Texas is perhaps the most dangerous state in the country for motorcyclists. The open roads in the state draw bikers who like to take advantage of the freedom to enjoy their bikes. However, other drivers in the state do not uphold the duty of care that they owe to motorcyclists. In 202, the number of motorcycle accident fatalities in Texas jumped to 482. While not every single one of these was a driver’s fault, motorists are often to blame for these crashes.
For every motorcyclist who is killed in a crash, there are many more who are injured. Roughly one in every four people who are involved in a motorcycle crash will suffer serious injuries. Even those who are less seriously hurt could require extensive medical treatment. After an injury, always discuss a possible case with an Austin motorcycle accident attorney.
Drivers often have difficulty seeing motorcyclists, even when they are paying full attention to the road. Bikers are not always on the driver’s eye level, and motorists may have difficulty seeing into their blind spots. One of the most common causes of motorcycle crashes happens when a driver makes a lane change and does not see a biker, knocking them off their bike and to the ground. This does not excuse the driver when they cause a crash. They will be responsible just the same. Other reasons why drivers injure motorcyclists include:
Motorcyclists are far more likely than drivers to suffer serious injuries in a crash. There are very few instances of them walking away from an accident unharmed. Chances are that they will be thrown from their bike, and there is little to protect them from impact. The protective gear that they wear only provides minor defenses from a serious crash. Hitting the pavement or a car can cause some of the following injuries:
These injuries will cause serious pain, and they will have large financial repercussions. Even when motorcyclists survive a crash, they may never be the same as they were before the accident.
An insurance company carries a general stereotype of motorcyclists that influences how they deal with them in the claims process. Contrary to what the insurance company thinks, a biker does not assume all risks when they go out onto the road. They have a legal right to operate their bike, and drivers owe them the same duty of care that they owe to everyone else.
Auto insurance companies will uniformly try to avoid paying the full amount of damages in a motorcycle accident. First, they may deny the claim in its entirety, casting blame on the biker even though their policyholder was at fault. Second, they may make a very low settlement offer, trying to catch an injured motorcyclist unaware of the full value of their claim. Insurance companies have a number of questionable tactics that they use to compromise a claimant’s legal rights to make it more difficult for them to get the money that they legally deserve.
Hiring a motorcycle accident attorney can keep the insurance company from taking liberties with your rights. When they see someone trying to handle their own claim, an insurance company will look at it as an opportunity to take advantage of them to save money. A lawyer will keep the insurance company from pressuring you when you are injured and trying to lowball your settlement. If the insurance company will not be reasonable, an experienced attorney will not hesitate to take your case to court because the jury has the final say over your compensation in a motorcycle accident.
If you have been injured in a motorcycle crash, one of your first calls should be to an experienced attorney. At The Martinez Law Firm, we have a long track record of helping injured clients get the financial compensation that they legally deserve after they have been hurt in a motorcycle accident. Call us at (512) 444-0025 or contact us online to discuss your case and learn more about your legal options after a crash. We work for you on a contingency basis, which means that we are not paid anything for our time unless you receive some type of financial compensation in your case.
Schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced lawyers today by filling out the form below, or call us at 512-444-0025
