Need a Katy Motorcycle Accident Lawyers? If you get into a motorcycle accident that isn’t your fault, you are likely to be left with serious injuries that will change your life forever. You might be wondering if you can get compensation for the accident or if the accident could have been your fault. Many people never see any compensation for their accident. The other driver and the insurance company will try to put you to blame so you never see any money from the insurance company or the driver.
You need an experienced lawyer to go over your case so you get the compensation you deserve. Don’t end up walking away from the accident with nothing. You are going to need compensation for your accident to pay for medical expenses and other bills. Set up a consultation with the Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Katy at Gomel & Associates immediately. Our team of Katy car accident lawyers will look at your case and let you know how much it is worth. We are ready to answer all of your questions so you have peace of mind.
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How Can a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Help?
The first thing you have to do after you have been in a motorcycle accident is to contact our office right away. You need a motor accident lawyer that has lots of experience with Texas motorcycle injury laws. Personal injury lawyers won’t have the experience or track record you need to get the most compensation for your case. Motorcycle accident law is complex which is why you need the best legal team to represent you.
We will handle all the insurance issues for your case. Our experienced and professional legal team, Gomel & Associates will make sure that you get all of the compensation you are eligible for. You can get compensation for medical care, medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering and more. You won’t even have to pay anything until we win your case.
Always take photos of the accident scene or have a witness take photos for you if you are the victim in a motorcycle accident. This documentation is important. You also need statements from witnesses right at the accident scene. As time goes on it is easy for witnesses to forget what happened and evidence can get lost. You have to act fast if you are in an accident to ensure that the evidence is preserved. It is also crucial that you work with the best accident law firm so you get the best results from your motorcycle accident case.
The lawyer you choose needs to have a lot of experience and they should also have satisfied customers. You odds of getting the most compensation possible increase when you use a legal team that is experienced and has a history of winning their motorcycle accident cases. Don’t wait to contact a lawyer. Schedule your free consultation at Gomel & Associates to find out what your Katy motorcycle accident case is worth.
What Are the Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Katy?
Driving a motorcycle can be dangerous because automobile drivers don’t always respect motorcyclists on the road. Whether they don’t see the cyclist or they are just being aggressive, motorcycle riders face many dangers on the road. Even if you are a good motorcycle rider, you can’t always anticipate what the other driver is going to do and you could end up getting into an accident that isn’t your fault. Automobile drivers don’t always see motorcycle riders and they often don’t yield to them or give them the proper right of way.
Car drivers can suddenly pull out in front of bikers or they turn in front of the biker which can cause an accident. Changing lanes suddenly also can be very dangerous to a biker. Not only that, but motorcycle injuries are likely to be very serious or even fatal to the biker since the biker doesn’t have the protection of being inside of a car. Another serious issue that can happen in a motorcycle accident is that the insurance coverage of the driver is not usually near what is necessary to pay for medical injuries and other issues that happen because of the accident. In the worst-case scenario, the driver might be uninsured.
Katy motorcycle accidents are often just bad luck. Even if you are the safest biker in the world, there is no way you can control what automobile drivers are going to do. Practicing defensive driving is a given. You have to stay alert at all times because automobile drivers are often inattentive. It is important to stay alert and be ready for anything that might happen when you are on the road.
These are the causes of the most common motorcycle injuries:
- Drunk drivers who suddenly change lanes or turn into your lane.
- Poor road conditions such as riding in the rain or hitting debris from road work. Biking in the ice and snow is also very dangerous.
- Getting hit by a taxi driver that didn’t see you due to a blind spot.
- Splitting or cutting lanes when you are passing a line of slow-moving cars.
- Getting hit by a car door. Drivers often open car doors without checking to see if a biker is coming. This can cause a serious injury.
- Braking too quickly. Sudden braking could result in the biker being tossed over the handlebars.
- Drunk driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), most motorcycle accidents are caused by drunk drivers. In many cases, the victim of the motorcycle accident is badly hurt or even killed in the accident. Wrongful death lawsuits are appropriate in this situation.
What Are the Common Injuries Sustained by Motorcycle Riders in Accidents?
Motorcycle accidents commonly cause:
Back and Neck Injuries
Many motorcycle accident victims end up with broken bones or back and neck fractures. Another common injury following an accident is ruptured and herniated disks. Neck injuries are often very common and victims might experience pain and tingle in their hands and arms. Sharp pain in the feet and legs often point to a herniated disk. An MRI is commonly used to diagnose ruptured disks and other back injuries.
Leg Injuries
Riding a motorcycle doesn’t protect your legs so if you are injured in a motorcycle accident your legs are often seriously injured. Riders have ended up with a variety of leg injuries including fractured legs and amputated legs. Many riders get hit from the side and end up with lower leg injuries. Broken shinbones are common and so are knee joint fractures. Leg injuries that have healed often lead to arthritis as the rider gets older. If you do get hit by a car you can expect to end up with some sort of leg injury.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Brain injuries are another very serious and very common injury that can happen when you are hit by a car on your motorcycle. With a traumatic brain injury, your brain is violently shaken in the skull. These injuries happen even if you are wearing protective headgear. The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury are serious. Many riders suffer from erratic behavior, memory problems, personality changes, and speech issues. It might be difficult to pay attention to even simple things and you might feel angry. If you have any of these symptoms it is crucial that you make an appointment to see a neurologist. Wearing a helmet is crucial as it can prevent you from being killed in the accident.
Other Common Injuries Associated with Motorcycle Accidents
Amputations, broken arms, and wrists, road rash, broken ribs, injured shoulders.
Legal Recourse for Motorcyclists Injured in Katy
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident you need to take legal action to get compensation for medical costs, lost wages, and all of the other damages that you have experienced because of the accident. Texas drivers have to have liability insurance of at least 300,000 for every person who has been injured. They are also required to have coverage of 60,000 for each accident. Drivers must carry property damage liability coverage of at least 25,000 for each accident. Many drivers in Katy carry more coverage than is legally required, but it is just about impossible to know how much insurance coverage they have without starting a lawsuit.
It is possible to stack your UM/UIM coverage from your motorcycle insurance policy to the policy limits of the other driver so you can get completely compensated for your injuries.
If claimants want to be entitled to legal damages they must prove the following:
- Duty of care between the different parties (motorists owe all road users duty of care to avoid causing harm);
- Duty of care was breached by the defendant (for example, he/she acted in a negligent manner);
- Negligent actions from the defendant caused the accident; and
- The motorcycle rider sustained damages and serious injuries.
What Legal Damages Can You Get From Motorcycle Wrecks?
Damages are the many types of harm that are legally defined. This harm can be intangible like pain and suffering. It can also be financial harm or physical harm. You might be eligible for many different types of compensation for your motorcycle injury. If you have experienced any type of loss or injury from your Katy motorcycle accident you are going to need an experienced attorney to help you with the claims and settlement process.
Past and Future Medical Expenses
If you are injured in a motorcycle accident you need to seek compensation for all of your medical expenses that are the result of the injury.
Lost Wages
Recovering from a serious motorcycle accident can take weeks, months, or even years. This means you have probably missed a lot of work and have suffered a loss of income as a result. You are legally entitled to recover that lost income. You are also entitled to be compensated for the loss of future income if your earning capacity is reduced as the result of the accident.
Property Damage
It is highly likely that your motorcycle was heavily damaged during the accident. The right motorcycle lawyer will ensure that you recover all damages to your motorcycle, helmet, equipment, and other personal property that you had on your bike.
Pain & Suffering
Getting into a motorcycle accident often causes pain and suffering which you are legally entitled to get compensation for.
Loss of Enjoyment
In the event that you can’t ride a motorcycle again after the accident or you can’t participate in other hobbies that you enjoy, you are legally entitled to loss of enjoyment compensation.
Loss of Consortium
If you can no longer be intimate due to the injuries you have sustained in the motorcycle accident you can get compensation for loss of consortium.
Upfront Fees
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are appropriate when the driver has been driving in a careless or reckless manner. The driver might be required to pay punitive damages by the judge.
You need an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer so you can get the best representation. You will get the most compensation and have a better case when you work with a qualified lawyer who has a strong track record of winning cases. Contact Gomel & Associates to discuss your motorcycle accident and find out how much your case is worth.
How Are Motorcycle Accident Cases Affected By Comparative Negligence in Texas?
When you want to recover damages the lawyer must show that the claimant was 50 percent or less at fault as Texas is a modified comparative fault state. Damages will be reduced by the degree of responsibility of the claimant. Here is an example of how this works. If the other party was 30 percent at fault and had damages of 100,000 the award would only be 70,000, as you subtract 30 percent from the 100,000.
Comparative fault is especially applicable when the other driver was not wearing a helmet. Helmets won’t usually be a factor if the biker has a broken leg because broken legs don’t have anything to do with the injury. On the other hand, if the biker has a serious head or neck injury, the defendant and the insurance company is likely to argue that the failure of the biker to wear a helmet resulted in an injury that was more serious and that the injury was partially the fault of the biker.
In Texas, riders are not required to wear a helmet when they are 21 or older after finishing a training course or having enough medical insurance. Not wearing a helmet is a factor in many accidents and motorcycle riders must discuss how wearing a helmet can affect their case with their attorney if they have been in an accident. In most cases, if the injury would not have been less serious or avoided altogether by wearing the helmet then this should not affect the
case.
What Do I Need to Do After a Motorcycle Accident?
The first thing you have to do right after the accident is to get medical help. Law enforcement will get involved and investigate the accident. The police will also speak with the other driver and get their insurance information. The police will come to the hospital if needed. The next thing you must do is get in touch with a motorcycle accident attorney at Gomel & Associates.
Things you need to get at the scene of the accident:
- Insurance details from the at-fault driver
- Accident scene photos and photos of your injuries
- Contact information and identity details from the witnesses
Medical Treatment
Always get immediate treatment for your injuries. Some injuries don’t become apparent until after the accident. If you don’t seek medical care you could hurt your case and your health. Follow up with the doctor as instructed. Even if you don’t have medical insurance you can often get care without paying for it in advance. Speak with a lawyer right away at Gomel & Associates.
Contact with the Insurance Adjuster
Never give phone interviews with the opposing insurance company after your accident. Always contact your lawyer first before speaking with the insurance company. Take advantage of a free consultation from the motorcycle accident lawyer.
Motorcycle Accident Statistics in Katy
In 2018, 618 motorcycle accidents happened in Katy. These accidents caused injuries and death to 499 bikers. When you have been in a motorcycle accident you need to speak with a Katy accident lawyer right away.
An experienced Katy lawyer is going to protect your rights and ensure you get all of the compensation you are entitled to. Motorcycles just don’t have the same protection as cars. This means that you are almost certain to be injured in a motorcycle accident. In fact, 94 percent of motorcycle accidents result in serious injuries.
Get in touch with a KatyMotorcycle Accident Lawyer Today at Gomel & Associates!
If you are a victim of a motorcycle accident get help from the Katy car accident firm of Gomel & Associates right away. You need legal assistance when you have been injured or are having problems with the insurance company. We take the pressure away and we handle all of the paperwork so you can focus on getting well. If you are ready to start your claim call Gomel & Associates today.
Getting into a motorcycle accident can be a financial and medical disaster. Dealing with a long recovery period and missing work can ruin your life. When the medical bills and other financial obligations start to add up get in touch with a personal injury attorney and get your case started with the top motorcycle accident lawyers in Katy. Call Gomel & Associates today.