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Texas is a wonderful state for enjoying the open road on a motorcycle. But it’s also a dangerous place to ride. In So if you find yourself in a motorcycle accident, there’s a good chance you’ll need the legal services of a Houston motorcycle accident lawyer like Hector Longoria.
Common Motorcycle Accident Causes
Motorcycles have the advantage of increased mobility compared to passenger cars and trucks. But this also makes it easier for motorcycle riders to drive in a manner that puts them at increased risk of an accident. For example, it’s easier for a motorcycle to weave in and out of traffic. Other common motorcycle accident causes include:
- Head on collisions.
- Cars or trucks making left-hand turns.
- Lane splitting by the motorcycle.
- Speeding.
- Collisions with fixed objects.
- Road hazards, like dead animals, sticks, loose stone, breaks in pavement, uneven pavement and slippery road surfaces.
Motorcycle Safety Tips
Hector Longoria is a skilled and experienced Houston motorcycle accident lawyer and can help you get the legal compensation you’re entitled to should you get into an accident. But the best scenario for Texas motorcyclists is to avoid the motorcycle accident in the first place. You can reduce your risk by following the below safety tips:
- Always wear a helmet and other safety equipment, such as a jacket, gloves and protective pants.
- Take a motorcycle safety course.
- Always ride defensively and never assume another driver can see you.
- Ride with your headlight on.
- Ride in the left or right part of your lane. The center of a lane is more likely to have debris or liquids.
- Do not speed.
- Keep a safe distance between you and other vehicles.
- Make sure your motorcycle is in safe operating condition.
- Try to avoid being on the road during inclement weather.
- Only ride a bike you can properly handle.
- Make sure your bike has anti-lock brakes.
- Always be on the lookout for road hazards.
Do I Need to Wear a Helmet to Recover Damages in a Motorcycle Accident?
Not necessarily. Under Texas law, all riders who are less than 21 years of age, must wear a helmet. Those who are 21 years of age and older may ride without a helmet, but only if they have either completed a motorcycle safety course or can provide proof of health insurance that will cover injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.
That being said, whether or not you are wearing a helmet only becomes a factor if you suffer injuries that could have been avoided or reduced if you wore a helmet. If you were legally required to wear a helmet, but did not, then suffer head injuries, it will be very difficult to recover for your head injuries. But you should still be able to recover for other injuries and damages that weren’t related to whether or not you wore a helmet.
If you were not legally required to wear a helmet, chose not to wear one, then suffered head injuries in a motorcycle accident, you can still recover for your head injuries, but you’ll need to show that you would have still suffered head injuries even if you had worn your helmet. But assuming you can do this, any recovery you obtain for your head injuries is still likely to be lower than if you had been wearing a helmet.
Additional Challenges Facing Motorcyclists
Another issue injured motorcyclists face is the prejudice against them. In a jury trial, it’s more likely that a juror will have a personal bias against motorcycle rider than the average car or truck driver. This can be due to the fact that some people distrust or are wary of motorcycle riders. Even without this fear or bias, because riding a motorcycle is viewed as a high-risk choice, a juror is inclined to have less sympathy for someone injured in a motorcycle accident. The juror’s thought process may be that all of a motorcyclist’s injuries could have been avoided if they simply drove a regular car. It’s unfair, but it’s something that exists and must be dealt with in a jury trial.
Read Our Motorcycle Accident Guide
Do You Need to Speak with a Houston Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?
Call Hector today at 713-929-3996 (Houston) or 1-844-357-6337 (toll-free) for a free consultation. He will make sure that if you’re involved in a motorcycle accident, your rights are protected and that you receive everything you’re entitled to under the law.
