AK Law Firm

Houston Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Practice Areas

Houston Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one are the victim of a motorcycle accident in Houston, meet with one of the skilled Houston motorcycle accident lawyers at AK Law Firm as soon as possible. Motorcycle accidents cause more than injuries. They lead to struggling with medical bills, lost income, loss of property, and long-term care expenses.

At AK Law Firm, our legal team is compassionate about motorcyclists’ rights and will fight fiercely for the maximum compensation you need to cope with your injuries both now and further down the road. Our motorcycle accident attorneys are serious about injuries and property damage and will put their experience to work for you.

Trust AK Law Firm for the following:

  • Aggressive representation in all negotiations
  • Transparency throughout the entire legal process
  • Putting your interests first in all legal matters
  • Dedication to holding negligent drivers and other parties accountable for their actions

Call our law office today to schedule a free motorcycle accident claim evaluation. There are no upfront fees, and we never charge our clients unless we win their accident cases. Learn more about what options you have to take legal action.

NAVIGATE THIS PAGE

What Can a Houston Motorcycle Accident Attorney Do For You?

You should never pay for the negligent or reckless acts of another. At AK Law Firm, we want any settlement offer you receive for your motorcycle accident to provide for both your present and, if disabled, your future needs. However, insurance companies will attempt to settle with you as quickly and inexpensively as possible.

Our Houston accident attorneys work to build your claim for compensation in the following ways:

  • Investigating the motorcycle wreck
  • Identifying legal responsibility for the motorcycle crash and your injuries
  • Determining all insurance coverage applicable to your motorcycle wreck and injuries
  • Making any needed referrals for medical care
  • Aiding in personal property retrieval
  • Notifying creditors and others of the accident and injury case status
  • Calculating the past, current, and projected costs and losses from the accident
  • Filing injury claims with appropriate insurance carriers and aggressively negotiating for maximum settlement compensation
  • If necessary, filing a personal injury lawsuit to demand fair compensation from any liable party that refuses to negotiate a proper settlement offer
  • Presenting a strong and persuasive injury case in court

Never sign any documents, accept any settlement from the insurance company, or make a recorded statement without speaking to one of our experienced motorcycle collision lawyers. Call AK Law Firm today, and let us begin working on your accident claim today.

What Damages Can I Recover After a Motorcycle Crash?

Compensation for motorcycle accident injuries includes economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages for injuries are easily calculable items such as:

  • Lost wages due to time off work
  • Loss of future earning capacity
  • Medical bills for emergency care
  • Doctors’ bills
  • Property loss or replacement
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation
  • Hospital stay
  • Medical equipment and prescription drugs
  • Continuing medical care
  • Long-term nursing care

Non-economic damages are harder to place a dollar amount on and include items like:

  • Diminished quality of life
  • Pain and suffering
  • Chronic pain
  • Mental impairment as a result of depression, stress, and similar factors
  • Loss of consortium

The state of Texas also permits the recovery of punitive damages, which aim to punish the negligent party  for malice or gross negligence.

Motorcycle Laws in Texas

Just like motor vehicles, the Texas Department of Transportation (DOT) enforces a number of laws that motorcycle riders must follow. The purpose of these laws is to keep motorcycle riders and their passengers safe on the road, as well as ensure that each person who operates a motorcycle is qualified to do so.

Some of the most important Texas motorcycle laws include the following:

  • You must hold a Class M driver’s license to legally operate a motorcycle in Texas. You can obtain this license by completing a course through the Motorcycle Safety Unit.
  • No one under 5 years old may ride on a motorcycle.
  • If you are under the age of 21, you must wear a helmet whenever you are on a motorcycle. If you are 21 years or older, you must wear a helmet while operating a motorcycle unless you complete a safety course or have certain insurance policies.
  • You must register your motorcycle with your county’s Tax-Assessor Collector if you operate your vehicle on Texas public roadways. You must place a valid registration sticker in a visible place on your motorcycle.
  • All motorcycles must receive a yearly inspection through an Official Motor Vehicle Inspection Station. You must place your inspection certificate in a visible place near your rear license plate.

In addition to safety and licensing regulations, Texas motorcyclists must also carry minimum amounts of liability insurance and must show proof of insurance when applying for a Class M license. You will need to purchase at least $30,000 in bodily injury per person, $60,000 in total injury liability per accident, and $25,000 in property damage. You can purchase higher amounts of insurance, as well as additional coverage, if you wish.

Underinsured Motorist Insurance Coverage in Texas

Texas follows a fault-based insurance system, which means that anyone who operates a motor vehicle or a motorcycle must carry liability insurance in the event that they cause a collision. Under this system, you have three main options to collect compensatory damages:

  • You can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
  • You can file a claim under your own insurance policy.
  • You can file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver in Texas civil court.

The minimum amounts of insurance the state requires you to purchase can cover the majority of these losses. However, not all drivers adhere to these insurance laws. Some Texas drivers operate their vehicles with very little policy coverage or without any insurance at all.

If you are in a collision with one of these drivers, your chances at collecting compensation become severely limited. Insurance policies provide thousands of dollars in safety net funds in these liability situations, and if a driver cannot afford to uphold state insurance requirements, it is unlikely he or she can pay for your damages out of pocket. As a result, you may have to pay for your damages yourself.

Uninsured and underinsured (UM/UIM) motorist coverage can protect your best interests in these situations. UM/UIM coverage provides coverage for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and property damage in the event you are in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance. You can also use UM/UIM after a hit and run accident.

Texas does not require you to purchase UM/UIM coverage, but all insurance companies should offer it. It is important to remember that UM/UIM coverage does not cover vehicle repairs; you may need to purchase additional insurance, such as collision coverage, to protect yourself against these costs.

What are the Leading Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?

One of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents is when a car, truck, or other passenger vehicle violates a motorcyclist’s right of way. However, the majority of all motorcycle accidents are due to some kind of negligent or reckless act. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Speeding
  • Tailgating
  • Distracted driving
  • Failure to yield
  • Failure to stop
  • Unsafe lane changes
  • Improper passing
  • Improper turns
  • Car doors
  • Sudden stops
  • Lane splitting
  • Dangerous driving conditions
  • Left-turn accidents
  • Inexperienced drivers
  • Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • Crossing the centerline
  • Motorist or motorcyclist failure to maintain the vehicle

To avoid motorcycle accidents, motorcycle riders and motorists need to be aware of each other at all times. Motorists regularly fail to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic due to their size, visibility, or an obstruction on the roadway. Motorcyclists and motorists should remain alert to these facts to reduce the incidence of death and motorcycle injury on the road.

Who Can Be Held Liable for My Personal Injury in Houston?

What are Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries?

Even with safety gear and protective gear, motorcycle riders can suffer serious injuries in a collision. Motorcyclists do not have the safety of a vehicle to surround and protect their body from an accident. Therefore, motorcycle accident injuries are often severe and multiple, even leading to death.

Motorcycle injuries may include:

  • Road rash. Road rash is the result of the body hitting the ground at traveling speed. The ground surface, whether pavement, dirt, gravel, or other, acts as a type of sandpaper, causing bruises, abrasions, and cuts.
  • Broken bones. When the body is thrown through the air and collides with another object or the road, the impact results in fractures and broken bones.
  • Amputation. Amputation occurs when injuries to an extremity are so severe the result is the need to remove a limb.
  • Spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injuries from motorcycle accidents are a cause of paralysis of just the legs, or the arms and legs. A spinal cord injury can lead to death.
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Most often, a brain injury is the result of failure to wear an approved safety helmet. Head impact injuries are severe and may lead to long-term care or death. Speak with a brain injury lawyer in Houston to learn more.
  • Death. Many motorcycle accidents are fatal at the onset or lead to the death of the motorcyclist.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash in Houston

Motorcycle crashes can be disorienting and violent, and your experience immediately after the crash may seem confusing. The moments after a collision are also vital for collecting enough evidence to support a future insurance claim. It is important to navigate the aftermath of a motorcycle accident safely and take the necessary steps to seek help.

Seek Medical Assistance
If you have serious injuries and are unable to move around the scene without putting yourself in danger, do not worry about collecting evidence. Ask someone to call 911 immediately and do not move. You may have serious injuries, such as spinal cord damage or bone fractures, that can worsen if you move without medical assistance. Stay where you are and wait for emergency medical services to arrive.

Collect Evidence
If you can move around the accident scene without further injury or putting yourself at risk, take the following steps to collect evidence for your future claim.

  • Call 911 to bring emergency medical attention and law enforcement to the scene.
  • Speak to the responding police officer and tell him or her what happened. Do not apologize or make any statements that may implicate you for the accident. If you do not know the answer to the question, say “I don’t know.”
  • Take photographs of your motorcycle in its exact position. Do not move your motorcycle — its placement and condition can help your attorney prove the cause of the accident.
  • Photograph the other driver’s vehicle, the area around the scene, and any injuries you may have. Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver.
  • If there are any witnesses at the scene, ask them for their contact information. They may be able to provide valuable testimony in your claim.

Regardless of whether you have serious injuries or you feel like you did not sustain any damage at all, motorcycle accident victims should seek medical treatment immediately after the accident. Even if you feel unharmed, you may have internal injuries or shock may be numbing the pain.

Do Not Admit Fault
Do not make any definitive statements about your injuries to the other driver, police officers, or insurance adjusters until you visit a doctor and speak to your lawyer. Making a premature statement before you understand the facts of your accident may prevent you from receiving the compensation you need to recover.

Consult an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
As soon as you receive treatment, contact a Houston motorcycle accident lawyer from AK Law Firm. Your attorney will guide you through the claims process, helping you understand your legal options and beginning the preliminary investigation necessary to build your motorcycle accident case. Your lawyer can also advise you on how to approach conversations with insurance adjusters who may call asking for a statement after the accident, and can handle negotiations with these entities on your behalf.

Contact Our Houston Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today

If you are a Houston motorcycle accident victim, let AK Law Firm work on your behalf to recover the compensation you need to move forward with your life. Our team of Houston motorcycle accident lawyers has a record of success in securing millions of dollars in total verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients. We will handle your accident claim from start to finish and will be available to answer your questions.

Call our Houston motorcycle crash attorneys today. There is a two year time limit to file your motorcycle accident claim in Texas. The sooner you call our personal injury lawyers, the quicker we can begin getting you the relief you deserve. Contact us now to schedule your free consultation in Houston, TX.

Houston Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Houston Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one are the victim of a motorcycle accident in Houston, meet with one of the skilled Houston motorcycle accident lawyers at AK Law Firm as soon as possible. Motorcycle accidents cause more than injuries. They lead to struggling with medical bills, lost income, loss of property, and long-term care expenses.

At AK Law Firm, our legal team is compassionate about motorcyclists’ rights and will fight fiercely for the maximum compensation you need to cope with your injuries both now and further down the road. Our motorcycle accident attorneys are serious about injuries and property damage and will put their experience to work for you.

Trust AK Law Firm for the following:

  • Aggressive representation in all negotiations
  • Transparency throughout the entire legal process
  • Putting your interests first in all legal matters
  • Dedication to holding negligent drivers and other parties accountable for their actions

Call our law office today to schedule a free motorcycle accident claim evaluation. There are no upfront fees, and we never charge our clients unless we win their accident cases. Learn more about what options you have to take legal action.

NAVIGATE THIS PAGE

What Can a Houston Motorcycle Accident Attorney Do For You?

You should never pay for the negligent or reckless acts of another. At AK Law Firm, we want any settlement offer you receive for your motorcycle accident to provide for both your present and, if disabled, your future needs. However, insurance companies will attempt to settle with you as quickly and inexpensively as possible.

Our Houston accident attorneys work to build your claim for compensation in the following ways:

  • Investigating the motorcycle wreck
  • Identifying legal responsibility for the motorcycle crash and your injuries
  • Determining all insurance coverage applicable to your motorcycle wreck and injuries
  • Making any needed referrals for medical care
  • Aiding in personal property retrieval
  • Notifying creditors and others of the accident and injury case status
  • Calculating the past, current, and projected costs and losses from the accident
  • Filing injury claims with appropriate insurance carriers and aggressively negotiating for maximum settlement compensation
  • If necessary, filing a personal injury lawsuit to demand fair compensation from any liable party that refuses to negotiate a proper settlement offer
  • Presenting a strong and persuasive injury case in court

Never sign any documents, accept any settlement from the insurance company, or make a recorded statement without speaking to one of our experienced motorcycle collision lawyers. Call AK Law Firm today, and let us begin working on your accident claim today.

What Damages Can I Recover After a Motorcycle Crash?

Compensation for motorcycle accident injuries includes economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages for injuries are easily calculable items such as:

  • Lost wages due to time off work
  • Loss of future earning capacity
  • Medical bills for emergency care
  • Doctors’ bills
  • Property loss or replacement
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation
  • Hospital stay
  • Medical equipment and prescription drugs
  • Continuing medical care
  • Long-term nursing care

Non-economic damages are harder to place a dollar amount on and include items like:

  • Diminished quality of life
  • Pain and suffering
  • Chronic pain
  • Mental impairment as a result of depression, stress, and similar factors
  • Loss of consortium

The state of Texas also permits the recovery of punitive damages, which aim to punish the negligent party  for malice or gross negligence.

Motorcycle Laws in Texas

Just like motor vehicles, the Texas Department of Transportation (DOT) enforces a number of laws that motorcycle riders must follow. The purpose of these laws is to keep motorcycle riders and their passengers safe on the road, as well as ensure that each person who operates a motorcycle is qualified to do so.

Some of the most important Texas motorcycle laws include the following:

  • You must hold a Class M driver’s license to legally operate a motorcycle in Texas. You can obtain this license by completing a course through the Motorcycle Safety Unit.
  • No one under 5 years old may ride on a motorcycle.
  • If you are under the age of 21, you must wear a helmet whenever you are on a motorcycle. If you are 21 years or older, you must wear a helmet while operating a motorcycle unless you complete a safety course or have certain insurance policies.
  • You must register your motorcycle with your county’s Tax-Assessor Collector if you operate your vehicle on Texas public roadways. You must place a valid registration sticker in a visible place on your motorcycle.
  • All motorcycles must receive a yearly inspection through an Official Motor Vehicle Inspection Station. You must place your inspection certificate in a visible place near your rear license plate.

In addition to safety and licensing regulations, Texas motorcyclists must also carry minimum amounts of liability insurance and must show proof of insurance when applying for a Class M license. You will need to purchase at least $30,000 in bodily injury per person, $60,000 in total injury liability per accident, and $25,000 in property damage. You can purchase higher amounts of insurance, as well as additional coverage, if you wish.

Underinsured Motorist Insurance Coverage in Texas

Texas follows a fault-based insurance system, which means that anyone who operates a motor vehicle or a motorcycle must carry liability insurance in the event that they cause a collision. Under this system, you have three main options to collect compensatory damages:

  • You can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
  • You can file a claim under your own insurance policy.
  • You can file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver in Texas civil court.

The minimum amounts of insurance the state requires you to purchase can cover the majority of these losses. However, not all drivers adhere to these insurance laws. Some Texas drivers operate their vehicles with very little policy coverage or without any insurance at all.

If you are in a collision with one of these drivers, your chances at collecting compensation become severely limited. Insurance policies provide thousands of dollars in safety net funds in these liability situations, and if a driver cannot afford to uphold state insurance requirements, it is unlikely he or she can pay for your damages out of pocket. As a result, you may have to pay for your damages yourself.

Uninsured and underinsured (UM/UIM) motorist coverage can protect your best interests in these situations. UM/UIM coverage provides coverage for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and property damage in the event you are in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance. You can also use UM/UIM after a hit and run accident.

Texas does not require you to purchase UM/UIM coverage, but all insurance companies should offer it. It is important to remember that UM/UIM coverage does not cover vehicle repairs; you may need to purchase additional insurance, such as collision coverage, to protect yourself against these costs.

What are the Leading Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?

One of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents is when a car, truck, or other passenger vehicle violates a motorcyclist’s right of way. However, the majority of all motorcycle accidents are due to some kind of negligent or reckless act. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Speeding
  • Tailgating
  • Distracted driving
  • Failure to yield
  • Failure to stop
  • Unsafe lane changes
  • Improper passing
  • Improper turns
  • Car doors
  • Sudden stops
  • Lane splitting
  • Dangerous driving conditions
  • Left-turn accidents
  • Inexperienced drivers
  • Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • Crossing the centerline
  • Motorist or motorcyclist failure to maintain the vehicle

To avoid motorcycle accidents, motorcycle riders and motorists need to be aware of each other at all times. Motorists regularly fail to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic due to their size, visibility, or an obstruction on the roadway. Motorcyclists and motorists should remain alert to these facts to reduce the incidence of death and motorcycle injury on the road.

Who Can Be Held Liable for My Personal Injury in Houston?

What are Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries?

Even with safety gear and protective gear, motorcycle riders can suffer serious injuries in a collision. Motorcyclists do not have the safety of a vehicle to surround and protect their body from an accident. Therefore, motorcycle accident injuries are often severe and multiple, even leading to death.

Motorcycle injuries may include:

  • Road rash. Road rash is the result of the body hitting the ground at traveling speed. The ground surface, whether pavement, dirt, gravel, or other, acts as a type of sandpaper, causing bruises, abrasions, and cuts.
  • Broken bones. When the body is thrown through the air and collides with another object or the road, the impact results in fractures and broken bones.
  • Amputation. Amputation occurs when injuries to an extremity are so severe the result is the need to remove a limb.
  • Spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injuries from motorcycle accidents are a cause of paralysis of just the legs, or the arms and legs. A spinal cord injury can lead to death.
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Most often, a brain injury is the result of failure to wear an approved safety helmet. Head impact injuries are severe and may lead to long-term care or death. Speak with a brain injury lawyer in Houston to learn more.
  • Death. Many motorcycle accidents are fatal at the onset or lead to the death of the motorcyclist.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash in Houston

Motorcycle crashes can be disorienting and violent, and your experience immediately after the crash may seem confusing. The moments after a collision are also vital for collecting enough evidence to support a future insurance claim. It is important to navigate the aftermath of a motorcycle accident safely and take the necessary steps to seek help.

Seek Medical Assistance
If you have serious injuries and are unable to move around the scene without putting yourself in danger, do not worry about collecting evidence. Ask someone to call 911 immediately and do not move. You may have serious injuries, such as spinal cord damage or bone fractures, that can worsen if you move without medical assistance. Stay where you are and wait for emergency medical services to arrive.

Collect Evidence
If you can move around the accident scene without further injury or putting yourself at risk, take the following steps to collect evidence for your future claim.

  • Call 911 to bring emergency medical attention and law enforcement to the scene.
  • Speak to the responding police officer and tell him or her what happened. Do not apologize or make any statements that may implicate you for the accident. If you do not know the answer to the question, say “I don’t know.”
  • Take photographs of your motorcycle in its exact position. Do not move your motorcycle — its placement and condition can help your attorney prove the cause of the accident.
  • Photograph the other driver’s vehicle, the area around the scene, and any injuries you may have. Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver.
  • If there are any witnesses at the scene, ask them for their contact information. They may be able to provide valuable testimony in your claim.

Regardless of whether you have serious injuries or you feel like you did not sustain any damage at all, motorcycle accident victims should seek medical treatment immediately after the accident. Even if you feel unharmed, you may have internal injuries or shock may be numbing the pain.

Do Not Admit Fault
Do not make any definitive statements about your injuries to the other driver, police officers, or insurance adjusters until you visit a doctor and speak to your lawyer. Making a premature statement before you understand the facts of your accident may prevent you from receiving the compensation you need to recover.

Consult an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
As soon as you receive treatment, contact a Houston motorcycle accident lawyer from AK Law Firm. Your attorney will guide you through the claims process, helping you understand your legal options and beginning the preliminary investigation necessary to build your motorcycle accident case. Your lawyer can also advise you on how to approach conversations with insurance adjusters who may call asking for a statement after the accident, and can handle negotiations with these entities on your behalf.

Contact Our Houston Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today

If you are a Houston motorcycle accident victim, let AK Law Firm work on your behalf to recover the compensation you need to move forward with your life. Our team of Houston motorcycle accident lawyers has a record of success in securing millions of dollars in total verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients. We will handle your accident claim from start to finish and will be available to answer your questions.

Call our Houston motorcycle crash attorneys today. There is a two year time limit to file your motorcycle accident claim in Texas. The sooner you call our personal injury lawyers, the quicker we can begin getting you the relief you deserve. Contact us now to schedule your free consultation in Houston, TX.

"I was very happy with how my case was handled. I am now a repeat client and also refer all my friends and family that are injured to Andrew!" - Charlie Vun