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Riding a motorcycle down the open road can be a freeing and exhilarating experience, and it is why many people get into riding motorcycles. Unfortunately, motorcycles are not without risks. Riders are very vulnerable to injuries if they crash. Even more unfortunately, other drivers seem to ignore motorcycle riders and disregard their space and safety on the road. As a result, motorcycle accidents are not uncommon.
After a motorcycle collision, call for help immediately. Dial 911 and get the police and an ambulance sent to your location. In the meantime, exchange information with others and take pictures of the scene. Your photos might help us prove how the accident happened. Distracted drivers, speeding, traffic violations, or a blatant disregard for riders are just a few common causes of crashes. Since motorcycle riders get an unfair reputation for being dangerous, they are often unfairly blamed for accidents. If that happens, we must be prepared to prove how you did not contribute to the crash. In short, evidence is everything.
For a free, private evaluation of your claims, call The Queenan Law Firm at (817) 476-1797 and speak to our motorcycle accident attorneys.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash in Sherman, TX
Motorcycle accidents are known for being scary. You might be thrown off your bike or dragged along the pavement before coming to a stop. These kinds of accidents are scary and tend to happen fast, and you might be very frightened and disoriented when it is over. First, remain calm. Second, call for help immediately. If you or someone else at the scene has a cell phone, call 911 and get help. The police should be sent to your location, and you might need an ambulance.
While you wait for help to arrive, try to take steps to preserve evidence if you can. If you are too injured to take these steps, get to a safe place and wait for help. If you can, document the accident and your injuries by taking photos and recording videos. Your recordings may preserve details about the crash that are lost when the police clean the scene up.
Exchange info with other drivers and possible witnesses. Our motorcycle accident lawyers may need to contact them later to get statements about the crash and to have them testify in court. If you could not exchange information, the police might have taken down names in their report.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Sherman, TX
Motorcycle crashes are very dangerous, and it is crucial that riders take precautions and wear sturdy safety gear. Determining how the accident happened is one of the first things we must determine when we begin your case. Below are just a few possibilities, although the circumstances of your specific case may differ.
Distractions
A very common problem on the road today is distracted driving. Cell phones, computers, GPS devices, and other distractions are very prevalent. It can be all too easy to become distracted. Many motorcycle accidents happen because other drivers in cars are looking at their phones. It only takes a moment of distraction for a driver to cause a serious collision. To make matters worse, motorcycle riders are not protected within enclosed vehicles, making them more susceptible to injuries. A phone call or text message could cause an unsuspecting motorcycle rider serious injuries.
Inattentional Blindness
One problem on the road unique to motorcycle riders is often called inattentional blindness. This phenomenon involves drivers who seem to not notice motorcycle riders on the road despite the fact that the riders are clearly visible. Since drivers in cars often do not expect to see motorcycle riders or do not think of them the same way they think of other drivers in cars, they often pay less attention to them. As a result, motorcycle riders may be struck by cars even though they are doing nothing wrong. A driver behind them might rear-end them simply because they could not be bothered to pay attention to them.
Speeding and Traffic Violations
Some of the most common reasons for motorcycle accidents involve ordinary traffic violations and speeding. Maybe the other driver failed to signal a turn, or they merged into your lane without signaling, catching you off-guard. Maybe they were speeding and could not stop before rear-ending you at a red light. People often think of traffic violations as very minor offenses, but they can lead to serious accidents, especially for motorcycle riders.
What to Do if You Are Accused of Being Partially Responsible for Your Sherman, TX Motorcycle Crash
Civil injury cases are rarely straightforward. While we believe that the other driver is responsible for the crash, they might argue that you caused the accident or did something to contribute to it or make your injuries worse. This is a fairly common defense strategy, and we should be prepared to push back. If the defendant’s arguments have merit, the court may consider them using rules of proportionate responsibility.
According to Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.01, your award of damages may be diminished in proportion to your fault. If you are found to be 15% responsible for the motorcycle accident, your damages may be reduced by 15%. If the trier of fact deems you more than 50% responsible for the accident, you may be completely barred from recovering any damages.
This may be a problem in motorcycle accident cases. Motorcycle riders tend to get an unfair reputation for being reckless or dangerous on the road. A jury might be predisposed to believe a motorcycle rider was negligent, and we must be prepared to refute these claims and beliefs. Evidence is extremely important here. The stronger our evidence, the harder it may be for the defendant to argue that you somehow contributed to the collision.
Talk to Our Sherman, TX Motorcycle Accident Attorneys for Legal Help Now
For a free, private assessment of your claims, call The Queenan Law Firm at (817) 476-1797 and talk to our motorcycle accident lawyers.