Mission is a beautiful place to ride your motorcycle. The warm climate in Southern Texas allows you to ride year-round and get full use of your motorbike—every motorcyclist’s dream. However, with more time available throughout the year to ride your bike through the streets, there are more chances of you getting into a collision while riding. When you get struck by another vehicle while riding your motorcycle, you can use the help of a Mission, TX motorcycle accident lawyer.
Regular sized vehicles often don’t look out for motorcyclists in the same way they do other cars. Motorcyclists can be harder to spot, which leads to collisions between the two vehicles. Since motorcyclists are more exposed while on their bikes, they can suffer from far more serious injuries than the occupants of the passenger vehicles.
At Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm, we understand how devastating your injuries and other damages can be. Your entire life could be changed, and you could be unable to return to work for the foreseeable future, if ever. That’s why our attorneys are here to help you recover what you’re owed for your damages so that you can attempt to heal and move on.
Texas Motorcycle Accident Statistics and Helmet Use
When looking at statistics for motorcycle wrecks in Texas, the numbers can be broken down by the level of injury sustained as well as whether or not a helmet was worn. The Texas Department of Transportation released a report for 2020 that details these numbers. Here are the levels of injuries sustained by victims of motorcycle crashes in that year:
- 8,173 total injuries and non-injuries
- 222 unknown injuries
- 1,222 non-injuries
- 1,704 possible injuries
- 2,687 non-incapacitating injuries
- 1,856 suspected serious injuries
- 482 fatalities
The amount of injured compared to non-injured after a wreck is over five and a half times more. This means that a rider is almost 6 times more likely to sustain any type of injury after a wreck than none at all.
When it comes to wearing helmets, the numbers are close. In the categories of non-injuries, possible injuries, and non-incapacitating injuries, the number of helmet wearers are higher. This isn’t surprising because it means that wearing the helmet could have saved them from suffering from more serious injuries.
In suspected serious injuries, the number of helmet wearers is higher than non-wearers. In this instance, the collisions were likely so severe that wearing a helmet didn’t change much for riders and passengers, although it could have been the difference between serious injuries and death. However, in fatalities, the number of victims not wearing helmets is higher than those who wore helmets. This could show that choosing not to wear a helmet is more dangerous.
Any kind of injuries that you suffer from a motorcycle wreck in Mission that weren’t your fault shouldn’t be your responsibility to pay for. Our Mission, TX motorcycle accident attorney can help you get full and fair compensation for what you’ve endured.
Texas Motorcycle Helmet Laws
Before getting on a motorcycle, whether you’re the driver or the passenger, you should know the state’s helmet laws to ensure you’re being as safe as possible and following all of the rules. In Texas, all riders under 21 are legally required to wear a helmet. However, turning 21 is not the only requirement that you need to meet in order to stop wearing it.
Even if you are over the age of 21, you have to complete the Motorcycle Operator Training and Safety program that’s regulated by the state. This might seem cumbersome, but it’s to keep you as safe as possible. By completing a safety course, you’ll be more aware of how a helmet can keep you safer and might choose to keep wearing head protection even though you’re no longer required to.
While wearing a helmet can’t prevent an accident from occurring, it can potentially keep you from suffering life-threatening injuries. Following the law and wearing a helmet can also show that you were being responsible and help keep you from seeming at fault for your wreck in any way. Our Mission, TX motorcycle accident lawyer will fight hard to prove the other party was negligent.
Causes of Moto Wrecks in Mission, TX
Motorcycle accidents can’t always be avoided, no matter how strictly you follow the rules of the road or pay attention while riding. When you’ve been in a wreck on your motorbike and you were adhering to state laws and the rules of the road, another driver is likely the one at fault. Knowing the different causes of moto wrecks can help you and your attorney determine who was at fault.
Here are some of the most common causes of motorcycle crashes in Mission, TX:
- Distracted Driving
- Driving Under the Influence
- Speeding
- Blind Spots
- Lane Splitting
- Intersections
- Part Malfunction
- Bad Roads
- Poor Weather
While it might immediately seem as though the other driver is definitely at fault for your collision, that might not be the case. Some of the above situations are caused by other parties, like part manufacturers, natural disasters, and government agencies.
Since you can never be sure who the party at fault was for your moto wreck, you’ll want to refrain from placing blame on anyone at the accident scene. You’ll also want to keep from apologizing reflexively, even if you know you weren’t responsible. Our Mission, TX motorcycle accident lawyer can coach you through how to speak with any party involved and guide you through the claims process.
Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Are Here for You
When you’ve been in a collision on your motorcycle that you didn’t cause, you’re likely interested in holding the responsible party accountable for their actions. Our Mission, TX motorcycle accident attorney can do just that. We’ll investigate what happened so that we can ensure the proper party is served justice for what they’ve caused you.
At Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm, we understand how intimidating it can be to decide to take legal action, especially when you’re trying to recover from your wreck physically and emotionally. We’ll guide you through the claims process so you are fully supported and don’t have to go through this alone. Reach out to us today so we can schedule a free consultation.
