Motorcycle Accidents
For more than 20 years, the team of dedicated motorcycle accident attorneys at Tate Law Offices has successfully represented motorcycle riders in Dallas, Fort Worth, throughout the State of Texas, and across the nation. With offices in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and Sherman, we represent bikers from various motorcycle clubs, as well as leisure riders. In addition, as one of the premier Texas motorcycle accident law firms, we have decades of experience filing lawsuits for a variety of motorcycle wreck claims. At Tate Law Offices, we understand your passion to ride. Whether you ride your motorcycle occasionally for recreation, ride regularly as a member of a motorcycle club, or use your motorcycle purely as a means of transportation, we want you to ride with peace of mind knowing our veteran Texas motorcycle accident attorneys are ready to handle your accident case from the moment you call.
What to do if you have been in a Dallas/Fort Worth Motorcycle Accident
If you have been involved in a Texas motorcycle accident, the first thing you should do is contact a Dallas/Fort Worth motorcycle accident attorney at our law firm immediately. Do not discuss your motorcycle accident with anyone, especially if it is a serious accident involving bodily injury. Most importantly—do not speak with an insurance agent—either from your own insurance company or that of the other driver’s. ANYTHING you say can be used against you by the insurance company to minimize or deny your motorcycle lawsuit claim outright; therefore, you should ONLY make statements to your Dallas/Fort Worth motorcycle accident lawyer.
As your motorcycle accident attorneys, Tate Law Offices will deal with the insurance companies for you and guide you in making any statements required. Keep in mind that insurance companies don’t make money by paying lawsuit claims. In fact, they spend countless dollars employing insurance adjusters, other experts, and even their own attorneys to make sure they pay out as little as possible. That is why it is important to have an experienced Texas motorcycle accident and personal injury law firm represent you for your lawsuit or claim. The veteran Dallas/Fort Worth motorcycle accident attorneys at Tate Law Offices have the experience necessary to fully represent your best interests and are dedicated to maximizing the value of your lawsuit.
Click here for more information on What to Do Immediately After an Accident or call us today for a FREE Consultation at 214-509-6995, 817-479-9174, or 888-207-7701.
Contact a Texas Motorcycle Accident Attorney Immediately
Aside from statements to insurance agents and police departments, there are many forms and claim notices that must also be filed in order to maximize your case value or lawsuit. We understand that being injured in a motorcycle accident can be a traumatic and overwhelming experience; therefore, as your Dallas/Fort Worth motorcycle accident attorneys, Tate Law Offices will fill out and file the forms and claim notices for you. We also understand the financial burden that follows most motorcycle accidents; therefore, our firm operates on a contingency basis – in other words, we don’t charge any legal fees unless we first collect money for you. In most cases, we can put significantly more money into our client’s pocket.
Click here to learn more about our firm’s policy of No Upfront Legal Fees or Costs.
Actions We Will Take to Help You
Getting You the Medical Treatment You Need—we will help you find the right doctor for your injury. Due to the extreme nature of motorcycle injuries, it is very important for all motorcycle riders to be evaluated by specialized doctors in order to determine the extent of their injuries and to recommend appropriate treatment. In addition, any injuries sustained in your motorcycle accident must be medically documented and treated.
Reconstructing Your Texas Motorcycle Accident— the event causing the collision must be reconstructed in order to prove fault for the Dallas or Fort Worth motorcycle wreck. Motorcycle wrecks can be worth a lot of money to the motorcycle rider; therefore, it is important that the claim or lawsuit be developed properly by a Texas attorney who is experienced in handling motorcycle wrecks and their aftermath. Having the team of experienced Dallas/Fort Worth motorcycle accident attorneys at Tate Law Offices on your side is crucial to earning maximum compensation for your claim or lawsuit.
Securing the Evidence You Need—we will secure all of the Texas motorcycle accident site evidence (such as photographing the vehicles and skid marks) in order to build a solid case against the negligent party.
Interviewing Witnesses—we will talk to any motorcycle accident scene witnesses and obtain any written witness statements that may be of benefit to your case.
Repairing Your Motorcycle—after a catastrophic Texas motorcycle accident, we understand that you may be anxious to get your bike back. At Tate Law Offices, we do everything in our power to get your motorcycle repaired and/or replaced as quickly as possible.
Understanding the Risks and Injuries Associated with Texas Motorcycle Accidents
Riding a motorcycle comes with the increased risk of injury (and even death) in the event of an accident. In fact, according to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA) and the Special Crash Investigation Division of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), accidents involving motorcycles are twice as likely to occur as accidents involving only automobiles. Further, accidents involving motorcycles are four times more likely to be deadly than are passenger car accidents. This happens because motorcycle riders are not protected by a metal frame to help absorb the impact of a collision (as they would be if driving a car or truck). During a Texas motorcycle accident, the motorcyclist himself often bears the brunt of the accident forces, and as a result, serious and often deadly bodily injuries unfortunately occur.
Why Do Texas Motorcycle Accidents Occur?
The most common reason for the majority of Texas motorcycle accidents is that automobile drivers simply just don’t see the motorcyclist. When car and truck drivers look for other vehicles, they typically look for larger objects, like other cars and trucks, so smaller objects like motorcycles often get missed. In fact, according to the Hurt Study (the most comprehensive motorcycle safeties study to date):
"The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision."
According to this same study, 77% of two vehicle accidents involving a motorcycle involve the front of the bike or the area to the front of the motorcycle rider. The area behind the rider accounts for only about 3% of impacts.
In addition, the most frequent accidents happen when the motorcycle is proceeding straight and another vehicle makes a left turn in front of the oncoming bike. This occurs mostly at intersections with the other vehicle violating the motorcycle's right-of-way.
The best way to prevent a Texas motorcycle accident from occurring is to practice defensive driving and wear protective and reflective clothing to increase your chances of being seen. Also, wearing a helmet can significantly protect you from an open- or closed-head injury, should a wreck still occur.
In the event a motorcycle accident happens, call the experienced Dallas/Fort Worth motorcycle wreck attorneys at Tate Law Offices immediately at 888-207-7701; 214-509-6995, Dallas; 817-479-9174, Ft. Worth; or 281-886-0375, Houston. In most cases we can add tremendous value to your motorcycle claim and help put you back in the wind.
