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At Dunk Law Firm, we truly care about each and every one of our clients. We know that being involved in an unexpected accident or losing a loved one in a tragic incident is overwhelming. We're here to help.
MEET THE TEAMcontact usWhat Are Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable not just because they lack the protection, but because they are much smaller. This downside makes motorcycles more difficult for other drivers to notice while driving. It also means that motorcycles and their passengers are more likely to be thrown further in the event of a crash.
Motorcycles are also more vulnerable to a collision because other motorists do not always keep a close enough eye out for them. Just 8% of households possess a motorcycle, which gives us a rough estimate of just how common motorcycles are on US roadways. Since motorcycles aren't as prevalent as regular passenger cars, motorists may be less likely to look out for them.
For instance, a motorcycle riding in a motorist's blind spot or crossing through an intersection at a 2-way stop may be less likely to be seen by a driver who is only looking for other passenger vehicles.
Because motorcycles are harder to see than other cars, motorcyclists should always drive defensively. Bikers can never assume that other motorists can see them, especially the motorists of cars in front of them. Motorcycle crashes often occur when motorists:
What Are the Most Common Motorcycle Injuries?
A motorcycle provides you little protection in a crash. This means your body ends up taking the full force of the impact with another vehicle.
Commonly, this leads to severe and life-altering injuries to motorcycle crash victims. In fact, almost 5,000 motorcyclists were killed in crashes in just one recent year.
While motorcycles just make up 3 percent of registered vehicles, motorcycle crashes result in 15 percent of all vehicle crash deaths. Not every motorcycle crash will result in death, but it shows the severity these kinds of crashes result in.
That's not to say that survivors can never resume a normal life, but it may take some time and effort, including physical rehabilitation. A motorcycle crash attorney can help you recover the compensation needed to pay for those treatments.
Liability for Houston Motorcycle Accidents
As these facts suggest, motorcyclists wounded in collisions are often the victims of negligence. Every negligence claim is made up of four essential elements: a duty, a breach of that duty, an injury caused by the breach, and damages sustained by the plaintiff. Drivers of motor vehicles owe a duty of care to everybody else that uses public thoroughfares. That includes bicyclists, pedestrians, and various other motorists-- including motorcyclists.
When a driver breaches that duty by being careless, inebriated, fatigued, or distracted, and ends up causing an accident which results in injury or even wrongful death to another individual, the motorist may be held civilly liable to the injured party. He or she can seek a negligence case with the assistance of a motorcycle crash lawyer in Houston.
A motorcyclist wounded in an accident might have a claim if he can prove that another motorist was at fault. When a motorcycle driver has followed all of the traffic laws but is still involved in a crash, odds are that it has been caused by the driver of another vehicle. It might be not seeing the motorcyclist, speeding, being inebriated, or a mixture of the three.
What Should I Do After a Motorcycle Crash?
If You Have Been Involved in a Motorcycle Crash, immediately contact the authorities to make a report if they are involved in an accident. This is particularly true if there is an injury or death.
If urgent medical help is necessary, provide what help you can, look for assistance, and call emergency medical help. If you are the one who is injured, you should seek immediate medical aid. Even if your injury appears minor and you do not need immediate help, it is a good idea to seek medical care, as some injuries are not immediately noticeable.
Further, at the scene you need to get the contact and insurance details for the other parties. And you also want contact info for independent witnesses, as investigating law enforcement don't always gather that information.
Contact a motorcycle crash lawyer soon after the accident. We highly advise that you do this before speaking to any insurance carrier.
Contact Our Houston Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
After your accident, aside from talking to the police and receiving any necessary medical attention, you need to consult with a qualified and knowledgeable personal injury lawyer with experience handling motorcycle crashes. Serving victims throughout the Houston area, the motorcycle accident attorneys at Dunk Law Firm can assist you.
Too often, accident victims think that an insurance carrier-- either their own or the other motorist's-- will adequately compensate them for any injuries they have suffered. Unfortunately, lots of insurance providers are unwilling to pay, even when liability and damages are obvious. This is especially accurate when the damages are significant.
Even when an insurance company seems liable, be wary. Lots of insurance adjusters will attempt to settle claims quickly. They will advise you to sign an agreement that will let them close the case-- and thus minimize their exposure.
Even if the deal appears adequate or even generous, it is vital to make sure your rights are protected. Contact a lawyer and make sure you comprehend the consequences of the agreement.
The truth is, not all injuries are readily apparent. And for some serious injuries, even if you anticipate full recovery, you can not be certain that the full recovery you expect will happen.
In those cases, signing a release of claims prematurely can limit your settlement to an amount that is substantially less than what you need or what you legally have a right to recuperate. Severe injuries might consist of:
And, obviously, some motorcycle accidents are deadly. If someone you love has been killed in a motorcycle collision, contact an attorney to find out whether there's a wrongful death action to pursue against a negligent motorist.
