Published by J.A. Davis & Associates – San Antonio / McAllen Personal Injury Lawyers – Motorcycle Accidents

The Ways that Motorcycle Accidents are Different from Automobile Accidents

If you have ever seen the aftermath of a motorcycle accident, or you have seen it up close and personal because you have been involved in one, it should be very obvious to you that motorcycle wrecks are vastly different from “normal” car accidents. When a motorcycle is in an accident, it can be much more serious and lead to not only severe injuries to the rider, but more of a chance of death as well. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, nearly 70 percent of motorcycle wrecks in Texas led to either death or significant injury to the person riding the motorcycle. There were 418 fatalities as a result of motorcycle accidents in Texas in 2018, and that accounted for 16 percent of the state’s traffic accident deaths that year. So, it’s pretty clear that motorcycle accidents can have devastating results. The main reason is that, even though most riders and passengers are responsible and wear as much protective gear as they can, that gear can only protect them so much. When you pit a motorcyclist in full gear against pavement or surrounding cars, it should be very evident that the motorcyclist will lose every time. On the other hand, an automobile gives its occupants a much higher level of protection because it is surrounded by a strong metal frame. Several brands of well-built and well-designed motorcycles are on the market, including Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Harley-Davidson, Buell, Triumph, and other motorcycle manufacturers. But even though a motorcycle may be well designed, significant injuries can take place even in relatively minor accidents because, unlike a car, a motorcycle does not have a metal frame surrounding it that can protect riders and passengers as does a car.

There are substantial differences in the way that motorcycle accidents and car accidents are dealt with from a legal perspective, but many people, for whatever reason, fail to realize this. Claims involving an automobile accident can often be resolved without any lawyers having to get involved. But when a motorcycle accident occurs, attorneys have to get involved just about every time. So if you or someone close to you is hurt or killed in this type of accident, you will need the help of an experienced motorcycle accident attorney. As we stated previously, the risk of severe injury or death increases dramatically in a motorcycle wreck. And the more significant the injury that is suffered, the more money will be at stake in terms of compensation to the victim. Therefore, insurance carriers will work exceptionally hard in order to keep from having to pay a motorcycle accident claim, because they stand to lose a massive amount of money. Part of their strategy to keep from paying a large sum of money is to make injury victims, or the family members of motorcycle accident fatalities, inadequate settlement offers. They are notorious for successfully preying on people who do not have legal help; if you do not have a seasoned motorcycle attorney on your side to protect your legal rights, there is a good chance you will be short-changed. Insurance carriers care only about their bottom line – they couldn’t care less about the injury or loss you have suffered, not matter how devastating that loss may be.

The Often Devastating Effects of Texas Motorcycle Accidents

There is a wide range of injuries that can result from a motorcycle accident. They can be fairly minor, such as bruises and scratches, but they can also be life altering and disabling, such as brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. One common injury that occurs in a motorcycle wreck is often referred to as “road rash,” and while quite painful, it is typically a minor injury. However, if a motorcyclist suffers road rash in an accident, and fails to get timely medical attention, that seemingly innocent rash can lead to a very serious infection. It is always vital in any personal injury case that the victim seeks medical help immediately after suffering an injury. Not only does this make blatant sense from a health standpoint, doing so also ensures that the victim’s case is not ruined due to his or her failure to mitigate damages. To illustrate this point, consider the case of a motorcyclist who suffers a road rash who chooses to forego medical help. Then, that rash turns into a life-threatening infection. Because that victim failed to seek timely medical attention, he or she will not be able to hold liable the party or parties responsible for causing the accident. Therefore, the injury victim will be on the hook for paying the incredibly steep medical expenses that will result from treating the infection.

The next level of motorcycle accident injury is more serious, and includes fractured and broken bones. Again, a motorcycle is not encased in a metal frame, and therefore, when an accident occurs, passengers and riders are often ejected from the bike and thrown to the pavement – and this is more than likely occurring at a high rate of speed. These collisions between concrete and flesh and bone often occur with brute force and lead to broken legs, broken arms and other broken bones. This kind of injury obviously requires immediate medical help (along with the accompanying medical bills). In addition to medical expenses, motorcyclists suffering broken limbs will likely be robbed of the mobility they need in order to be able to work. Therefore, they will further be saddled by lost wages. However, injured motorcyclists can file a Texas personal injury lawsuit and try to obtain just compensation for lost potential wages he or she might have incurred.

There is, of course, another level of motorcycle accident injury, and it includes severe, life-altering injuries such as spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury and disfigurement. All of these conditions can obviously lead to a lifetime of misery and debilitation, and some of them may necessitate around-the-clock medical assistance. Another possible consequence of a motorcycle accident can be significant burn injuries that can lead to not only a great deal of pain and suffering, but also disfigurement for a victim. Scars on the face, arms, hands, legs, neck and back can serve as lifetime reminders of the harrowing ordeal a motorcycle accident victim experienced. Even worse, injuries can include the loss of limbs, or damage so severe to an arm or leg that an amputation has to take place. These kinds of injuries not only severely diminish a victim’s quality of life in many instances, they can also cause substantial emotional distress as well. But an injury victim suffering from one of these horrible injuries can seek fair compensation through a personal injury lawsuit, and that compensation can help them recover from their injuries and get their lives back on track.