Houston Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Why Are Motorcycle Accident Claims More Complicated?

Claims arising from motorcycle wrecks tend to be more complicated than your average car accident case for several reasons.

First, motorcycle riders usually suffer more serious injuries than occupants of a vehicle would in a crash. Riders don’t have the benefit of a vehicle body or safety features to protect them from an impact. More serious injuries obviously take longer to heal. Some injured riders may require lifelong treatment and ongoing medical care. As a result, our motorcycle accident lawyers must consider the rider’s future medical expenses and losses when negotiating a settlement or arguing for a verdict at trial. We want to ensure our clients do not incur expenses in the future due to the accident, only to find they don’t have the money to cover those expenses.

Second, because riders often suffer more significant financial losses than car accident victims would, challenges related to insurance policy limits can arise. Many drivers carry only the minimum amount of insurance coverage required by Texas law. Some drivers even choose to break the law and drive without insurance. As a result, injured riders are often faced with the prospect that an at-fault driver doesn’t have enough insurance coverage or other financial resources to fully compensate the rider for losses. When this happens, our motorcycle accident attorneys in Houston help riders pursue full compensation through their own insurance policy’s uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Third, drivers (and their insurance companies) often try to avoid legal liability by blaming the rider for the crash. Drivers may claim that they “never saw” the motorcycle rider. Or they may rely on stereotypes of motorcycle riders in order to claim that the rider was speeding or recklessly weaving through traffic. When this happens, our attorneys will fight back with extensive evidence showing how the accident occurred and why the other driver was at fault.

What You Need to Know About Proving Fault After a Houston Motorcycle Crash

Unfortunately, even when other drivers cause an accident with a motorcycle, they may try to deflect blame. That’s why our motorcycle accident lawyers collect extensive evidence from the wreck and work closely with accident reconstruction experts to conclusively show what happened. 

Some of the types of evidence we may rely on to prove fault in your case include:

• The police accident report, since the investigating officer will note if any motorists were cited or arrested for the accident and may note their opinion as to who was at fault
• Photos from the scene of the accident 
• Dashcam, helmet cam, or nearby surveillance camera footage of the accident
• Eyewitness statements (if available) 
• Vehicle damage and repair reports
• Reports from expert witnesses who have analyzed the scene and your injuries
• Medical records of the treatment for your injuries

After a serious crash, you should speak with our attorneys as soon as possible so we can begin preserving evidence for your case. If an insurance company contacts you, do not give a written or recorded statement, and do not accept any payment without speaking to a lawyer first.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Houston

Some of the common causes of motorcycle wrecks include:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Unsafe lane changes due to failing to signal or check mirrors and blind spots
• Following too closely (tailgating)
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs 
• Unsafe turns due to failing to signal or to yield to oncoming traffic or traffic in the intersection
• Unsafe passing due to failing to move fully over to the adjacent left lane, allowing the motorcycle the full width of the lane
• New or inexperienced drivers, who may be focused on looking out for other passenger vehicles rather than smaller motorcycles
• Debris in the roadway or other poor road conditions

Whether your accident was the result of a careless motorist, unsafe road conditions, or something else, Pines & Goldenzweig, PLLC can help you work to hold the liable party accountable. We understand the severe injuries commonly caused by motorcycle accidents, as well as the numerous challenges these injuries present. Our attorneys are here to help you seek fair financial compensation for your damages so that you can heal and move forward with your life. 

Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents

Because motorcyclists have relatively little protection compared to occupants of other motor vehicles, they are far more likely to suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries when they are involved in accidents. 

Some of the common motorcycle accident injuries we see include:

• Road rash
• Burns
• Broken bones
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Dislocated joints
• Sprains and tears to muscles, tendons, and ligaments
• Internal organ injuries and internal bleeding
• Neck and back injuries
• Herniated or ruptured discs
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Eye and ear injuries
• Skull and jaw fractures
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Amputations

These and other serious injuries can have a significant, long-lasting impact on the lives of victims and their loved ones. At Pines & Goldenzweig, PLLC, we believe that you should not have to simply suffer the consequences of someone else’s negligence on your own—and the law agrees. By filing a personal injury claim after a motorcycle accident, you can seek compensation for your accident-related losses. 

Compensation After a Motorcycle Accident in Houston

If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical costs, including hospital bills, surgeries, medical procedures, pain medication, physical therapy, and other out-of-pocket expenses
• Long-term care costs if you are disabled due to the accident, such as home health services or home maintenance services
• Income lost for the time you miss from work while recovering from your injuries
• Lost earning potential, including income lost due to lost business opportunities or due to disabilities that prevent you from returning to work
• Impaired quality of life, such as due to scars or disfigurement, difficulties with daily tasks, or the inability to enjoy life’s activities
• Physical and mental pain and suffering

At Pines & Goldenzweig, PLLC, we fight for the maximum compensation our clients deserve. We know how important it is that you receive the full amount so that you can manage unexpected physical, emotional, and financial challenges associated with your injuries. 

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Houston

It can often seem difficult to think about what to do in the hours and days following a motorcycle accident.

As a rider, you should try to remember the following steps to help protect your legal options:

• See a doctor right away. Get examined by emergency medical personnel or see your primary doctor as soon as possible. Promptly diagnosing your injuries will allow you to quickly start treatment and document what you are going through.
• Save all information pertinent to the accident. This includes copies of the police report, insurance documentation, any video or photos from the scene, estimates for the repairs on your motorcycle, and notes on any conversations you had with anyone at the scene or with anyone at any insurance company.
• Keep copies of all your medical records, your medical bills, and receipts for any other expenses incurred during the course of your recovery post-accident.
• Stay off social media. Even an innocuous post about your general condition or about something tangentially related to the accident can be used against you if found by the other side’s attorneys or insurance companies.
• Keep a journal of how your accident and injuries have affected you. Record any physical effects from the accident, as well as any emotional changes as a result of the accident and your injuries.
• Finally, get a free case evaluation with a Houston motorcycle accident attorney from Pines & Goldenzweig, PLLC to go over the details of your case and discuss the next steps.

How Our Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help

The Houston motorcycle accident attorneys of Pines & Goldenzweig, PLLC will work to take the pressure off you throughout the duration of your recovery.

Our experienced legal team will:

• Discuss the details of your accident and answer your questions in a free, no-obligation consultation
• Assist you with finding medical providers to help you recover from injuries
• Help you get your damaged motorcycle repaired
• Conduct our own investigation into the accident to secure all available evidence
• Work with accident reconstruction experts to help us build a persuasive case to show how the other driver caused the accident
• File insurance claims on your behalf and deal with the insurance adjusters for you so that you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery
• Aggressively negotiate for a settlement that provides you with fair and full compensation for your past and anticipated future losses
• Prepare your case for trial if it becomes necessary

You can always trust that our attorneys will take the time to answer any questions you may have as they come up and keep you up to date on the process of your case. With our firm, you never owe any upfront costs for our representation. We only get paid if and when we recover compensation on your behalf.