists to provide testimony to further support your claims regarding fault and the impact of your injuries.

How We Support Motorcycle Crash Victims

Turnbull Legal Group is committed to providing steadfast advocacy and support throughout every stage of your motorcycle accident claim. We do this by lending cases individualized attention, guiding clients through the legal process step-by-step, and fighting to protect their rights.

Here’s how our empathetic team can help you:

Gathering Strong Evidence

Our team will thoroughly investigate your accident, gather evidence to establish negligence, and interview witnesses to support your position.

Negotiating with Insurance Companies

We'll communicate and negotiate directly with the insurance companies on your behalf, ensuring that you don't get pressured into accepting a lowball settlement that doesn’t reflect your needs.

Pursuing Litigation

If our skilled trial lawyers can’t reach a fair settlement through negotiation, they’re fully prepared to take your case to court and fight aggressively for your right to compensation.

Filing a Wrongful Death Claim After a Tragic Loss

Losing a loved one in a fatal motorcycle accident can be devastating. If the accident was the result of another person or entity’s negligence, Texas law allows the surviving family members to file a wrongful death claim to seek compensation.

Our attorneys routinely help families pursuing wrongful death claims understand their legal rights and guide them through the procedural steps required to see that justice is done.

Seeking Fair Compensation: What's Your Case Worth?

Determining the prospective value of a motorcycle accident injury claim is complex. As such, it's essential to work with a seasoned lawyer who understands how these cases are evaluated in Texas. A wide range of factors can contribute to a claim's worth, including:

• The Severity of Your Injuries
  ‍Catastrophic injuries often result in significant damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.
• The Extent of Fault
  ‍If you were partially at fault for the accident, your damages may be reduced in proportion to your estimated level of responsibility.
• Insurance Coverage Limits
  ‍The at-fault party’s available insurance coverage can also affect the amount of compensation you can recover.

Our Houston motorcycle accident attorneys will carefully review all aspects of your case and strive to achieve the best possible financial outcome on your behalf.

Tips to Maximize Your Chances of a Successful Claim

If you hope to secure compensation after a motorcycle accident, you’ll need to take certain steps to protect your legal rights from the outset. Here’s what to do:

Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Getting a thorough medical evaluation is vital for both your well-being and to document the extent of your injuries. Make it a point to hold onto all medical records, bills, and treatment plans, as they’ll be useful to your claim.

Collect and Preserve Evidence

If possible, take pictures or videos of the accident scene, including the damage to your bike, your injuries, and any road hazards that might have contributed to the crash.

Talk to a Lawyer

Speak with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney at Turnbull Legal Group as soon as you can to ensure that your rights are protected. Your lawyer will be a staunch advocate and ally, helping you fulfill the necessary legal requirements as your case takes shape.

Compensation Available After a Motorcycle Accident

Texas law makes various forms of financial compensation available to help injured individuals and their families recover from their losses after motorcycle accidents. Some of the types of damages you may be eligible for include:

• Medical Expenses
  ‍Past and future medical costs, including treatment, medication, rehabilitation, therapy, and assistive devices.
• Lost Wages
  ‍Compensation for income lost due to the inability to work after an injury.
• Pain and Suffering
  ‍Payment for the physical and emotional pain and suffering endured due to the accident.
• Property Damage
  ‍Costs associated with repairing or replacing vehicles or other property.
• Loss of Consortium
  ‍Special compensation meant to address the loss of the injured person’s companionship, support, and affection.

In cases involving fatalities, the deceased individual’s surviving loved ones can seek damages as part of a wrongful death claim. These damages are intended to offset funeral and burial costs, the loss of the deceased’s income or companionship, and mental anguish.

Assigning Shared Fault in Accidents

Just because you were partially at fault for your accident doesn't mean you can't still receive compensation.

Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means those who had a hand in causing their accidents can seek compensation for their losses as long as their share of fault doesn’t exceed 50%. Here’s how it works:

Determining Fault

If you file a lawsuit for your injuries, a judge or jury will assess the percentage of fault attributable to each party involved. For instance, you might be found 20% at fault for not wearing a helmet, while a car driver is 80% at fault for running a red light and hitting you.

Awarding Damages

Provided your percentage of fault is 50% or less, you’ll receive compensation for your injuries, though the amount will be reduced by your percentage of fault. In the example above, you would only be able to recover 80% of the total calculated damages.

Essential Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Accident

Knowing how to respond in the moments after a motorcycle accident is crucial for protecting yourself, your well-being, and your right to seek compensation. Here’s what to do in the immediate aftermath of a crash:

Check for Injuries

If you're able, check yourself and anyone else involved for signs of injury and call 911 immediately. Never assume that injuries are minor, as adrenaline can mask pain, and internal trauma may not always be immediately obvious.

Move to Safety

If it’s safe to do so, move yourself and your motorcycle out of the way of traffic to a safer location and wait there for the first responders to arrive.

Gather Information

Exchange insurance and contact information with all involved parties and witnesses. Take photos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and any visible injuries you've sustained. If there were other contributing factors, like potholes or bad weather, try to document those as well.

Call the Police

Wait for the police to arrive at the scene. The official accident report the responding officer creates will be indispensable evidence in a potential legal claim.

Avoid Admitting Fault

Be careful not to admit fault for the accident, even if you believe you might have been partially responsible. The at-fault party of their legal representation could use any admissions you make to cheat you out of your entitled compensation.

Seek Medical Attention

Even if you initially feel fine, it's wise to get a thorough medical evaluation. Some injuries, like concussions or soft tissue damage, may not manifest right away. A medical report documenting your injuries will be crucial for any future insurance claims or legal proceedings.

Contact Turnbull Legal Group

Connect with a qualified motorcycle accident lawyer to discuss your case, clarify your rights and legal options, and find out how we can help you pursue justice and fair compensation.

Filing Deadlines in Texas

In Texas, injury victims have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit after a motorcycle accident. This is known as the statute of limitations. It's important to act quickly to protect your legal rights, as missing the deadline could bar you from receiving compensation, even if you have a valid case.

For most personal injury lawsuits, the statute of limitations in Texas is two years from the date of the accident. That means you have 24 months from the day the crash occurred to file a claim with the court.

There are limited exceptions to this rule. For example, the deadline might be extended in certain cases if the injured person was a minor at the time of the accident or the at-fault party concealed information related to their liability.

Relying on these exceptions is risky. To ensure that you don’t miss the filing window and jeopardize your rights, consult an attorney as soon as possible after your crash.