Motorcyclists in Texas suffer hundreds of accidents with larger passenger vehicles each year. A high percentage of these accidents are caused by the negligence of drivers who fail to exercise the caution necessary to share the road with motorcycles. A motorcycle is a much smaller and more vulnerable vehicle than large, enclosed cars, trucks, and SUVs—and the damage suffered in an accident can be life-altering. If your bike accident was caused by the carelessness of another driver, you may be facing medical expenses and lost wages from a collision that wasn’t your fault. A Houston motorcycle accident lawyer from our law firm may be able to help you recover compensation.
At The Mejia Law Firm, we practice personal injury law and represent riders in Houston, TX. We have experience advocating for motorcycle crash victims who were injured in accidents caused by another party’s negligence. We know that injured motorcycle crash victims often face a long road to recovery, and we devote our practice to making sure you recover financially and can move forward after an injury.
Leading Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
The majority of motorcycle accidents are caused by passenger vehicle driver error. Often, this means a car driver doesn’t see—and hits—a motorcycle while driving. A driver may be careless, distracted, or make a blatant driving error that puts bikers on the road around them at risk. These kinds of negligent and dangerous behaviors include:
- Not checking for motorcycles when merging into traffic
- Not checking blind spots when changing lanes
- Failure to yield
- Failure to use turn signals
- Illegal left-hand turns
- Carelessness when turning
- Running a red light
- Speeding
- Impaired driving (drugs or alcohol)
- Reckless driving
- Aggression and road rage
- Texting and driving
- Sudden and erratic braking
- “Dooring” (opening a car door in front of a motorcycle)
In addition to driver error, there are other causes that can contribute to a motorcycle accident. Environmental conditions like uneven surfaces, road debris, ice, low visibility, and weather factors can play a role. Defective vehicle parts can fail and cause an accident. And at times, poor road maintenance can cause a crash. Texas’ comparative negligence law recognizes that there may be more than one at-fault party in an accident. A Houston motorcycle accident lawyer from The Mejia Law Firm will work to understand exactly what caused your accident and which party (or parties) should be held accountable for the losses you suffered.
What Are the Most Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries?
We have seen far too many examples in the state of Texas of the severe injuries and even fatality a rider can suffer when their motorcycle is struck by a larger car. Two-wheeled vehicles like motorcycles already offer lower stability and less protection than other vehicles. Without seatbelts, airbags, or an enclosed frame, a motorcycle is able to provide almost no barrier between the rider and the impact.
People who ride understand the risks that come with the reward of travel by motorcycle. Catastrophic injuries that completely change a person’s life can result when a motorcycle crashes. The type and severity of injuries will depend on several factors, including how fast the vehicles were traveling at the time of collision, the angle at which the bike was struck, whether the motorcyclist was thrown from the bike, and other factors. Some of the most common motorcycle injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI)
- Concussions and whiplash
- Spinal cord injury, some resulting in paralysis
- Puncture wounds
- Lacerations
- Broken bones and fractures
- Loss of limbs or injuries resulting in amputation
- Facial disfigurement
- Burns
- Permanent physical disability
- Permanent scarring
- Road rash (first, second, or third degree road rash)
- Wrongful death
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Motorcycle Accident?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has stated that motorcyclists are approximately 29 times more likely to be killed in an accident than drivers of larger vehicles. In a car vs. motorcycle collision, motorcycles are at a severe disadvantage. Even if a biker does their best to ride safely, the negligent actions of another driver can cause them severe harm. It’s our job as Houston motorcycle accident lawyers to protect victims of this type of negligence in Texas.
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim against the party that caused your injury. When someone else’s carelessness causes you to suffer losses, the law provides a means of financial recovery. We understand the complicated nature of a motorcycle accident case, and we have the legal expertise to defend the rights of our clients. We are available to discuss legal options after a motorcycle accident with injured victims and their families in Houston, TX.