Harlingen Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

An injury sustained after a motorcycle accident can range from mild to fatal depending on the force of impact and the way you land. Some of the common motorcycle injuries that we see include:

• Traumatic brain injuries - A TBI is one of the most potentially severe injuries for motorcycle accident victims to experience. A TBI can range from a mild concussion to permanent brain damage.
• Broken bones – A broken bone can be an incredibly painful injury and could limit your mobility for months. Occasionally, broken bones lead to more severe and lasting injuries like nerve damage or limited range of motion.
• Soft tissue damage – A sprain, bruise, or strain might not seem like a serious issue right away, but these painful injuries can take a long time to heal and impact your life in ways you wouldn’t imagine. For example, if you need to drive or be on your feet for work, this type of injury could prevent you from doing your job.
• Back and spinal injuries - A back or spinal injuries are prevalent in motorcycle accidents, especially for those who are rear-ended and thrown from their bike. Ideally, this type of injury heals with time and rest, but in some cases, those who experience a spinal injury must deal with chronic pain and restricted movement for the rest of their lives. In extreme situations, a spinal cord injury can lead to partial or complete paralysis.
• Nerve damage - We don’t think about all of the nerves in our body on a daily basis, but those who experience nerve damage are constantly reminded by the pain or inability to use certain parts of their body. Nerve damage can happen in the spinal cord, the brain, or any of the peripheral nerves throughout the rest of your body. The danger of nerve damage is that it is often irreversible.

Even when you’ve been in an accident and you don’t believe you’ve sustained serious injuries, it is critical to get checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible. Many of these injuries, especially a concussion, can show delayed symptoms, meaning that you might not realize you sustained an injury until days after the initial impact. For this reason, it’s essential to have a doctor perform a comprehensive examination after you’ve been in a motorcycle accident. They might be able to identify an issue that would have taken you much longer to detect.

Reduce your Chances of an Accident

Although all drivers on the road have a duty of care to drive safely and in a way that prevents the risk of harming others, you only can control your actions. There are specific steps you can take to reduce the chance you’ll become a victim of an accident:

• Know the roads - Preparation can make a difference. Before you head out, read a map and pre-plan your route. Make sure you are familiar with the directions so you can focus on enjoying your ride. In areas with a higher volume of traffic, plan your time accordingly, so you aren’t rushed and tempted to drive more aggressive than usual.
• Wear visible clothing - Just because you have a clear view of your surroundings doesn’t mean that others can see you. Motorcycles are often unnoticed by other vehicles on the road, which is a common reason an accident happens—the other driver claims that they didn’t see the motorcycle or that it was in their blind spot. To improve your visibility, you should always wear bright colors while riding your bike.
• Don’t ride at night - If you can avoid it, stay off the roads at night. Even when wearing reflective gear and your lights are on, you are less visible than other vehicles on the road because your motorcycle is not as large.
• Pay Attention to the weather - In Texas, the weather changes in an instant. One minute you’re riding down the road, enjoying a beautiful day, the next minute, the sky clouds over and it starts to pour down rain. Wet roads are incredibly dangerous for motorcycle riders. When it’s raining, visibility is limited, especially for those exposed to the elements on a motorcycle. Visibility is limited to other vehicles on the road, and other drivers will have a hard time seeing you, and may not be able to maneuver as quickly in the rain. Beyond visibility is the issue of slick pavement. A severe problem for everyone on the road is slick pavement—it takes more time to stop when traveling at average speeds in the rain. Add reduced visibility and increased stopping time together and you have a dangerous concoction. To avoid bad weather, check the hourly forecast before heading out for the day and plan your route accordingly. If you end up in a rainstorm, take some time off the road and wait until the weather passes to continue your journey.
• Keep your focus on the road - It’s easy to become distracted by things other than the act of driving, even when you’re on a motorcycle. Adjusting your helmet, looking at your phone, or changing your music are all dangerous yet common behaviors for those who are riding bikes. Yes, these are unsafe behaviors for drivers of all motor vehicles, but on a motorbike, it is always essential to have both hands on the bike and both eyes on the road without distraction.

The Two Year Rule

Every state has a “statue of limitations,” indicating the amount of time that a person can file a personal injury claim against a negligent party. In Texas, the statute of limitations is two years, and you must bring legal action against another party within two years from the date of the accident. You might imagine that two years is all of the time in the world, but a delay could seriously cost you. The danger of taking your time to hire a law firm and file a claim is that the longer you wait, the more difficult it can be to support your case. Imagine the difference between speaking with a law firm right away versus waiting even a few months. Accident evidence is harder to obtain—road signs might change, the topography of the area could be different, and the insurance companies could attest that your injuries are not severe since you waited so long to announce them. All of these factors can make it much harder to reach a beneficial settlement with a delayed claim. If you are unable to file a claim within two years of the accident date, the judge will most likely dismiss your case on the spot. There are rare exceptions to this rule, but you don’t want to find yourself scrambling to look for a workaround to this strict system. Make it easy on yourself, call a motorcycle accident law firm as soon as possible and get started on the claims process. The faster you move on this, the quicker you can move forward and on with your life.