In many ways, motorcyclists are tougher than other drivers on the roads of Grapevine, TX. They bear the brunt of bad weather, fight the forces of wind, and maintain balance and poise in all types of situations. However, bikers are limited like the rest of us when it comes to the human body’s ability to withstand the trauma inflicted in a motorcycle accident.
A collision with another vehicle or an accident caused by a road hazard can result in devastating injuries. If you or a loved one were severely injured in a Texas motorbike crash due to the negligence of another, consider talking to a Grapevine motorcycle accident lawyer.
A Grapevine personal injury lawyer at The Texas Law Dog who understands motorcycle accident cases could review your options and fight to help you obtain fair compensation for your injuries. We will also travel for consultations.
Why Motorcycle Accidents Are So Dangerous in Grapevine, TX
Motorcycle accidents aren’t the same as car accidents. While both come with serious consequences, motorcyclists are more exposed to the elements and have a lot less physical protection. This is what makes these types of crashes so much more dangerous.
In Grapevine, TX, there tends to be a lot of heavy traffic, especially from commercial vehicles such as semi-trucks and 18-wheelers. Plus, busy roads like Grapevine Mills Boulevard and TX-114 can be difficult to navigate. If you’re on a motorcycle in one of these areas, you may not be seen as easily, which can lead to a high-impact collision.
Regardless of whether you’re traveling at low or high speeds, motorcycle accidents often result in some major injuries, including neck and spinal injuries, head trauma, broken bones, fractures, and even permanent disability.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Grapevine
Our Texas law firm sees many devastating accidents, the results of which could have been fully avoided with careful attention to the roadways. By understanding the cause, our legal team will also be able to determine exactly who is responsible for your accident.
- Inattentive drivers who are using their phones, eating, or otherwise not paying attention to the roadways.
- Impaired drivers from alcohol or drug use, or prescription medication that negatively impacts them.
- Left-turn accidents at intersections occur because the driver did not yield the right of way to the motorcycle.
- Reckless drivers who are speeding, changing lanes illegally, forgetting to check blind spots, or otherwise driving in an unsafe manner.
- Road conditions, including potholes, debris on the road, and unsafe conditions due to poor maintenance and upkeep.
- Mechanical failures of the motorcycle due to the manufacturer’s design or the technician’s failures.
- Aggressive driving, including road rage incidents in which drivers tailgate motorcycles.
- Unsafe lane changes and improper attempts to pass motorcycles in traffic.
- Inexperienced drivers who do not know how to share the roadway with motorcyclists cause accidents.
- Poor visibility due to bad weather conditions.
The Texas Law Dog seeks out all available data and evidence to help determine who or what caused your accident. Our legal team goes to work building a strong case against all of those responsible, which could include the other driver, third parties such as manufacturers, or potentially a governmental entity in limited situations involving dangerous roadway conditions.
Grapevine Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near Me (817) 775-5364
What Should You Do After a Motorcycle Accident?
Being involved with any type of collision is traumatic and stressful, so it can be hard to know what steps to take after a motorcycle accident. Here’s a summary of what you should do if you get caught up in a crash:
- If possible, move to a safe location away from the wreck.
- Assess all injuries and seek medical attention immediately.
- Call 911 and report the accident to the Grapevine police department.
- Remain at the scene and gather evidence. Try taking photos and video footage of the wreck, personal injuries, and damages, as well as noting any witness statements.
- Get contact information from everyone involved, including witnesses.
- Report the accident to your insurance company, but do not discuss anything in detail. They could use this information against you to reduce your claim.
- Get in touch with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Texas to help assist your claim.
If you’ve suffered a personal injury due to a motorcycle crash, your safety always comes first. Once you’ve secured the wellbeing of you and those around you, you should aim to complete our suggested steps as quickly as possible to protect your claim in the long run.
Damages Available After a Motorcycle Accident
When someone suffers harm caused by another person’s negligence, the injured person may be able to pursue compensation through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. This may include recovery for any damages, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Damage to the bike
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages caused by time off work
- Emotional anguish
- Anticipated future medical needs
- Future lost wages or reduced earning capacity
In the event of a fatality, the surviving family of the deceased may also be eligible for a wrongful death claim to cover related losses. A diligent Grapevine motorcycle accident attorney at The Texas Law Dog can assess your case and calculate the value of various factors to determine a fair value for the damages caused.
Establishing Liability for a Motorbike Crash
Before the injured claimant can recover damages, they need to prove that the negligence or deliberate wrongdoing of another person caused the accident and the resulting harm suffered. Negligence involves a failure to exercise reasonable caution in a particular situation, thereby failing to fulfill a duty of care owed to others.
To prove negligence, we need to meet four areas:
- Demonstrate duty of care, which in this case typically means demonstrating that the other driver owed anyone else on the road a duty of care by obeying the law.
- Show how the driver failed in that duty of care, such as by speeding, driver error, or failing to yield the right of way.
- Show that the specific breach of the duty of care is what directly caused the accident to happen, such as the illegal lane change that caused the driver to strike your motorcycle.
- Demonstrate that the motorcycle accident caused you to suffer financial and physical injuries, such as showing the accident caused head trauma and broken bones.
By taking these four steps, your legal team can build a strong case for you, making it clear that the other party owes compensation to you for your losses. Expect our attorneys to find the evidence available to demonstrate each of these areas with confidence. Expect us to fight for you.
Understanding Comparative Fault in Motorcycle Accidents
If the motorcyclist’s own conduct contributed to the cause of the accident, this will reduce the amount recovered. It won’t prevent the injured party from obtaining compensation from other responsible parties. Under Texas’ modified comparative fault rule and Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 33, you may recover damages if you are less than 51% at fault.
Our motorcycle accident attorney in Grapevine, TX will help you to do this by:
- If possible, we will work to reduce any blame placed on you by showing that it is inaccurate.
- Demonstrate that the other party is more at fault than you are and, therefore, show that you have the right to seek compensation.
- File a claim for you at the full level allowable under the law.
It is not uncommon for insurance companies to try to reduce or refuse your right to compensation. Our legal team makes sure this does not happen. Turn to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Grapevine for immediate help if you have any fault in this case.
What is the Statute of Limitations for a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Texas?
According to Texas law, the statute of limitations for most personal injury lawsuits is generally two years from the date of the accident. This also applies to any injury caused by a motorcycle accident, as well as wrongful death claims.
If you neglect to adhere to this deadline, you could risk waiving your right to pursue compensation for the damages you’ve faced, including any medical bills, hospital bills, lost wages, ongoing care, or pain and suffering.
By hiring a motorcycle accident attorney in Grapevine, TX, you can avoid any mishaps or errors. They’ll speak directly with your insurance company and handle all negotiations, helping to make sure your claim is accurately filed on time. Plus, an attorney will also assist with preserving all the necessary evidence so that nothing is missed.
What Is The Duty of Drivers When on the Road?
Drivers have a duty to operate motor vehicles responsibly. For example, truckers and other drivers are required to remove any debris they drop on the roads. If they disregard this duty and cause harm, they become responsible for that harm.
For a motorcyclist to prove that someone else failed to act responsibly, they will need to provide evidence. This might be surveillance footage, witness testimony, medical records, photographs, a police report, and other proof to show how the responsible party caused the accident.
A knowledgeable Texas attorney can collect and preserve evidence so it’s available for use in settlement negotiations with insurance companies or at trial. You can trust our team to be dedicated to fighting for your rights.
How Important Is It for Motorcyclists to Have Health Insurance?
No one anticipates getting in a motorcycle wreck, but that is exactly why getting health insurance before a crash is so important. Medical bills are expensive, and people should not have to shoulder the cost of treatment on their own, especially if the crash was a result of someone else’s negligence. Insurance is both a proactive and a protective measure.
If a motorcyclist sustains catastrophic injuries in a crash, an attorney is going to advocate for the claimant and get them the medical attention they need. Even if a motorcyclist does not have insurance, it is recommended for everybody to have health insurance. Our Grapevine catastrophic injury lawyer can review your case today.
Serious motorcycle injuries often require hospitalization or ongoing medical treatment. Health insurance will help cover the cost of hospital stays and ongoing care; however, the injured person may still be responsible for deductibles or co-pays. Given the high cost of treating serious injuries, even a single hospital visit can create financial strain.
Texas Law Dog: We Don’t Just Bark, We Bite
No amount of money can restore the time and health lost to a motorcycle accident. However, compensation can cover your expenses and help meet future needs for yourself and your family. That is where an experienced Texas attorney comes into play for your case.
A seasoned Grapevine motorcycle accident lawyer investigates your case, collects the best available evidence, represents your interests during discussions with insurance companies, and assists in numerous other ways to ensure that you receive the full amount to which you are entitled after a motorcycle collision.
Call the compassionate team at The Texas Law Dog now for a free consultation. We prioritize clear communication with every client and are committed to delivering quality legal representation. Plus, we work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
