Texas Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

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When it comes to a motorcycle crash, we know that no matter how careful you are, you cannot control the choices of truck and car operators. Motorcycle accidents are more likely to be deadly than accidents involving only passenger cars. Motorcycles provide no protection from impact and motorcycle riders routinely are thrown from their bikes in a crash. It is usually the motorcycle rider who dies in an accident or suffers serious and life-changing injuries. A motorcycle accident lawyer can help.

If you or a loved one were involved in a motorcycle accident, you may be able to take legal action against the driver who caused your crash. Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer at The Carlson Law Firm today for a free consultation.

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Common Types of Motorcycle Injuries

Victims of motorcycle crashes can suffer injuries to every part of their body. In fact, more than 80 percent of all reported motorcycle crashes result in the injury or death of the biker. If the victim survives, they will likely live with life-altering pain and injuries. Survivors of motorcycle crashes face an uphill battle of recovering from injury such as:

Broken Bones

When you are traveling at high speeds and impact into immovable objects, you will likely end up with a broken bone. Broken bones can take a long time to heal and can leave you with debilitating injuries. The most common broken bones include a frontal impact to your femur (thigh bones) or tibia (shin). These injuries occur when your legs hit the handlebars and result in a break. A bad enough break will require pins in your bones to hold them together.

Wrists and arms breaks occur when the rider puts his or her arms up to protect themselves from the impact. Shoulders and collar bones are also common broken bone injuries in motorcycle accidents. These types of injuries occur when a rider lands on the road sideways.

Road Rash

Tarmac tears through jeans in a matter of seconds. When it reaches your skin, tarmac will strip your skin down to the flesh causing nerve damage and other injuries. If your injuries are bad enough, they can be disfiguring and require skin grafts. Road rash injuries include:

Avulsion Injuries: These injuries occur when the underlying muscles and fat are exposed.

Compression Injuries: These injuries can lead to bruises and haematomas.

Cuts: These injuries can be large wounds that require stitches or bandages.

Spine and Neck Injuries

Spine and neck injuries can lead to serious injuries like paralysis. When nerves in the spinal cord are compressed or severed, the spinal cord cannot send or receive signals to the area with which these nerves communicate. This lack of communication results in partial or full loss of movement.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Serious head injuries are among the most common fatal injuries in motorcyclists. Helmets improve a motorcyclists chances of surviving a crash by 37 percent. In addition, helmets are about 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries. However, only 19 states and the District of Columbia require helmet use by all riders.

Internal Injuries

The impact against an object can rupture internal organs and cause bleeding. Motorcycle handlebars can cause significant internal injuries.

Biker’s Arm (Nerve Damage)

Biker’s arm occurs when a rider lands on the road sideways. The friction of the road will wrench the shoulder inwards. This movement leads to biker’s arm, which is a type of nerve damage in the upper arm causing ongoing pain and tingling.

Groin Injuries

On the majority of motorcycles, the petrol tank is right in front of the rider’s groin area. A frontal impact can cause the groin to hit the tank. Recovery from injuries like broken bones, nerve damage, paralysis, traumatic brain injuries and more can be a life-long journey. A qualified motorcycle accident attorney from The Carlson Law Firm can help you get the treatment you need. Our firm has the resources and experiences to get you the recovery you deserve.

Eye Injuries

Riders can be hit in the eye by insects or stones kicked up from other vehicles. Even the tiniest object can cause significant damage when they impact the eye even at just 30 miles per hour. When the head stops abruptly at a high-speed impact, the eye can come out of the socket. Other injuries can cause damage around the orbital socket.

Hearing Damage

Those who ride noisy bikes, particularly those without a muffler, expose themselves to volumes in excess 95dB. At this level, irreparable damage occurs in just one hour. Tinnitus and reduced ability to hear high frequencies which often lead to problems understanding and conversations.

Motorcycle Accident Attorneys At The Carlson Law Firm In Texas

Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

The most common cause of a motorcycle accident is an automobile or truck driver’s failure to yield the right of way to the motorcyclist. This is especially true at an intersection when the motor vehicle is making a left turn in the face of an oncoming motorcycle. Because of their relatively small size, motorcycles may be difficult to see on the road. Often, this requires other drivers to pay attention to their driving and the road ahead of them and obey all traffic signs and signals. Another common cause of motorcycle accidents is roads that are in unsafe condition, either because of potholes or uneven surfaces.

Researchers at Texas Tech University found that the human brain has a harder time accurately perceiving small objects that are close by than larger objects that are farther away. Further, the implication for motorcycle riders is that drivers in cars and trucks may have a hard time accurately knowing how close motorcyclists are to their vehicles and may be unable to judge the motorcyclist’s speed, increasing the chance of an accident.

If you have been in a motorcycle accident, you are not alone. Over 5,000 people die each year in motorcycle accidents, and over 100,000 motorcyclists and their passengers suffer injury.

The most common reasons for motorcycle accident injuries include the following:

Driver Error: The most common motorcycle crashes occur when a car turns in front of a bike, hits the motorcyclist while changing lanes, or runs into the biker at a stop light. Common reasons for the driver not seeing the motorcyclist are: inattention, distractions, blind spots and that the driver is looking for cars rather than motorcycles. Motorcycles can easily fit into blind spots and drivers looking for cars aren’t psychologically programmed to see motorcycles.
Faulty Equipment: Accidents can happen even when no driver is at fault. Vehicle defects that slip past the manufacturer can cause an accident or faulty safety equipment may fail to protect the travelers the way it should. When products fail and cause avoidable harm, a skilled motorcycle accident lawyer may find it necessary to pursue a products liability case.
Dangerous Conditions: Motorcycle technology has developed over the years to improve rider safety. Many bikes now come equipped with anti-lock braking systems and traction control. These developments still may not eliminate all dangers. Additionally, poorly maintained roads, liquids that are leaked or spilled on surfaces, or improperly engineered streets and highways can lead to accidents and injuries.

What Should You Do After a Motorcycle Accident?

Check For Injuries: The first thing you should do, if you are able to move, is make sure everyone is all right, and if need be, receives medical attention. Call 911 immediately to report injuries.
Get out of the Roadway: If possible, move all vehicles off the road to a safe location. Use hazard lights, flares, or warning triangles to alert any oncoming traffic.
Gather Information: Exchange information with other drivers involved. Get the name, address, phone number, insurance information, and license numbers for all drivers. Note plate numbers, car make and models, and description.
Call the Cops: If there are injuries or if there is any substantial property damage call the police. The police report can be vital in your efforts to recover for damage to your bike, clothing, or for injuries – many of which may not become evident for hours, or even days after an accident.
Take Note of Surroundings: This may be difficult depending upon how seriously you may be hurt, but try to take notice of important information about the accident. This includes where, when, and how. Specifically, try to take note of the location of the accident, road conditions, speed limits, weather, lighting, the direction of travel any vehicles involved.
Talk To Witnesses: Again, this depends on how badly you have been injured. If reasonably possible, try to interview all witnesses and record their comments either at the scene of the accident or as soon as as possible. Memories quickly fade; get as much information as you can immediately following the motorcycle crash.
Contact Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers: In a time where it seems like everyone is against you, you’re going to want a team of highy-qualified motorcycle accident lawyers on your side.

Can You Recover Compensation?

In negotiations or litigation against an insurance company or negligent party, the attorneys in our office may be able to help you recover compensation for the following:

Past and Future Medical Expenses: Victims can file to receive compensation for emergency visits, hospital care, surgery etc. if the injuries were directly related to the accident.
Lost Wages: Motorcycle accident victims can claim compensation for wages they could have earned if the accidents hadn’t taken place. Victims can recover compensation for the period of time they had to be away from work to recover.
Pain and Suffering: As motorcyclists may not be offered PIP insurance, they may file a lawsuit to claim compensation to combat their pain and suffering after the accident. To determine whether the victim requires compensation, courts will consider factors such as the nature of the injury, along with the duration and extent of pain.
Mental Anguish: Victims and families may also be provided compensation for the emotional pain they had to face after the incident. Emotional suffering includes feelings of fright, embarrassment, nervousness, worry, and grief.
Loss of Consortium: The surviving spouse may receive compensation for the loss of services, assistance, aid, society, and companionship of his or her loved one in the case of a wrongful death caused by a motorcycle accident. Surviving parents may receive compensation for the loss of love, affection and companionship of their minor children as a result of their wrongful death. Likewise, minor children may receive compensation for the loss of services, assistance, aid, society and companionship of their parents as a result of their wrongful death.

How a Texas Motorcycle Accident Lawyer at The Carlson Law Firm Can Help You

We are a full-service personal injury law firm offering personalized attention and exceptional client service. With 12 locations across the state, there is a Carlson Law Firm personal injury attorney near you. We offer aggressive legal representation to provide help to motorcycle accident victims throughout Texas and across the nation. Don’t wait another minute. Contact a qualified Texas motorcycle accident lawyer for help today.

At The Carlson Law Firm, we have made it our goal to effectively help clients through their specific and individual circumstances involving motorcycle accident injuries. A motorcycle injury attorney from our firm can pursue just compensation for your injuries. A motorcycle accident lawyer is available to assist you 24/7. If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact us today for a free initial case evaluation with a motorcycle accident lawyer. Don’t suffer from your motorcycle injuries alone

We care, we can help.

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With 12 locations throughout Texas, there’s a Carlson Law Firm near you. We have law offices located in Killeen, Temple, Waco, Round Rock, Austin, San Antonio, Laredo, Bryan, Lubbock, and Corpus Christi.

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