Riding a motorcycle can feel like a liberating experience, but it too often proves a dangerous or deadly one. Motorcyclists lack the protective shell surrounding them of car or truck drivers and are especially vulnerable to death or serious injury in a crash. Even a collision at relatively low speed can result in life-threatening injuries—the same accident in a car might bend a fender. Drivers often don’t pay attention to or are unaware of the presence of motorcyclists, with calamitous results. A Dallas-Fort Worth motorcycle accident lawyer familiar with all aspects of motorcycle injuries can help someone hurt in a motorcycle crash receive compensation.
Texas Motorcycle Accident Statistics
The number of motorcycle vehicle accidents is on the rise, and the Texas Department of Transportation has launched a statewide “Share the Road” campaign to educate motorists about looking out for motorcycles when changing lanes and at intersections—the two areas where serious collisions most often take place. Here are some sobering statistics about motorcycle crashes:
- In 2015, there were 459 motorcycle operators and passengers killed in Texas.
- In 2013, Dallas had the fourth highest number of motorcycle accidents in the state, while Fort Worth came in at number six.
- Such accidents are far more common in urban than rural areas—Houston leads Texas in the number of motorcycle accidents.
- Roughly one out of six of all motor vehicle fatalities in the Lone Star State involved motorcycles.
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Texas
Motorcycle accidents can result from defects in the vehicle or a defect in the car that hit the motorcycle. Poor road conditions make motorcycles more vulnerable to crashes than cars and trucks traveling on the same pavement. It is possible that a municipality may be held liable for the accident, especially if the local government knew the area was hazardous and failed to take measures to improve conditions or warn drivers of the risk via signage.
Of course, motorcycle accidents are not always the fault of the car or truck driver involved in the crash or outside influences. The motorcyclist may be found partially or wholly at fault if they were speeding, drinking, under the influence of drugs, or otherwise driving recklessly.
Most Common Injuries Resulting From a Texas Motorcycle Crash
- Lower extremity injuries. Although injuries to the lower extremities—the feet and legs—are the most common motorcycle injuries, they are not the most severe.
- Head and neck injuries. These are the most severe types of injuries in a motorcycle crash.
- Chest, back, and shoulder injuries.
- Hands and arms.
- Hips and pelvis.
If a motorcyclist or passenger was not wearing proper safety attire at the time of the crash, the insurance company’s attorney may argue they were partially responsible for the severity of their injuries. For example, there’s a reason motorcycle boots attach snugly. A motorcyclist wearing any slip-on footwear is more likely to suffer a serious foot injury.