Motorcycle accident injuries are often catastrophic in nature due to the physical vulnerability of riders to the elements around them. Injuries can range from severe road rash to traumatic brain injury, leaving a rider permanently disabled, paralyzed, comatose, or dead. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a motorcycle accident because of another’s negligence, you may be able to bring a claim against the responsible party. Speak with a dedicated Austin motorcycle accident attorney today to learn more about your available legal options.
Motorcyclist Rights on the Road in Texas
Texas law gives motorcycles the same right to the road as other motor vehicles, including lane splitting laws, weaving between lanes, and driving in emergency lanes. Reckless behavior doesn’t cause many motorcycle accidents, however – negligent motorists do.
A large number of motorcycle accidents are the result of other drivers failing to check their mirrors for oncoming motorcyclists. Vehicles veering into the same lane as a motorcycle, failing to yield the right of way, opening car doors into them, rear-ending them, pulling out in front of them, and other acts of negligence can all result in terrible motorcycle accidents.
Motorcyclists can wear brightly colored clothing, keep their headlights on even during the day, stay alert, and wear helmets but in the end, if another road user is negligent, an accident can still occur. Even though Texas law requires daytime use of headlights and helmets under the age of 21, any knowledgeable Austin personal injury lawyer will tell you that failing to comply with these safety laws isn’t admissible as evidence of fault in court.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcyclists are at risk of sustaining the same types of injuries as those involved in a car accident – broken bones, soft tissue damage, and head injuries – but the severity of these injuries are generally much worse. Motorcyclists are extremely vulnerable in accidents since they lack the protective metal shell drivers of automobiles have. Even wearing a helmet, most motorcyclist injuries involve serious head injury and brain damage.
The most common type of motorcycle accident injury that our Austin motorcycle accident lawyers have seen is a head injury. When the skull suffers blunt force trauma from colliding with an object, such as the road, it can cause the brain to swell and press against the sides of the skull. Major traumatic brain injury (TBI) can leave the victim cognitively and physically impaired, while more minor brain injuries can result in confusion and long-lasting side effects.
Neck and spinal cord injuries are also common during motorcycle accidents. The thoracic spine is injured the most often in these collisions, but many motorcycle incidents result in multiple-level spinal cord injuries. Damage to the thoracic spine can result in bowel/bladder dysfunction as well as temporary or permanent numbness or pain in the limbs. Injuries to the lumbar or sacral spine can lead to paralysis below the hips or paraplegia.
Protecting Your Rights in a Motorcycle Accident
While a helmet can help reduce the scale of your injuries in a motorcycle accident, it’s not guaranteed to protect you from severe brain and spinal cord injuries. If you’ve suffered permanent physical or emotional damage or disability in a motorcycle accident, you may need financial relief for mounting medical bills and loss wages.
If your Austin motorcycle accident attorney can prove another party’s negligence was responsible for your accident, you may receive compensation for your medical bills, past and future medical expenses (including rehabilitation or physical therapy), pain and suffering, lost wages, loss earning capacity, and more. We know winning a personal injury case can’t take back the damages you’ve suffered, but it can help you move on with your life.
Ross • Scalise Employment Lawyers | Skilled Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Austin, TX
For experienced, committed motorcycle accident attorneys, trust Ross • Scalise Employment Lawyers. Our accident and injury lawyers have extensive experience investigating motorcycle accidents and proving fault. Let us help you seek the compensation you deserve from your tragic accident. Contact us today to get in touch with one of our compassionate attorneys concerning your case.