Plano, TX Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

CALL (800) 863-5312 TO SPEAK WITH PLANO MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYERS FOR FREE

Motorcycles are lighter, faster, and quicker than the average car on the road. But with fewer structural safety measures, riders are more likely to be seriously injured in a crash. These injuries can cause significant emotional pain and suffering and financial strain from medical bills, lost wages, and motorcycle repairs.

Let us help put you back on the road to recovery. The motorcycle injury attorneys at Zinda Law Group have experience representing motorcycle accident victims to seek the compensation they deserve. Call us today at (800) 863-5312 for a free attorney consultation with our experienced Plano motorcycle accident lawyers.

CAUSES OF MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS

As a smaller vehicle on the road, motorcyclists are often less visible to drivers. In 2019, 412 motorcyclists were killed in Texas, and more than 1,800 were seriously injured. While there are a number of factors that contribute to a crash, drivers can make mistakes that seriously injure motorcyclists. These include:

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Speeding

Speeding can affect a driver’s reaction time, ability to brake, and effectively dodge obstacles. This reduced reaction time means that when drivers hit motorcyclists, they do so at a higher impact, which causes more severe injuries.

Impaired Driving

Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs are more likely to kill a motorcycle rider. Impaired driving may result in weaving across lanes, quickly accelerating or decelerating, swerving, tailgating, or driving without headlights at night.

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Distracted Driving

When a driver checks their phone or takes their eyes off the road, then they are not focused on the road and the vehicles around them. It only takes a few distracted seconds for a driver to seriously injure or kill a motorcyclist.

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Left Turns & Intersections

In 2019, 30% of Texas motorcycle deaths occurred in an intersection or were intersection-related. When drivers failed to look twice, slow down, or respect the right-of-way, intersections and turns can be deadly for motorcyclists.

Improper Lane Change

When drivers fail to check their blind spots or fail to signal when they are changing lanes, this can have serious consequences for motorcyclists, who will have little time or space to avoid an oncoming car.

Failing to Wear a Helmet

Motorcyclists should always wear a helmet. In 2019, 45% of riders killed in an accident were not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

COMMON INJURIES

A motorcycle accident can result in a variety of injuries for a rider. While some injuries may be temporary, others may cause a permanent disability. Some of the most common injuries that motorcyclists face include:

Head Injuries

Motorcyclists should always wear a helmet to prevent head injuries, but in a severe crash, this may not be enough to prevent traumatic brain injuries. Depending on the severity of the accident, a brain injury may require extensive hospitalization, surgery, and rehabilitation. Even with these measures, a severe head injury may result in a lifelong disability.

Chest Injuries

Chest injuries can include broken ribs or punctured lungs, which make it difficult and painful to breathe. Other internal organs may also be damaged and cause internal bleeding.

Spine

A damaged or broken spine can have severe effects, including lifelong paralysis and the need for a wheelchair. The continued expense of specialists, loss of income, and pain and suffering that goes along with a spinal cord injury can be lifelong.

Broken Limbs

A broken bone may require x-rays, surgeries, and casts. Injured motorcyclists frequently break their leg, which can also mean you need to stay off of your feet and take time off of work.

Road Rash

There are varying degrees of severity of road rash, but it occurs when the skin meets the road and is scraped and cut up. Depending on how deep the scrapes are, nerves and tissues can be damaged and require skin graft surgery, all of which can put motorcyclists at an increased risk for infections.

WHAT TO DO AFTER A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT

A motorcycle accident may leave you upset, confused, and hurt. The days and weeks following an accident may feel overwhelming. However, the following steps should be taken to help ensure that you are able to pursue the maximum damages after a motorcycle accident.

Get Evaluated by A Medical Professional

Be sure to visit your doctor as soon as possible to determine if you need medical treatment if you do not immediately receive medical care at the scene of the accident. Even after you leave the hospital or doctor’s office, be sure to watch for any additional signs or symptoms of injuries that can occur in the days following an accident.

Document Your Damage

If you were unable to take pictures at the scene of the accident, be sure to take photos of the damage to your motorcycle and any injuries you sustained as soon as possible. These pictures may be used later on to demonstrate the extent of your injuries and damage.

Obtain the Police Report

If a police officer responded to your accident, he or she will have filled out an accident report. If you were not given a copy at the scene of the accident, call the police department to ask for a copy of the accident report or how to access this report once it becomes available.

Notify Your Insurance Company

After you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, your insurance company needs to be notified. However, it is best to call an experienced motorcycle injury attorney first for a few reasons.

1. Recorded conversations

When an insurance agent speaks with you, they will frequently record the call, hoping to find evidence that an accident was your fault. Insurance agents are trained to use leading questions, which may result in an answer that doesn’t tell the full story. These recordings can be used in court to hurt your chances of recovering money from the other party.

2. Unknown extent of injuries

You may not know how severe your injuries are when you talk to an insurance agent. A call that occurs a day or two after an accident will not account for the many long-lasting medical issues that can arise later on.

3. Unfair settlement offer

It may be tempting to settle the accident with an insurance company right away. However, insurance companies operate to pay as little as possible. This may not be the actual value of your case and may be insufficient to cover your expenses. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can help ensure that if you settle, it’s for a fair amount.

Document Your Expenses

Hospital costs, missed work, and bike repairs can quickly add up and make a motorcycle accident very expensive. It’s important that you keep track of all receipts and paperwork related to your accident. This could include:

Hospital and doctor bills
Insurance coverage
Physical therapy
Chiropractor bills
Dental bills
Documented time taken off from work due to any injuries
Receipts for the repair or replacement of your motorcycle
Receipts for a rental motorcycle while yours is being repaired

FAQs

What If I Am Partially Responsible for Causing the Accident?

Even if you believe you may be partially at fault for causing the accident, you may still be entitled to recover money. In Texas, fault can be shared between the parties through the state’s modified comparative fault law. For example, if you were found to be 20% and the other driver was 80% responsible for the accident, you could still recover some money. However, any money you received would be reduced proportionately, by 20%.

It is important to note that if you are found to be more than 50% at fault in a motorcycle accident, then you will be unable to recover damages from another party. Determining fault and recovery can be complicated, but an experienced motorcycle accident attorney may help navigate the process for you.

How Much Time Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?

To file a lawsuit for injuries that you received in a motorcycle accident, you’ll need to be aware of the time limits, or statutes of limitations, that are in place. In Texas, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a claim for your injuries.

Even though you have two years to file a lawsuit, it is best to contact a Plano motorcycle injury lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer may help ensure that you can seek the money you deserve because witnesses can be hard to find, memories may fade, and critical evidence may no longer be available.

CONTACT A PLANO MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER

If you have been injured in a motorcycle crash, our motorcycle accident attorneys may help. We understand the financial and emotional toll that an injury can take on a victim and we want to help you receive the compensation to make you whole again.

We believe a motorcycle accident victim should never have to worry about being able to afford legal representation. That is why we offer 100% free consultations, and why you pay nothing unless we win your case. That’s our No Win, No Fee Guarantee.

Call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 to receive your free consultation with one of our experienced Plano lawyers.

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Jason Aldridge

Attorney

We have successfully represented clients in a wide variety of cases across the country.

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