Those in the Dallas area who choose a motorcycle as their mode of transportation have the same rights as motorists in cars and trucks. However, motorcycle riders are far more exposed to the dangers of collisions because of the open-air nature of their vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes that motorcycle riders are 28 times more likely to die in a crash and four times more likely to be injured than people in passenger vehicles. Drivers who don’t watch out for motorcyclists should be held responsible for the devastating injuries they cause.
If a negligent driver injured you, call our Dallas motorcycle accident team to learn how our attorneys can help you seek financial compensation.
The Roads of Dallas Claim Motorcyclists’ Lives
Negligent drivers often take the lives of vulnerable motorcyclists. Dallas area news outlets reveal stories of motorcycle riders who either lost their lives or suffered catastrophic injuries because of driver negligence. Here are just a few examples:
- A motorcyclist and their passenger died at the hands of a pickup truck driver, who fled the scene and was determined to be intoxicated at the time of the accident, as reported by CBS Dallas-Fort Worth.
- A motorcycle-riding police officer blocking oncoming traffic from a previous accident was struck by a vehicle and hospitalized, as reported by NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth.
- A motorcyclist died after a vehicle turned left in front of them, as reported by The Dallas Morning News.
Motorcyclists can cause accidents by lane splitting and traveling at high speeds. Like all motorists, some motorcycle riders break the law and fail to exercise enough caution. However, all motorcyclists are vulnerable on the road, and car and truck drivers are responsible for looking out for them.
For a free legal consultation with a Motorcycle Accidents lawyer serving Dallas, call 877-239-4878
Motorcyclists Deserve Attention
One of the reasons why motorcyclists may be more susceptible to collisions with other vehicles is a motorcycle’s smaller size. Because other drivers may not see a motorcycle, they may:
- Change lanes in a way that directly strikes a motorcyclist or causes the rider to stop abruptly and be ejected from the bike.
- Turn across an intersection in front of an oncoming motorcycle.
The fact that motorcycles are smaller and more difficult to spot is not a valid excuse for colliding with one.
Dallas Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-239-4878
What Drivers Can Do To Protect Motorcyclists
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has encouraged motorists to pay closer attention to motorcyclists through their “Share the Road: Look Twice for Motorcycles” awareness campaign. According to the CBS News DFW report, the campaign urges drivers to:
- Provide space for motorcycles by avoiding tailgating or merging into their lanes.
- Use turn signals so motorcyclists don’t have to guess about the vehicle’s movements or brake abruptly.
- Avoid sharing a lane with a motorcyclist.
- Check blind spots and mirrors.
These precautions may help protect motorcyclists from severe injury or death. Motorcycle riders and their passengers may pay the price when a motorist ignores or only partially implements these measures.
If you suffered an injury in a DFW motorcycle accident, one of our motorcycle accident attorneys in Dallas could help you chart a path toward justice.
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A Dallas Motorcycle Accident Lawyer May Hold the Person Who Injured You Accountable
If another person’s negligence injured you, you might choose to have a lawyer fight for compensation on your behalf. Reasons to do so include the following:
- A motorcycle accident lawyer has most likely handled similar cases.
- You may not have the time to fight for maximum compensation.
- You are not confident enough in your legal knowledge to handle your case alone.
- You are considering bringing a lawsuit.
You may have other motivations for hiring a lawyer. Regardless of your reasoning, an attorney could assist you with several aspects of your lawsuit.
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Steps a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Take in Your Case
Some of the specific duties that your lawyer may fulfill are:
- Filing documents to initiate your claim.
- Filing subsequent documents to move your case along its course to completion.
- Collecting evidence that may help your argument as the victim of negligence.
- Reaching out to experts for testimony on your behalf.
- Interviewing eyewitnesses to your accident.
- Negotiating a settlement on your behalf.
- Making court appearances and taking in-court actions to progress your lawsuit.
- Taking your lawsuit through a trial if settlement negotiations do not result in anything.
- Protecting your rights through every step of the process.
The Role of an Aggressive Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
In addition to these specific tasks, a lawyer can handle other necessary tasks to resolve your case. They will serve as:
- The guardian of your rights.
- Your legal advisor.
- Your sounding board for questions and concerns.
Forms of Compensation You Could Seek for Your Motorcycle Accident Case
If your attorney is successful, you could recover a settlement or award that covers the following losses:
- Medical expenses from your injuries
- Lost income because of time away from work
- Future lost income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Reduced quality of life
- Wrongful death
If your loved one dies in a motorcycle crash, your family members may receive financial compensation for their loss. This compensation may come in the form of monthly payments made to you or a family member, or it may come in the form of a lump sum payment.
In addition, your claim could include punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded when a defendant acts maliciously or with reckless disregard for the safety of others. This award is meant to punish the wrongdoer and deter future misconduct.
Why Choose Us for Your Motorcycle Accident Case?
You’ll bring in the Strong Arm if you work with our law firm. We have served thousands of injury victims across Texas every year and take the time to offer individualized care for each case. When you contact us, you can expect the following:
- You’ll get a free case review: We stand by to listen to your story and help you understand the next steps for your case.
- We’ll travel to you anywhere in Texas: We can come to you if you’re too injured to travel to one of our locations.
- You only pay us if we win your case: Because we work on a contingency-fee basis, you don’t have to pay upfront fees to start. We only get paid if you win.
Our personal injury attorneys are ready to fight for the best possible results in your case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dallas Motorcycle Accident Claims
We want you to feel supported throughout your case and will discuss your options during your initial consultation. For now, here are some answers to common questions we receive from motorcycle accident victims:
How Do I Know if the Insurance Company’s Offer Is Fair?
The simple answer is to ask our team. Unfortunately, insurance adjusters often look for ways to limit your payout. They may even unfairly claim that you were more to blame for the accident than you were. All too often, motorcyclists face bias in the insurance claims process.
Our personal injury lawyers can tell you if any offers you receive are fair and genuinely reflect your losses. Remember that a quick initial settlement offer is typically lower than you deserve. A lawyer from our team will know how to negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.
What Could My Case Be Worth?
The value of your case could be influenced by several factors, including:
- The cost of your medical treatment.
- The seriousness of your injuries.
- Who caused the accident, and who is liable.
- If your injuries seriously affected your career or other aspects of your life.
Once one of our lawyers has investigated the facts of your case, they can explain what you should be able to seek as a goal settlement amount. Then, they will work to secure the largest settlement or award possible.
Often, the more serious your injuries and medical care needs, the more we could seek on your behalf. However, it’s best to let our team evaluate what your case could be worth, as you could receive compensation for even moderate injuries.
What Injuries Can I Claim Compensation for?
Over the years, our experienced lawyers have learned how to successfully obtain compensation for our clients. Here are the more common motorcycle accident injuries we’ve managed:
- Road rash
- Head trauma
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck injuries
- Facial injuries
- Eye injury
- Brain damage, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Paralysis
- Severe burns
- Lacerations
- Foot or leg injury
- Broken bones
- Loss of limb
- Internal injuries, including organ damage
- Fatal injuries
In addition, we handle cases involving non-economic damages, including mental trauma, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional trauma, and loss of consortium.
Will My Case Go to Trial?
We may need to file a lawsuit and take your case to trial. Even though we can often secure a fair settlement through out-of-court negotiations, we may not receive a reasonable offer from the insurance adjuster.
It is also possible that the at-fault parties’ insurance policy limits are too low to cover your damages. In these cases, we may file suit on your behalf.
Our team is fully prepared to go the distance on your behalf. If needed, we will prepare the evidence in your case for trial, submit crucial paperwork, and fight for you in court.
Who Could Be at Fault for My Motorcycle Accident in Dallas?
One of your attorney’s most critical responsibilities is establishing liability. To do this, they must investigate how your motorcycle accident occurred. Motorcycle accidents can be caused in several ways. Some include:
- Inclement weather
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Dangerous roadways
- Drowsy driving
- Failure to stop
- Driving under the influence
Determining Liability
Knowing how your motorcycle accident occurred will give your personal injury attorney a better idea of who could be responsible for the collision.
For example, if speeding, distracted driving, drowsy driving, or any other type of negligent driving caused a crash, your lawyer would know to go after the driver who hit you. However, if drunk driving caused the accident, an experienced attorney could also look into bars in the area to determine if they share liability.
Multiple parties could share the blame if dangerous roads cause your motorcycle accident. These parties could include government agencies, municipalities, and even TxDOT. This is because these agencies are responsible for maintaining safe roads.
Expect your lawyer to thoroughly examine the details of your case to determine who is responsible for your injuries. That way, they can bring all the at-fault parties to justice.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Dallas Motorcycle Accident Claims?
The time limit for motorcycle accident claims in Dallas is two years. This is due to Texas’s two-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits, as outlined in the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003.
If you fail to file a lawsuit before the deadline, you will be unable to recover compensation for your bodily injury or property damage. In fact, if you try to file your claim after the statute of limitations has run out, the defense will file a motion to dismiss your case. The presiding judge would likely grant their request.
You can avoid this situation by hiring a lawyer as soon as possible after your motorcycle accident.
Can I Be Awarded Compensation if I am Partially at Fault for the Accident?
You can still be awarded compensation despite sharing fault for your accident. It is more common than you might think for motorcycle accident victims to share liability for their injuries.
However, under Texas’ proportionate responsibility laws, as long as your portion of fault does not exceed 50%, you can still be awarded compensation for the part of the accident that was not your fault. For example, if you were found 25% responsible, you could expect to collect 75% of your damages.
While you can still be awarded compensation for your damages when you share liability, shared fault can dramatically impact your case’s outcome. A qualified attorney can ensure that liability is fairly assessed.
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Dallas
Call Loncar Lyon Jenkins to bring in the Strong Arm. We know how important it is to receive fair treatment in a motorcycle accident case. Our lawyers work hard to ensure you get the money you need by deploying our legal team to fight on your behalf.
Don’t let the insurance company take advantage of you. Instead, reach out to our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys in Dallas. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
Call or text 877-239-4878 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
