As a biker, there are many hazards on the road that can make enjoying a motorcycle ride extremely dangerous. In Texas, congested roads, aggressive drivers, road construction, and other road conditions such as potholes all may contribute to making it more challenging to having a safe motorcycle ride through the streets of Houston.
Since motorcycle accidents in Texas are highly susceptible to fatal accidents on the road, it is important to know your legal rights if you have been involved in a motorcycle accident.
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Often times accidents involving motorcycles are between a motorcycle and a car, a motorcycle and a truck, a motorcycle and a pedestrian or a motorcycle and some road hazards, road construction, or other obstruction. In either situation, the vulnerability of a biker is very high, and motorcyclists are more susceptible to suffering serious injuries than most other motor vehicles.
The most frequent cause of a motorcycle accident is the inattention of automobile drivers who say, “I didn’t see the motorcycle.” Since careless driving has led to many serious motorcycle accidents and even fatal motorcycle crashes, choosing the right law firm to help you through these difficult times is a critical decision.
Other negligent actions that may cause a motorcycle accident include:
- Speeding
- Failure to yield or obey traffic signs
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Driving while distracted by music, your phone, or passengers
- Changing lanes without checking for motorcycles
Injuries Sustained to Motorcyclists
Motorcycle accidents typically cause severe injuries due to limited protection apart from wearing a helmet. Even at low speeds could cause a motorcycle to skid and severely injure the driver and/or passenger.
Although gloves, jackets, and motorcycle gear can help reduce some damage, motorcyclists are still far more exposed than drivers or passengers in enclosed vehicles.
Motorcyclists frequently suffer:
- Broken bones,
- Lacerations,
- Fractures including injuries to the head and neck,
- Skull fractures,
- Pelvis injuries,
- Vision and hearing impairment,
- Permanent physical disabilities,
- Spinal cord injury including cracked vertebrae,
- Brain damage and injury,
- Paralysis,
- Paraplegia and sometimes even death, when involved in accidents.
Since being involved in a motorcycle crash can be extremely dangerous it is likely that you may suffer serious injuries. If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, you should know your legal rights.
Insurance companies oftentimes like to divide liability between the motorcycle and the at-fault party; even though the biker may have had nothing to do with causing the accident. Dealing with insurance companies after a motorcycle accident can be extremely difficult.
Joe I. Zaid & Associates provides motorcycle riders with aggressive representation to pursue a claim for the maximum compensation available.
We will seek to recover non-economic damages as well, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity.
Motorcycle Fatalities on The Rise
Motorcycle rider fatalities, as well as registrations, have been on the rise since 1997. A recent report card issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for 2004 says that 4,008 motorcyclists died in 2004 and 76,000 were injured.
About half of all motorcycles involved in a fatal crash collided with another vehicle. A little over one-third of cyclists that died were speeding, approximately twice the rate for drivers of passenger vehicles or light trucks.
Almost half of the fatal accidents show alcohol involvement. One out of four motorcycle operators that were involved in fatal crashes had an invalid license. Helmets saved approximately 1,158 lives in 2003; another 640 lives could have been saved if helmets were worn.
Don’t Delay Your Case
The most common injuries due to a motorcycle-vehicle collision are Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and spinal cord injuries. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): The damage may be caused by the head forcefully hitting an object, such as when hitting a windshield, or the dashboard of a car (closed head injury) or by something passing through the skull and piercing the brain, such as a bullet or knife wound to the head (penetrating head injury).
Closed head injury is also experienced without direct penetration of the skull or external trauma when the brain undergoes a severe forward or backward shaking or twisting, such as the shaken baby syndrome or a whiplash. The difference between the two is substantial since the first often will leave no obvious external signs, and yet can cause more widespread damage.
Joe I. Zaid & Associates of Houston, Texas and across the nation have experienced motorcycle accident injury attorneys ready to take your case and fight for your rights, in order to seek the maximum compensation allowable for your particular pain and suffering, the severity of the injury; whether permanent or temporary and loss of earning capacity.
Insurance companies may pressure you to settle for an insufficient settlement; it might sound like a quick fix to all your problems, but before you contemplate accepting that settlement, consult with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney at Joe I. Zaid & Associates law firm.
Don’t delay in initiating your case, as each state has statutes of limitations that are strictly upheld—the time is of the essence.
Experienced Attorneys at Your Side
You have the right to hire a personal injury lawyer knowledgeable in motorcycle accident injury law. Put the expertise of the experienced attorneys at Joe I. Zaid & Associates to work on your case. Let them investigate every detail in your particular case’s circumstances and find out who is legally liable for your injuries. Joe I. Zaid & Associates routinely work with expert witnesses to teach the judge/jury about your injuries and what they will mean concerning your and your family’s future.
The specific damages that can be compensated differ from state to state. Generally speaking, in addition to the medical, hospital and rehabilitation expenses, the dollar amount rewarded is based on the nature and extent of the injury; whether the injury is temporary/permanent; pain and suffering; loss of earnings and impairment of earning capacity; any disfigurement or deformity; mental anguish; and the loss of enjoyment of life.
Call now at (281) 990-5200 for your free consultation with an experienced attorney at Joe I. Zaid & Associates law firm of Houston, Texas and across the nation.