Austin Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Serious Legal Representation for Victims of Motorcycle Accidents in Austin

Riding in Austin is exhilarating, but an accident with a negligent driver can lead to catastrophic injuries and overwhelming bills. Motorcyclists often face bias and significant challenges when pursuing a claim. 

At Lee, Gober & Reyna, our Austin motorcycle accident attorneys understand the unique risks you face. Contact us today for a free case evaluation to secure the maximum compensation you need for your recovery.

How Are Motorcycle Accidents Different Than Traditional Car Crashes?

Motorcycle accidents differ from traditional car crashes in critical ways: 

• Injury Severity: Due to the lack of protective structure, riders are 28 times more likely to suffer fatal injuries than car occupants, commonly resulting in catastrophic injuries like spinal cord damage and severe road rash.
• Inherent Bias: Insurance adjusters and even jurors often assume the rider was speeding or reckless, regardless of the facts. This bias makes proving fault significantly harder and requires specific legal strategies.
• Complex Legal Challenges: High potential damages and aggressive defense mean these claims are more likely to proceed to costly litigation.

Lee, Gober & Reyna’s Austin Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Fight for You

Motorcycle accidents are often an uphill legal battle fought against significant insurance companies and public bias. At Lee, Gober & Reyna, we don’t just handle personal injury claims. We focus on dismantling the false narrative that motorcyclists are inherently reckless.

Countering Bias and Proving Negligence

Insurance adjusters and defense lawyers are trained to invoke “motorcycle bias” to reduce the rider’s compensation under Texas’s comparative fault law. We immediately counter this by launching a dedicated investigation that focuses entirely on the other driver’s negligence.

In-Depth Investigation and Valuation

Due to the catastrophic nature of motorcycle injuries, claims require higher financial recovery. We work with accident reconstructionists to create a scientifically accurate picture of the crash. We also consult with medical and economic experts to ensure your claim accounts for all past and future costs. 

Compensation in Texas Motorcycle Accident Lawsuits

Compensation in a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Austin or Terrell, TX is typically much higher than in a standard car crash due to the catastrophic injuries common to riders. 

Economic Losses

These are the most straightforward damages to quantify as they represent direct financial costs. Motorcycle accident survivors can recover the full value of past and future medical care, which often includes:

• Emergency room visits
• Surgeries
• Long-term physical therapy
• Adaptive equipment
• Prescriptions

They can also recover lost wages and compensation for diminished earning capacity if the injury permanently limits their ability to work. 

Another economic loss, property damage, is available for wrecked bikes and other personal property that was lost in the crash.

Non-Economic Losses

These damages compensate the rider for intangible losses that severely impact their quality of life. Given the severity of injuries, non-economic damages are usually substantial. They include compensation for: 

• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Permanent disfigurement or scarring

Punitive Damages

Also known as “exemplary damages,” these are not compensatory but are designed to punish the defendant for extremely reckless or grossly negligent conduct. Punitive damages are most commonly pursued in Texas motorcycle accident cases involving drunk driving (DUI/DWI) or instances of intentional road rage. They can significantly increase the total award.

How to Maximize Compensation After a Motorcycle Crash in Austin

Maximizing compensation after an Austin motorcycle crash requires immediate legal and medical strategy to overcome bias and accurately document catastrophic injuries. To maximize your recovery, you must:

• Seek Immediate Medical Care: This creates undeniable records linking severe injuries to the motorcycle accident.
• Do Not Speak to Insurers: Avoid recorded statements that could be used to inflate your fault percentage.
• Preserve Physical Evidence: Keep your damaged helmet, gear, and motorcycle untouched for your legal team’s investigation.
• Hire an Experienced Attorney: Get an Austin motorcycle accident lawyer who focuses on motorcycle accidents to counteract insurance company tactics.
• Document All Losses: Keep a binder with all medical receipts, documentation of out of pocket costs, pain journaling, and more. 

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Austin

Motorcycle accidents in Austin are primarily caused by driver negligence from other motorists. The catastrophic nature of these crashes is compounded by the high-speed traffic on major Terrell and Austin thoroughfares like I-35 and MoPac, making collision avoidance extremely difficult for riders.

Failure to Yield/Left-Turn Accidents

Over half of all motorcycle accidents occur when a car turns left directly in front of an oncoming bike, often because the other driver fails to see or misjudges the motorcycle’s distance and speed.

Blind Spot Crashes

Due to their small profile, motorcycles frequently disappear into a car or truck’s blind spot, leading to collisions when a motorist makes an unsafe lane change without checking thoroughly.

Distracted Driving

Motorists distracted by cell phones (texting or talking) or in-car technology fail to notice riders until it is too late, leading to rear-end or side-swipe crashes.

DUI/DWI

Impaired driving reduces reaction time and judgment, significantly increasing the risk of head-on collisions and reckless maneuvers that endanger motorcyclists.

Road Hazards

Motorcycles are extremely sensitive to road surface conditions. Potholes, loose gravel, construction debris, oil slicks, and uneven pavement can cause a rider to lose control and wipe out.

Keep in mind that if a government entity or the City of Austin is responsible for your damages, you may have a very short deadline to make a claim. It’s essential to contact an Austin motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible to preserve your right to sue.

“Dooring” Accidents

In areas with street parking, a driver or passenger opens a car door directly into the path of a passing motorcyclist, causing a sudden and unavoidable accident.

Speeding/Aggressive Driving

Excessive speed reduces the time needed for a driver or a rider to react to sudden obstacles or careless drivers, drastically increasing the severity of injuries upon impact.

Motorcycle Accident Injuries Suffered by Victims

Due to the lack of physical protection, motorcycle accidents often result in injuries that are far more severe than those sustained in traditional car crashes. Common injuries after a motorcycle wreck include: 

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Ranging from mild concussions to severe brain damage, often occurring despite helmet use due to the sheer force of impact.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Fractures to vertebrae or damage to the spinal cord that can lead to partial or complete paralysis (paraplegia or quadriplegia).
• Severe Road Rash (Avulsion Injuries): Friction burns caused by sliding across the pavement, often requiring hospitalization, extensive debridement, and painful skin graft surgeries.
• Multiple Fractures and Broken Bones: Especially common in the extremities (arms, legs, clavicles, wrists) requiring surgical insertion of pins, plates, or rods.
• Amputations: Injuries so severe that they result in the surgical removal of a limb, leading to long-term disability and emotional trauma.
• Internal Organ Damage: Trauma to the chest or abdomen resulting in collapsed lungs, internal bleeding, or damage to organs like the spleen or liver.
• Permanent Disfigurement and Scarring: Long-lasting cosmetic and functional impairment from severe lacerations, burns, and surgical scars.
• Emotional Trauma: Including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and phobia of riding or driving (“cynophobia”).