Motorcyclists face many risks while riding on the streets, roads and highways in the Dallas area. Any accident poses the danger of death or catastrophic injury.
At Kraft & Associates, P.C., our legal team represents people injured in accidents, and over our years in service to communities in North Texas, we have recovered millions in damages for thousands of clients.
We are compassionate, effective and dedicated to achieving results for our clients. If you have been seriously injured or a loved one has been killed in a motorcycle accident, we urge you to connect with our firm immediately. Time can be of the essence, as there may be critical evidence that must be obtained and preserved, as well as an independent accident investigation undertaken in some cases.
You should seek legal advice immediately – before you discuss the matter with an insurance adjuster and before you sign anything.
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Motorcyclists Are Usually Not to Blame
Did you know that the vast majority of motorcycle crashes are not caused by the motorcyclist? Inattentive drivers who claim they did not see the cyclist are responsible for most car-motorcycle collisions. Motorcycles may be less visible because of their size, but that fact does not excuse careless drivers from responsibility when they hit a motorcyclist.
Although any crash has the potential to be serious, those involving motorcycles often result in particularly severe injuries. A motorcycle accident can leave you with a stack of medical bills at a time when you’re unable to work and support your family and are trying to heal, often from very serious injuries that require surgeries, rehabilitation, and long-term care.
That’s why a serious motorcycle accident requires a serious attorney. If you have suffered personal injuries or property damage in a motorcycle wreck, you may be entitled to compensation, including payment for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Texas Motorcycle Accident Statistics
There are some shocking facts regarding the numbers of serious and fatal motorcycle accidents that occur every year in Texas. Many innocent people are killed or permanently injured due to someone else’s negligent driving.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there was a total of 493 fatal motorcycle accidents in one recent year, with 5,264 serious injury motorcycle crashes in that year alone. Cases involving less serious injuries totaled 1,840, and there were 1,029 non-injury crashes.
The numbers tell the story – essentially, motorcyclists are at an extremely high risk of serious injury or death in any collision. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in one recent year, 4,957 motorcyclists were killed nationwide, a 7 percent increase over the prior year. That year alone, 93,000 motorcyclists were injured, an increase of 15 percent over the prior year.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that per mile traveled, there were more than 30 times more deaths on motorcycles than fatal injuries for drivers and passengers in cars.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Head trauma is the most common cause of death in motorcycle wrecks, but there are many serious motorcycle accident injuries that could be sustained, including the following:
- Broken bones.
- Brain damage.
- Leg and foot injuries.
- Elbow, knee and shoulder injuries.
- Severe burns.
- Severe skin abrasions (known as road rash).
- Internal bleeding, organ damage and trauma.
- Spinal cord and neck injuries.
Justice must be pursued, and our firm can assist you immediately. Whether your case is being challenged or another driver is clearly at fault, our access to professional accident investigators has proven to be critical in the final outcome in many of our cases. We leave nothing up to chance, and we are zealous in fighting for justice for the injured.
How Our Motorcycle Accident Law Firm in Dallas Can Help
At Kraft & Associates, P.C., we provide an initial claim review and legal advice without charge or further obligation. Our Texas motorcycle accident lawyers will analyze your case and advise you as to whether you may be entitled to compensation.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else, you should speak with an experienced attorney to ensure that your legal rights are protected. Please call Kraft & Associates, P.C., at (214) 999-9999, or you can send us an e-mail at kraftlaw@kraftlaw.com, or complete our online form for a free assessment of your case.
Talk to an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Motorcycle riding has many advantages. According to Riding Safely, motorcycles are more flexible for getting around in traffic, less expensive to run, easier to park and harder to tow. Another advantage is that motorcycle riding is not boring. In fact, it’s an exhilarating way to travel for many.
Along with the benefits of motorcycle riding come risks. Riders have less protection than passenger vehicle occupants. Motorists are more likely to fail to see a motorcycle than a passenger vehicle, causing car-motorcycle collisions.
At Kraft & Associates, P.C., our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys in Dallas help injured riders pursue justice and compensation for their injuries. Although most of our cases settle out of court, we are prepared to take your case to trial if necessary to obtain the maximum compensation you are entitled to receive.
The following are some commonly asked questions and answers about motorcycle accidents. For answers to your specific questions, contact us now for a free consultation.
FAQs
Motorcycle Crash
How common are motorcycle accidents?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that motorcyclists accounted for 14 percent of all traffic crash fatalities in one recent year, as compared to 9 percent a decade earlier. As reported by the agency, 4,668 people were killed and 88,000 were injured on motorcycles in one recent year. In Texas, 495 motorcyclists were killed that same year, according to the Texas Department of Transportation (DOT).
Are motorcyclists more likely to be injured than passenger car occupants?
Yes. NHTSA reports that per vehicle mile traveled, motorcycle riders are 26 times more likely to die and 5 times more likely to be injured than passenger car occupants. Motorcyclist injuries increased by 15 percent in one recent year. Fatalities increased by 7 percent over the same period.
What are some common causes of motorcycle accidents?
According to Ride Apart, common causes of motorcycle accidents include the following examples:
- A driver fails to see a motorcycle or incorrectly judges its speed and turns left in front of the motorcycle at an intersection. NHTSA reports that 41 percent of all fatal motorcycle crashes occur when the other vehicle was turning left and the motorcycle was going straight, passing or overtaking another vehicle.
- A car changes lanes into a motorcycle because the motorcycle is in the driver’s blind spot or the driver simply does not see the motorcycle.
- The motorcycle is stopped (at a stop sign, intersection, etc.) and hit from behind by a car because its driver fails to see or register that the motorcycle is there.
- The rider hits gravel or some other substance in a blind corner and loses control.
- The rider takes a corner too fast.
- A motorist is not looking and opens a car door in the path of an approaching motorcycle.
What should a rider do immediately after an accident?
The first priority is to get medical attention for your injuries. Even if your injuries do not at first appear to be serious, you should still have a doctor check you out for the possibility of internal injuries. If you are not transported away from the accident scene by emergency medical services, the following actions could be helpful in a personal injury claim:
- Get the driver’s name, address, telephone number, insurance information, and license number. Refrain from making any statements about who caused the accident.
- Take pictures of the scene, including the other vehicle, your bike, any skid marks, traffic signals and signs, and anything that could have blocked the view of approaching traffic at an intersection.
- If there are witnesses to the accident, get their names and contact information before they leave the scene.
- When a police officer shows up on the scene, get the officer’s name and the number of the police report.
- Talk to an experienced motorcycle accident attorney before you speak with any insurance adjusters and before you sign anything.
What damages can I claim for a motorcycle accident caused by a negligent driver?
Each motorcycle accident is different and you should consult with a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer. You may be entitled to pursue compensation for:
- Medical expenses.
- Disfigurement.
- Impairment.
- Lost income, past, and future.
- Pain and suffering.
- Punitive damages (in some cases).
- Other losses.
What if I wasn’t wearing a helmet? Will that prevent me from recovering damages for my injuries?
According to the Texas DOT, motorcycle riders under the age of 21 must wear a helmet. Motorcyclists age 21 or older may legally choose to ride without a helmet if they have health insurance coverage for an accident and if they have completed a safety course.
It makes sense to wear a helmet. NHTSA warns that more than 80 percent of motorcycle accidents cause injury or death to the motorcyclist, and that riders without helmets are 40 percent more likely to suffer a fatal head injury in a crash. However, if you were not wearing a helmet when you were injured, that should not prevent you from recovering compensation from the at-fault driver.
What happens if the driver who hit me was not carrying liability insurance?
This situation is, unfortunately, all too common. Although liability insurance is required by law for motorists in Texas, many drivers do not have it. Even when drivers do carry insurance with the minimum limits the law requires, it is often not enough to cover serious motorcycle crash injuries.
If you have been injured in a motorcycle crash caused by a driver with no insurance or insufficient coverage, you may file a claim for compensation under your own policy’s uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. Insurance companies are sometimes reluctant to pay full compensation on this type of claim – even though you paid your premiums. At Kraft & Associates, P.C., our seasoned Dallas motorcycle accident lawyer will fight aggressively for the maximum compensation you are entitled to receive from all available sources.
I was injured in an accident while riding on the back of a motorcycle. Am I entitled to file a claim for damages?
Yes. In fact, you are entitled to file a claim for compensation no matter who caused the accident. If a passenger vehicle driver caused the collision, you may file a claim against that driver’s insurance company. If the motorcyclist you were riding with caused the accident, you are entitled to file a claim for compensation under the rider’s policy. Remember, the insurance company, not the rider, will pay your claim if you are successful in obtaining compensation.
How much will it cost to consult with an attorney about my motorcycle accident?
Our firm can assist you immediately with a case consultation at no charge and no further obligation to you. We can analyze your case and advise you as to whether you may be entitled to compensation.
At Kraft & Associates, P.C., we are zealous in fighting for the injured and leave nothing to chance. Contact our firm now to find out if you may have a case.