Harley Accident

Harley Accident. We are experienced in motorcycle accident litigation.

In Texas, motorcyclists are subject to the same speed restrictions as other vehicles. State transportation code requires all motorists to drive at a speed that is reasonable or prudent. Unfortunately, some motorcyclists believe they are exempt from this law – and the results can be fatal. The most recently available statistics revealed over 4,500 motorcycle rider fatalities in the U.S. in a single year.

What is the speed limit for motorcycles in Texas? Again, the laws of reasonable driving enforced on all vehicle drivers apply to motorcycle riders as well. Any speed in excess of the following speeds is evidence of unreasonable driving:

• 15 mph approaching a school crossing
• 25 mph in a business or residential district
• 65 mph in other locations, such as the highway

Tips for Preventing Motorcycle Injuries

Motorcycle accidents account for thousands of auto accidents every year, many of them resulting in death to the rider or motorcycle passenger. At times, they may result in the death of a pedestrian or the driver of another vehicle. To prevent injuring yourself or another party and avoid litigation, follow these tips for motorcycle safety.

Protecting Yourself and Other Drivers

• Always wear a helmet; this is your best defense against serious and fatal brain injuries.
• Wear eye and face protection to ensure unobstructed vision.
• Keep your license current in any state.
• Alcohol consumption is just as dangerous before riding a motorcycle. Do not operate a motorcycle under the influence.
• Follow all the rules of the road. Speeding accounts for 40 percent of fatal motorcycle crashes (Data: NHTSA, 2007).
• Watch for road hazards: large cracks, holes, and bumps.
• Abide by state law regarding headlight usage.
• If you’re a new rider, take a motorcycle riders’ course prior to securing your license. To locate a course near you, contact the Motorcycle Safety Foundation at 1-800-446-9227.

Protecting Your Motorcycle Passengers.

• Don’t allow anyone to ride with you until you are skilled at riding in a variety of conditions; exercise extreme caution regarding allowing children to ride.
• When passengers ride with you, they must wear a helmet and protective gear.
• Insist that passengers sit on the seat behind you.
• Make sure passengers’ feet can reach the footrests. Tell them to keep their feet on the footrests at all times, even when you stop.
• Don’t let passengers get on the motorcycle until after you start it.
• Tell your passengers to lean with you when you turn.
• Insist that passengers hold on to your waist all the time.
• Instruct passengers to keep their legs away from the muffler to avoid burns.
• Ask that passengers limit their movement and talking.

Motorcycle Wrecks

We represent many bikers from various motorcycle clubs across the United States as well as individuals out for an afternoon, and we understand the biker’s desire to ride. However, with this desire comes the risk that motorcycle riders are especially vulnerable in a collision with another vehicle. Bikers are not surrounded by a car to absorb the energy in a collision so their bodies typically take a direct hit from a car. Unfortunately, many times the result can be severe injury or death.

The reason for many motorcycle wrecks is that car drivers just don’t see the motorcycle. When car drivers look for other vehicles, they are usually looking for large objects like cars or trucks. In their mind they don’t expect to see a motorcycle, and the bike just goes unnoticed. Although car drivers typically like to claim the motorcycle rider was speeding or pulled into the car’s right-of-way, this is usually not true. It is important to gain evidence and witness statements quickly to show the motorcycle rider was obeying traffic laws and the car driver made an illegal maneuver crashing into the bike.

Due to the typical extreme injuries in a motorcycle wreck, it is very important to have the biker evaluated by specialized doctors to determine the extent of the injuries and how they need to be treated. Motorcycle wrecks can have a large monetary value for the biker. The case needs to be developed medically. And the wreck needs to be reconstructed in order to put maximum compensation in the biker’s pocket. We can help get your bike repaired or replaced and you justly compensated and back in the wind.