What Should I Do If I Was Hit By a Motorcycle in Houston?
Studies show that automobile drivers cause a majority of collisions between motorcycles and vehicles. This often happens because the smaller size of motorcycles makes them difficult for drivers to see.
However, motorcyclists often bear liability for these collisions. In other words, a motorcyclist may need to pay for a driver’s injuries and property damage in many motorcycle accidents.
If you’ve been hit by a motorcycle in Houston, TX, contact Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers or call (713) 500-5000 for a free initial consultation to discuss your options.
Table of Contents
How Can a Houston Personal Injury Lawyer Help If I Was Hit By a Motorcycle?
Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers has some of the most experienced personal injury litigators in Houston, Texas. Our attorneys have more than 45 years of combined experience and include a lawyer with board certification in personal injury trial law.
Our Houston motorcycle accident lawyers have recovered millions of dollars for accident victims. When they hire our firm, each of our clients receives:
- A free consultation with an experienced injury lawyer to learn about legal options
- A team of lawyers, paralegals, and case managers dedicated to their success
- A law firm with a track record of successfully settling and litigating claims
- Thorough and aggressive representation throughout the case
When a motorcycle hits your vehicle, you can suffer serious injuries. Contact Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss the compensation you can seek after your crash.
How Many Motorcycle Accidents Happen in Houston, TX?
If you run a query on the Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System (CRIS), you will find that Houston had 705 crashes involving at least one motorcycle in 2022. By filtering to exclude single-motorcycle accidents, you will find 461 collisions where motorcycles collided with automobiles, pedestrians, or bicycles.
These crashes killed 20 motorcyclists. They also injured 353 motorcyclists and one pedestrian. These injuries included the following:
- 94 serious injuries where an ambulance took the victim to the hospital
- 117 minor injuries where the victim had an injury but didn’t need an ambulance
- 143 possible injuries where the victim complained of pain but had no visible injury
CRIS does not identify which party was deemed at fault for these crashes.
Steps To Take After You Get Hit By a Motorcycle in Houston
Texas uses a fault-based insurance system. All vehicle owners, including motorcycle owners, must carry liability insurance. After an accident, victims must file a claim against the at-fault driver. It doesn’t matter whether the at-fault driver was in an automobile, commercial truck, or motorcycle.
You might ask, “What should I do if I was hit by a motorcycle in Houston?” The answer is that you’ll need to take the same steps after a motorcycle crash as you would after a car accident. These steps include:
Stop At the Accident Scene
You must stop at all crashes that cause death, injury, or property damage. If you fail to stop, prosecutors can charge you with hit-and-run. You can face these charges even if you did not cause the crash. For example, if a motorcycle fails to yield at an intersection and hits the side of your vehicle, you still need to stop.
Call the Police
Texas law requires you to call the police after any crash that:
- Kills or injures someone
- Disables a vehicle
If the crash happened on city streets, you should call the city police. If it happened outside of a city, you need to contact either the county sheriff’s office or Texas Highway Patrol.
The police agency will send officers to your accident scene. These officers will investigate your accident and produce a crash report summarizing their findings.
Exchange Information
Texas requires everyone involved in an accident to exchange information and render aid. Even though the motorcyclist caused your crash, you must assist them. Since motorcycles provide very little protection in a crash, the motorcyclist probably suffered more severe injuries than you did.
Under Texas law, you must call for an ambulance if the motorcyclist needs one. You should also provide first aid if the motorcyclist has suffered an incapacitating injury.
Seek Medical Attention
You should not ignore your injuries. After your crash, you should consult a doctor about any wounds, pain, or discomfort you cannot treat with home care.
A doctor can:
- Find hidden injuries
- Diagnose your injuries and prescribe a treatment plan
- Document your condition and treatment in your medical records
You will need complete and accurate medical records for your personal injury claim, so you should make sure any injuries get recorded.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Houston Motorcycle Crash Attorneys
Most accident victims should also contact a Houston motorcycle accident attorney to discuss their injuries. To learn more about your right to injury compensation, contact Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation.
