Dallas Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Trusted Dallas Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Ready To Help You

Serving Motorcycle Accident Victims in Carrollton, Denton, Grapevine, Lewisville, McKinney, and Southlake

A motorcycle accident scene to be handled by a proven lawyers in Dallas.

Due to the lack of protection, motorcycle accidents often result in severe or fatal injuries. In fact, an astonishing 80% of motorcycle accidents result in injury or death, compared to only 20% with car accidents. If you sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you might have the legal right to pursue a claim for your damages. To learn more, contact the Dallas motorcycle accident lawyers at Hartley Law Firm today.

You can reduce the risks of being injured while operating a motorcycle by wearing a helmet and obeying all traffic laws. Almost half of the persons killed or injured in motorcycle accidents in recent years were not wearing helmets. However, wearing protective gear cannot fully mitigate the risks of being injured in a motorcycle accident. Simply put, riding a motorcycle presents a risk of injury that operating a car or truck does not.

Leading Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Dallas

There are numerous ways that a driver can cause a motorcycle accident in Dallas. Some of the leading causes of accidents include:

Unsafe lane changes,
Speeding,
Merging vehicles,
Driving under the influence,
Suddenly stopping,
Turning left,
Opening car doors, and
Distracted driving.

Multiple factors can contribute to an accident as well. For example, road hazards, adverse weather, or a defective motorcycle part can play a role in an accident.

Common Types of Injuries in a Dallas Motorcycle Accident

A man who got into a motorcycle accident and will need an attorney in Dallas.

Motorcycle injuries can vary significantly as no two accidents are exactly alike. The type of accident, the force of impact, and location of the impact on the victim’s body can all influence how severe their injuries are. Motorcycle riders don’t have the same protections that occupants in a vehicle do. Even a low-speed collision can result in severe injuries. While any number of injuries are possible in a motorcycle accident, these are some of the most common ones we see:

Road rash;
Lacerations with possible subsequent infection;
Burn injuries;
Ligament, tendon, and muscle damage;
Spinal cord injuries;
Herniated or bulging spinal discs;
Abdominal and chest injuries;
Feet and leg injuries;
Bone fractures;
Nerve damage and paralysis;
Traumatic brain injuries;
Amputations; and
Death.

If a family member passed away from their injuries in the accident, specific surviving family members might have the right to bring a Dallas wrongful death claim. Wrongful death claims are usually fairly complicated matters to pursue. You don’t want to try handling negotiations with the other driver’s insurance on your own. Let our skilled legal practitioner help protect your family’s rights if your loved one was killed in a motorcycle accident.

Contact Hartley Law Firm online or by calling 469-289-6063.

What Damages Can You Recover in a Dallas Motorcycle Accident?

Understandably, prospective Dallas personal injury clients want to know their case value and type of compensation they can receive. In many cases, injured victims can recover compensation for:

Medical expenses to date,
Future expected medical expenses,
Lost wages to date,
Loss of earning capacity,
Property damage,
Physical impairment, and
Pain and suffering.

In some instances, you may be eligible to receive punitive damages. Punitive damages aren’t to compensate you for your injuries, but to punish the defendant and deter them from future similar behavior. Only cases involving reckless behavior or intentional actions usually qualify for punitive damages. For example, someone who was drag racing or was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the loss might qualify for punitive damages.

Things You Can Do to Protect Yourself While Riding

Because a motorcycle is not enclosed, the risk of being thrown from the bike during a collision is much greater than in a car. It is critical that motorcyclists exercise care when riding and drivers take additional care to avoid accidents with motorcyclists. Some easy ways to reduce the risk of being seriously injured in a motorcycle accident are as follows:

Always, always, always wear a helmet. Wearing a helmet is the number one way to reduce the risk of serious head injury in a motorcycle accident.
Follow the speed limit. Riding over the speed limit presents an increased risk for an accident as well as a risk for more serious injuries.
Do not weave in and out of traffic. Although it may be tempting while driving on a motorcycle, weaving is dangerous.
Make sure there is sufficient room between you and other drivers. In Texas, drivers, including those on motorcycles, must maintain a safe driving distance.
Do not ride under the influence. It is illegal and substantially increases the likelihood of an accident.

What to Do Following a Dallas Motorcycle Collision

The actions you take following a motorcycle accident in Texas are crucial. You don’t want to do or say something that could jeopardize your claim either. The first thing you should do is remain calm and get to safety. You don’t want to be in traffic or put yourself at further risk for getting into another accident.

Always call the police after a motorcycle accident. The police report can be a valuable piece of evidence in your Dallas personal injury claim. Be sure to exchange information with the vehicle driver and obtain contact info for any witnesses present at the scene. Be cautious with what you say to the officer or other parties. Even saying, “I’m sorry,” could be construed as an admission of guilt.

Depending on the severity of your injuries, try to take pictures if possible. You want to have photos of the vehicle, your motorcycle, the overall scene, and your injuries if you can. You can never have too many scene photos either.

If your injuries are not severe enough that you need transportation to the hospital, you should still set up a medical appointment as soon as possible. It’s important to get checked out as you may have injuries that are not visible. Also, waiting too long to see a doctor could hurt your case. The other driver’s insurance may claim that your injuries aren’t related to the accident since you did not seek treatment for weeks or months.

You should also report the accident to your Texas motorcycle insurance company so they can set up a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance and open an investigation. Your next call should be to an experienced Dallas motorcycle accident attorney. You need a legal advocate on your side who can help protect your rights.

Why Hire a Dallas Motorcycle Accident Attorney?

You may be wondering if you really need a Dallas motorcycle accident lawyer and how we can help. Your Dallas motorcycle accident lawyer is the one who will handle all the stressful aspects of a claim and ensure your rights are protected.

When you retain the Hartley Law Firm to represent you, we will start by conducting our own independent investigation. We will gather evidence, request your records, and hire any necessary experts. In some cases, we may need to retain an accident reconstructionist who can testify as to how the accident occurred. We may also need a medical expert who will testify that your injuries are consistent with the accident and your treatment was reasonable and necessary.

Proving liability against the driver is crucial to recovering compensation following the accident. Texas follows modified comparative negligence. That means if you share any fault in the accident, your compensation will be reduced proportionately. For example, if you are 15% at fault, you would receive only 85% of your damages. Further, if you are more than 50% at fault, you won’t be able to recover any of your damages.

We will handle all communication with the insurance company, including negotiations. If we cannot resolve your case through settlement talks, we will proceed to file a lawsuit on your behalf. If the driver’s insurance is unwilling to entertain further settlement negotiations, we will start preparing your case for trial. While many Texas motorcycle accident cases settle outside of court, there is always a chance your case may go before a judge or jury. You need a skilled Dallas motorcycle accident lawyer who can handle your case through trial if necessary.

“Mr. Hartley is easy person to talk with. He gets right to the point and gets things done accordingly! He was very professional when he works and I would recommend him to anyone in need of his specific services!”
– Kaleb T.

Contact a Dallas Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, let us fight for the compensation that you deserve. As with any personal injury case, time is of the essence.

Contact the skilled Dallas motorcycle accident attorneys of Hartley Law Firm today to schedule a free in-person consultation to discuss your case. Help is just a phone call away.

Hartley Law Firm handles other types of cases as well, including: