Humble Motorcycle Accidents Attorney

Types of Motorcycle Accidents

You can suffer serious injuries in many types of accidents. Some of the most common include:

• Rear-end collisions. A car could slam into you while you are stopped at an intersection or waiting to make a turn. These are very dangerous accidents, because most motorcyclists have no idea they are about to be hit.
• Head-on collisions. A motorist could cross the center line and slam into you head on, usually because they are distracted or fatigued.
• Sideswipes. A passing vehicle might sideswipe you when it passes too closely.
• Left-turn accidents. A driver waiting to hang a left-hand turn in an intersection could pull right in front of you if they were not looking for a motorcycle.
• Single-vehicle accidents. A motorcycle can crash even without getting hit. For example, a pothole in the road could upset your bike, or an aggressive driver could force you to take sudden, defensive action.
• Lane change accidents. Because some motorcycles are difficult to see, a motorist might pull into you when making a lane change on the highway.

Responsible Parties

Just as there are many types of motorcycle accidents, there are several different people who might be responsible for the crash. We have sought compensation from the following when they contribute to an accident:

• Motorists. A negligent or reckless driver could have struck you or run you off the road. Motorists who are intoxicated or fatigued will make poor choices behind the wheel or pass dangerously close to a motorcyclist. A distracted driver can fail to hit the brakes in time and slam into you.
• Municipalities. A municipality is usually responsible for road maintenance, so they could be liable when a road defect contributes to an accident. Examples include potholes or roads with debris.
• Manufacturers. A motorcycle could be defective when it comes off the assembly line. For example, a design defect could make the motorcycle difficult to control around a bend.

Often, it isn’t obvious who or what is responsible for your crash. You might end up in the back of an ambulance with no idea why your bike flipped. This is why reaching out to The Stano Law Firm is critically important.

We can begin a thorough investigation into the crash and compile evidence to establish fault. Without this evidence, bringing a successful motorcycle accident claim will be much more difficult.

Medical Care for Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Anyone involved in an accident could suffer potentially life-changing injuries. At our firm, we represent clients every week who are struggling to get better after a serious accident has left them with:

• Skin injuries. Lacerations, road rash, and degloving injuries can develop infections and leave victims with permanent scars. Some people need reconstructive surgery, especially if they suffer disfigurement on the face.
• Fractures. Any bone could break in a collision. Some fractures are more complicated than others and might require surgery to insert a pin to hold the pieces of bone in place.
• Head injuries. Traumatic brain injuries, intracranial hemorrhage, brain contusions, and other injuries are very serious. Head injuries can take months to recover from, and some will require emergency surgery.
• Back injuries. A back injury could affect the vertebrae or spinal cord. Back injuries have the potential to be disabling.
• Organ damage. The trauma from an accident can damage the lungs, heart, kidney, or intestines. Some organs will die.
• Catastrophic injuries. Many injuries are catastrophic in nature because they leave victims permanently disabled. These injuries can include serious TBIs, amputation, paralysis, and more.

Medical care in Humble is expensive. Some victims will need a lift to the emergency room to undergo life-saving surgery. Other victims will require skin grafts, monitoring in the intensive care unit, and antibiotics.

Rehabilitation is often necessary to help accident victims recover as much of their lost functioning as possible. Someone with a moderate or severe TBI, for example, could need physical therapy, behavioral therapy, and speech therapy.

Compensation: How Much Do You Deserve?

At The Stano Law Firm, we believe in seeking the maximum compensation for our injured clients, whose bills are often considerable. Generally, you can seek compensatory damages for:

• Medical care
• Future medical expenses
• Lost income
• Loss of earning capacity
• Property damage (such as damage to your motorcycle)
• Pain and suffering

The amount you receive will depend on many factors. For example, those with more serious injuries usually qualify for more compensation than someone whose injuries heal in a matter of weeks. Other factors include whether you suffered disfigurement, which can cause intense emotional distress.

Your own negligence will be another factor. Under the Texas law of proportionate responsibility, you cannot receive damages if you are more than 50% to blame for the accident. You can anticipate the defendant claiming that you were negligent, such as weaving in and out of lanes or running a red light. If you are less than 50% to blame, you are eligible to receive compensation, but you will probably take home less than you otherwise might.

Motorcycle Laws in Texas

There are more than 328,000 motorcycles registered in Texas, and the state closely regulates them. There are many laws you should be aware of.

In Texas, any rider under age 21 must wear a helmet. This is a sound law. Helmets can reduce the risk of death and serious brain injury. They are also safe to wear and should not restrict your vision. Riders aged 21 and older will also need to wear a helmet unless they have taken a motorcycle safety course approved by the state or they carry necessary insurance.

Texas prohibits lane splitting, which involves riding between lanes, usually when cars are parked. Some motorcyclists feel safer lane splitting, especially at an intersection. But because this is illegal, you could compromise your ability to receive compensation if you are hit.

Several laws cover what you must have on your motorcycle:

• You must use daytime headlight unless your motorcycle was manufactured before 1975.
• Your handlebars cannot be more than 15 inches above the seat.
• You must have at least one rearview mirror on your bike.

We highly recommend that those just getting into motorcycling choose a bike that is appropriate for their size. If you ride on a bike that is too big, you could struggle to handle it properly.

What to Do after a Motorcycle Accident

The Stano Law Firm has seen motorcyclists make mistakes in the hours following a collision. These mistakes can undermine your claim to compensation, so we highly recommend taking the following steps, if possible:

1.       Stop your motorcycle immediately and render assistance to anyone who is hurt.

2.       Call the police to come out to the accident scene. Don’t wait for the other motorist to call; call yourself.

3.       Photograph all vehicles involved in the crash. Also get a picture of anything else relevant to your case, like a giant pothole in the road or construction debris that caused you to lose control. You can use your phone to take pictures.

4.       Ask for the license, registration, and insurance information of any driver involved in the collision.

5.       Avoid taking responsibility for the accident or apologizing. Your words might be used against you later in negotiations.

6.       Speak to any witnesses who might have seen the accident. Ask them what they saw, if anything, and try to get some form of contact information so you can reach out to them later.

7.       Go to the hospital soon after you finish at the accident scene. Tell your doctor you have been in an accident and identify the sources of any pain.

8.       Reach out to a Humble motorcycle accident attorney. Our lawyers will help gather any evidence you couldn’t, and possibly inspect your motorcycle. Once we understand who is to blame for your crash, we can get to work seeking favorable compensation.

9.       Avoid getting your bike fixed until your attorney has inspected it. We sometimes find important clues that can help your case.

Contact Us Today

Our Humble motorcycle accident lawyer can review the facts of your case and negotiate a settlement. It’s possible for accident victims to receive fair compensation without the need for a trial, but you should hire an attorney with the right knowledge. If we can’t obtain fair compensation, we can bring a lawsuit in court to seek justice.

Call The Stano Law Firm today. We offer free consultations to motorcycle accident victims who want to learn more about their legal options.