Call (800) 863-5312 to speak with Waco Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Riding a motorcycle can be a great transportation option. They fit into smaller spots, are more fuel efficient than passenger vehicles, and even offer some health benefits. With its central location in Texas right along the I-35, Waco is a great place for bikers. On the other hand, bikers are often at a higher risk of injuries because motorcycles don’t offer the kind of protection that cars or trucks do, and they can be harder to see for other drivers.
After a Waco motorcycle accident, speaking with a motorcycle accident lawyer may be the best move you ever made. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Waco motorcycle accident, call (800) 863-5312 today to schedule a confidential and free case evaluation with a Zinda personal injury lawyer.
John (Jack) Zinda
Founder / CEO
Over 100 years of combined experience representing injured victims across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationMotorcycle accident statistics
Because of the dangers inherent in riding a motorcycle, they are unfortunately overrepresented in crash and fatality statistics. Data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides a little bit more clarity and context.
- In 2018, 4,985 bikers lost their lives in accidents on America’s highways. This high number actually represents a decrease of almost 5% from the year before.
- Of all of the bikers who were killed in traffic accidents in 2017, a little over a quarter of them were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
- Speeding may be even more impactful on motorcycle accidents than alcohol—in 2017, 32% of all bikers who were killed in traffic accidents were speeding.
Neil Solomon
Partner
Real results matter. We do not get paid unless we win your case.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationMotorcycle accident injuries
Drivers of vehicles like cars and trucks are relatively safer when they travel because four-wheel automobiles have several built-in safety features, including airbags, seatbelts, and the exterior of the vehicles themselves, which are engineered to keep those inside safe. Bikers, however, have fewer and less effective safety features at their disposal. This can lead to unique and more severe injuries for victims of motorcycle accidents.
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
Standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ready to answer in your time of need.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationHead Injuries
Waco motorcycle accident victims may suffer head injuries upon impact with another vehicle or with the ground after being thrown from their bike. Should this injury result in a traumatic brain injury (TBI), there can be long-lasting and very serious effects, including headaches, difficulty concentrating or thinking, sleep apnea, and even seizures. One effective way to avoid or reduce the severity of head injuries is to always wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle.
Cole Gumm
Attorney
We are here to ensure you won’t have to face this difficult time alone.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationRoad Rash
Road rash is an injury that occurs when a biker is thrown from their motorcycle and slides across the pavement. If the clothing that the biker is wearing is thin enough, then it may be ripped through, or their skin may be scraped through their clothes. Though the name of this type of injury might seem to imply that it is not that serious, it can lead to permanent problems like skin irritations, infections, and potentially even nerve damage.
Broken Bones
Similar to head injuries, motorcycle riders are very prone to suffering broken bones, and this can happen either upon impact with another or vehicle or upon impact with the road. Some broken bone injuries may be worse than others, but with any potentially broken bone, it is critical that you seek proper medical attention as soon as you possibly can after your accident.
CASE RESULTS
what to do after a waco motorcycle accident
The time immediately after an accident can be extremely stressful. Unfortunately, navigating the legal system alone while dealing with injuries doesn’t make things any easier. Having a few key steps to complete as an accident victim can simplify the process and make things more manageable.
1. Seek Medical Attention
First and foremost, it is critical that you seek medical attention right away. Some injuries might get worse the longer they are left untreated, and you might not even realize that you have certain injuries. A medical professional will be able to intervene in these circumstances and assist. In addition, your claim will depend on being able to link your injuries to the accident you were involved in. Getting to a doctor quickly strengthens this bond.
2. Document the Accident
After your accident, make sure to keep and document every piece of paperwork that comes your way. This can include things like medical records, contact information for anyone involved in the accident, and photos you may have taken of the accident scene. When it comes to personal injury claims, it is always better to be overprepared than underprepared.
3. Contact a Waco Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
As difficult as it can be to navigate the post-accident world, it is important to know that you don’t have to go it alone. An experienced attorney can help you understand what your options are and then guide you in the best and most effective ways to pursue them through to the end.
motorcycle accident compensation
Any motorcycle accident victim is bound to begin to wonder at some point what a claim could be worth to them in the form of compensation. This question is one that is best discussed with a no win, no fee accident attorney given that the ultimate value of a claim is based on a number of factors that will be unique for each case. However, there are a few types of damages that may be available to you.
First, economic damages are the losses that an accident victim sustains that are tangible and objectively verifiable. They can include things like your medical bills, costs you incurred from repairing damaged property, or wages that you were unable to earn from work because of your injury. Economic damages can usually be proven to a fairly high degree of certainty with receipts or bills.
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, refer to compensation for the pain and suffering that an accident victim experiences. They are harder to quantify, but the general rule is that the more impact an accident has on the life of the victim, the higher this number might be.
While economic and non-economic damages attempt to restore an accident victim to the place that they were in before their accident, another category of damages could be available; these are known as punitive damages. Punitive damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer and serve as a warning to others that they may be in for the same fate if they act the same way. These damages are typically reserved for cases in which someone acted particularly recklessly or intentionally.
modified comparative fault
A critical component of any personal injury claim is determining who is at fault. Some cases might be very clear on this issue. For example, if a drunk driver drove through a red light and collided with you in the intersection, it is likely that they will be entirely at fault for the accident and resulting injuries. However, real accidents are often more complicated than that, and more than one person can share in the fault.
When it comes to apportioning fault, Texas is what is known as a “modified comparative fault” state. This means that, if you were involved in an accident and were at least partially at fault for it, you still can recover damages provided you were not more than 50 percent responsible. For example, if it is determined that you were 20 percent at fault for an accident and that the other driver was 80 percent responsible, then you would likely be able to recover some amount of compensation. However, if it was determined that you were 60 percent responsible then you would not be able to recover anything, in spite of the fact that there were other motorists who shared in the fault.
legal time limits
Accident victims don’t have the rest of their lives to file a claim based on a given accident. Because the state of Texas didn’t want potential lawsuits hanging over peoples’ heads indefinitely, they instituted what are known as statutes of limitations. A statute of limitation is the amount of time that an accident victim has to file a claim based on a given accident. In Texas, the general statute of limitations applicable to motorcycle accidents is two years, which means that victims have two years from the date of the accident within which to file a claim or risk having it dismissed for lack of timeliness.
Certain exceptions may apply to extend this two-year window. For example, if an accident victim is a minor or if the victim doesn’t discover their injuries until a later date, then it might be extended for a certain amount of time. However, it is advisable to speak with a Waco motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident to ensure that you don’t run into these sorts of avoidable problems with time limits.
call zinda law group today at (800) 863-5312 for a 100% free consultation
Motorcycle accidents are in and of themselves very stressful experiences, and navigating the legal system afterward can be incredibly confusing and disheartening. Zinda Law Group is available to help you through this. In addition, we believe that accident victims shouldn’t have to worry about their ability to afford legal representation, which is why we offer a No Win, No Fee Guarantee. You don’t owe us anything unless we win your case for you.
Meetings with attorneys are available by appointment only.
Our Awards
AWARDED TO JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA BY THE NATIONAL TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (2016-2020)
AWARDED TO JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA (2009, 2011-2012, 2014-2021), & NEIL SOLOMON (2020-2021)
AWARDED TO JACK ZINDA (2016-2020)
LIFETIME MEMBERS JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
We have successfully represented clients in a wide variety of cases across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation
