Fight for Maximum Compensation with the Austin Motorcycle Accident Attorneys at Mills and Chopin
A motorcycle accident in Austin, TX or the central Texas region can be devastating. If you ride your motorcycle, you can get involved in a crash and become injured due to another motorist’s negligence. In this scenario, you can pursue damages from the motorist as part of a motorcycle accident lawsuit.
Mills and Chopin makes it simple to connect with an experienced Austin motorcycle accident lawyer. Motorcycle riders involved in accidents caused by negligent drivers should get in touch with our attorneys as soon as possible after a crash. During a free initial consultation, our lawyers can look at your case and give you their opinion about your legal options.
What to Do If You Are Involved in a Motorcycle Accident in Austin
If a biker is involved in a motorcycle accident in central Texas, it is common to try to move on from the incident as quickly as possible. A biker may feel ashamed about the collision or believe they were responsible for it. Regardless, it is paramount to seek help in the moments after a motorcycle accident.
Following a motorcycle accident, call 911, so police officers, medical personnel, and other emergency services providers can be directed to the scene of the incident. Police officers will get information from you and anyone else involved in the accident, and they will put together a police report about the incident. Meanwhile, medical personnel will check your health and bring you to an emergency room if you require additional care and support.
Along with calling 911, take photos and videos at the accident scene. This allows you to capture evidence that may serve you well if you ultimately file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver responsible for your accident. In the days after your wreck, reach out to an Austin motorcycle accident lawyer as well.
What to Expect When You Partner with an Austin Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
You may receive support from family members in the aftermath of your Austin motorcycle accident. A loved one may even offer to care for you and help you recover. Yet, when you partner with a motorcycle accident lawyer, you can get the help you need to avoid financial hardship due to the injuries and other losses you suffered as the result of your accident.
Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Austin will be committed to your case. Our lawyers will learn about you and gather plenty of information about your accident. Next, we will calculate an appropriate amount of damages to request and ensure your personal injury lawsuit is filed timely and properly.
Your lawyer represents you for the duration of your litigation. If you have legal concerns or questions as your case moves forward, your attorney can address them. Plus, your attorney keeps you in the loop about any case updates and ensures that you can present a compelling argument if you go to trial.
The Realities of Motorcycle Accidents in Austin: Negligent Drivers and Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes
A motorcycle crash can occur at any time in Austin or central Texas. There are many reasons why accidents involving motorcycle riders happen, including:
Negligent Driver
A negligent driver can violate the rules of the road in several ways, such as:
- Driving While Distracted: The driver can get distracted by anything from the radio to a child in the backseat, take their eyes off the road, and cause an accident.
- Speeding: The driver can ignore the posted speed limits and drive too fast, which can result in an accident.
- Failing to Account for Poor Weather or Road Conditions: The driver can keep traveling in the same way they would in normal conditions even if the weather is bad or road conditions and/or dangerous, which can contribute to an accident.
It is a driver’s responsibility to take appropriate action when they are behind the wheel. Even a single mistake can lead a driver to strike a motorcycle rider. If a negligent driver is at fault in a motorcycle accident, the rider can sue this individual and ask for damages.
A motorcycle accident attorney in Austin looks at each case individually as the facts and circumstances make a difference in how each crash is approached from a legal standpoint. If the lawyer reviews your case and believes a negligent driver is responsible for your motorcycle accident and injury, they will encourage you to make a claim for damages. The attorney can help you begin the process of filing a lawsuit against the negligent driver immediately.
Changing Lanes
Austin traffic moves quickly, and a driver may change lanes without hesitation. However, a driver should check their rearview mirrors and sideview mirrors multiple times before they move from one lane to another. Otherwise, the driver may miss a motorcycle rider and cause an accident.
If a motorist switches lanes and strikes a motorcycle rider, they may claim that they did not see the rider. This is not a reasonable excuse for causing an accident. If the rider is injured and suffers damage to their motorcycle, this victim should not hesitate to seek financial compensation from the negligent motorist.
A motorcycle accident lawyer in Austin gets as much information as they can from a rider before negotiating with an insurance company or filing a personal injury lawsuit. The lawyer wants to understand exactly what happened and how the rider was injured while the motorist was changing lanes. With this information at their disposal, the lawyer can get started on building a compelling case on the rider’s behalf.
Right of Way
Texas has right-of-way laws in place, and drivers must follow them at all times. There can be instances in which a driver believes they have the right of way, which leads to a motorcycle accident. Comparatively, a driver may choose to ignore who has the right of way, drive recklessly, and inadvertently get into an accident with a motorcycle rider.
In a motorcycle accident lawsuit, a rider must be able to show that they had the right of way when the collision occurred. If the rider can do so, the motorist that caused the crash can be held financially responsible for the resulting losses and damages. A judge or jury may find that the rider deserves the full amount of compensation they request.
An Austin motorcycle accident lawyer considers right of way laws and other factors when deciding how to argue a plaintiff’s case. An experienced lawyer takes no shortcuts when building a client’s case. Instead, the attorney does everything in their power to make it clear to a judge or jury that their client should be awarded full damages.
Blind Spots
Drivers deal with blind spots whenever they travel. A motorcycle rider can enter a driver’s blind spot; and, if so, the driver may not see the rider when they are behind the wheel, which can lead to an accident.
A driver may claim that a biker was in their blind spot in the hopes of getting off the hook for the accident and any associated damages. In this situation, the driver is still responsible for checking their blind spots, and can be held accountable for the incident and its resulting damages.
You can work with an Austin motorcycle attorney that analyzes your case from all angles. If you were in a driver’s blind spot when you were injured while riding your motorcycle, your attorney will take this into consideration. At the same time, your lawyer will do their part to ensure you are well-positioned to secure the compensation you deserve.
Lane Splitting
A driver may claim that a motorcycle rider was “splitting” lanes, which resulted in an accident. If a rider splits lanes, they travel between lanes while traffic is still moving or stopped. In either scenario, the rider is breaking the law.
To avoid taking responsibility for a motorcycle accident, a negligent driver may claim a rider was lane splitting, even if they weren’t. The driver may make other false accusations against the rider. Although the rider may have concerns that the driver is right, it is still important to meet with a motorcycle accident attorney to discuss the case.
A motorcycle accident lawyer makes no assumptions, and listens to what a rider has to say, gathering as much information as they can. If the attorney believes a rider was traveling safely even though a driver claims they were splitting lanes, the lawyer will urge the rider to move forward with a lawsuit against the driver.
Drunk Driving
In the United States, drunk driving remains a big problem. There is no reason for a motorist to drive while impaired. In spite of this, drunk drivers choose to operate vehicles every day, and they cause accidents that put themselves and others at risk.
A drunk driver can strike a motorcycle rider. The driver may receive a field sobriety test to verify if they were driving while intoxicated. Police officers may also indicate that a driver was intoxicated in a police report.
If you are involved in a motorcycle accident with a drunk driver, reach out to an attorney. You can work with a lawyer to sue the driver for the injuries and other damages you incurred. On top of that, you can increase the chances that this individual will think twice before they decide to operate a vehicle while intoxicated again.
Motorcycle accident victims may be reluctant to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you are on the fence about suing an at-fault party, consult with a lawyer. You can discuss your case, and the lawyer can give you insights into what can happen if you file a lawsuit.
Navigating Catastrophic Injuries After a Motorcycle Accident with the Help of Experienced Austin Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Your medical bills can escalate quickly after a motorcycle accident. The costs of medical treatment can force you to make difficult decisions. If you are dealing with serious injuries, you may have to choose between getting the medical care you need versus paying for groceries, utilities, and other everyday essentials.
A motorcycle rider can suffer myriad injuries that impact their ability to live their life in the same way they did prior to their accident. Common types of injuries that riders suffer in motorcycle accidents include:
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Road rash
- Lower extremity injuries
- Amputation
- Broken bones and fractures
It is in your best interest to get any and all medical care you need after a motorcycle accident. When you work with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer, you can request compensation for your medical bills. Your lawyer will advocate for you and make sure your legal rights are protected so you can pursue fair compensation from any at-fault parties.
What To Do If an Insurance Company Tries to Offer You a Motorcycle Accident Settlement
Insurance adjusters may look at a negligent driver’s insurance coverage and be unwilling to pay the costs associated with the motorcycle accident. This can lead an insurance company to reach out to a motorcycle accident victim and propose a settlement to try to get the injured party to settle their claim for as little financial compensation as possible.
If you want to seek the maximum compensation after a motorcycle accident, you should not accept a first offer of settlement from an insurance company. With help from a personal injury attorney, you can resist the urge to approve a purposely low settlement offer. Your attorney can help you weigh the pros and cons of any settlement proposal that comes your way.
Your lawyer will not push you to decide one way or another on a settlement, and will encourage you to consider all that a settlement entails. This allows you to make an informed decision about whether a settlement lines up with your best interests.
How To Decide on a Settlement Offer in a Motorcycle Accident Case
In addition to getting a settlement offer from an insurance company, you may receive a proposal from the defendant in your motorcycle accident case. For example, you can submit a personal injury claim to the defendant’s insurance carrier. Once the defendant receives the details about your personal injury case, they may be overwhelmed by the evidence against them, which can lead to a settlement offer.
You are under no obligation to approve any motorcycle accident settlement. If you get a settlement proposal, review it with your lawyer. This allows you to get legal insights from an experienced and knowledgeable attorney as you decide how to proceed.
If a settlement does not meet your expectations, let your attorney know. At this point, your attorney can notify the defendant that you are declining their settlement offer. Then, your attorney will continue to strengthen your case.
Contact the Austin Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Mills and Chopin
The legal team at Mills and Chopin offers free case evaluations for injured motorcycle riders. For more information or to request a case evaluation, please contact us today or call 512-710-0835.