The Importance of Hiring a Lawyer After a Motorcycle Accident
The Importance of Hiring a Lawyer After a Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accidents are frightening, and the aftermath can be disorienting — medical bills, an insurance adjuster calling within hours, and a bike that may be totaled. Here’s why getting an attorney involved early makes a real difference.
Why Motorcycle Injuries Are So Severe
Motorcyclists have none of the protection a car provides — no seat belts, no airbags, no surrounding frame. That’s a major reason riders are killed at a rate nearly 28 times higher than car occupants per mile traveled, according to 2023 NHTSA data. When a motorcycle crash does happen, the injuries are frequently catastrophic rather than minor.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
- Driver negligence — a car changing lanes without checking, or running a red light, without seeing the motorcycle
- Road conditions — potholes, debris, and wet roads that barely affect a car but can destabilize a motorcycle entirely
- Speeding — by either party, reducing the margin for error
- Impaired driving — alcohol or drug impairment remains a major factor in serious crashes
Immediate Steps After a Crash
Get medical attention right away, even if you feel fine — some injuries, like concussions or internal bleeding, don’t show symptoms immediately. Report the accident to police and get a copy of the official crash report, and collect contact information from any witnesses. This documentation becomes the foundation of your case.
What a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Actually Does
- Counters rider bias — insurance adjusters and even juries sometimes assume a motorcyclist must have been reckless; an experienced attorney knows how to push back on that assumption with actual evidence
- Investigates thoroughly — police reports, medical records, witness statements, and, where relevant, accident reconstruction
- Handles the insurance company — insurers routinely try to minimize motorcycle claims specifically; a lawyer negotiates from a position of leverage, not desperation
- Documents the full extent of damages — medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage to the motorcycle, and future medical costs for long-term injuries
Why Timing Matters
Texas gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit (Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003), but evidence like witness memories, dashcam or surveillance footage, and the accident scene itself degrades fast. The earlier an attorney is involved, the more of that evidence is actually preserved.
Talk to an Austin motorcycle accident attorney
If you or someone you know has been in a motorcycle accident, don’t navigate it alone. Call the Traub Law Office at (512) 246-9191 or contact us online for a free consultation.
About Andrew Traub
