Alvin Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

• Road rash — Without the protection of a metal frame, motorcyclists are likely to contact the road during a crash. Road rash occurs when a rider’s body slides across the pavement, which can tear through clothing and remove the top layers of skin. In mild cases, road rash can lead to infection and increased skin sensitivity after healing. More severe cases can cause superficial nerve damage. Wearing sturdy protective gear designed for motorcycle riding can reduce or prevent road rash.
• Head injuries — Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) are common in motorcycle accidents, particularly if the rider is not wearing a helmet. Texas law does not require riders over 21 to wear a helmet if they have completed a Motorcycle Operation Training Course or have proof of at least $10,000 in medical insurance coverage. However, wearing a helmet is strongly recommended, as it significantly reduces the risk of TBIs in a crash. TBIs can have severe and lasting effects, including memory problems, impaired thinking and executive function, and seizures.
• Spinal Cord Injuries (SCIs). Depending on their severity, SCIs can result in numbness, impaired movement, and paralysis.
• Broken bones. It is common for motorcyclists to break bones upon impact, particularly ribs, legs, arms, the skull, and the collarbone.
• Traumatic muscle injuries (soft tissue injuries). These injuries can result directly from the impact of the crash or indirectly due to other injuries. For instance, severe road rash can damage upper muscle layers, and broken bones can harm surrounding muscle tissue when they shatter.

Do’s

If you are conscious and able, do:

• Exchange contact and insurance information with any other individuals involved in the accident;
• Document as much as possible before leaving the scene, including taking pictures of the vehicles, the surrounding area, and your injuries;
• Tell the police officer exactly what happened without assuming fault of any kind, and
• Take yourself to the nearest emergency room to receive medical attention, even if you feel fine. Internal injuries are serious, and it can take hours or even days for someone to realize they are injured after an accident.

Don’t’s

Regardless of the circumstances, you should never:

• Leave the scene until the police officer responding to the accident instructs you to do so unless you require immediate medical attention;
• Admit fault to the police, any other involved party, or your insurance company; and
• File an official report with your insurance company before going to a doctor.

Economic

Personal injuries often come with financial burdens. By suing the at-fault party, you can seek damages to address various costs.  For example, medical bills and treatments for injuries, lost wages due to incapacitation and inability to work, and expenses related to vehicle repairs.

Non-economic

Non-economic damages, though quantifiable, are often more challenging to assess. These damages arise from intangible harms typically associated with personal injury or wrongful death cases. Common types of non-economic damages include pain and suffering, mental anguish, impairment, disfigurement, and trauma resulting from surviving a severe accident.

In wrongful death cases, individuals who lose their spouse in an accident may pursue damages for loss of consortium, which encompasses the deprivation of companionship, affection, and comfort typically provided by a life partner. Loss of consortium may also be sought in personal injury cases.

For example, if a motorcycle accident results in paralysis from the waist down, causing an inability to engage in sexual activity with their spouse, the injured party may seek damages for loss of consortium.