Motorcycle Accident Injuries can be Extensive, and Insurance Companies Don't Want to Compensate You.

As a motorcycle enthusiast we know that you have a real passion for the open road.  Though the freedom a bike gives you is priceless, a crash can cost you more than you think.  From lost wages to months and even years of rehabilitation, the amount of money needed to recover from a Texas motorcycle accident can be astronomical. 

Injured In a Motorcycle Accident

If you have been injured in an accident in Houston or anywhere in Texas, and the other driver is at fault, it is up to their insurance company to pay for your losses.  However, insurance companies are only out for their bottom line.  They may not care how badly you were hurt or if you will become disabled as a result of the accident.  Adjustors may devalue your claim or work to show you as the faulty party. 

The only way to combat a greedy insurance company is to ensure that you have an experienced Houston Texas motorcycle accident attorney on your side.  An attorney well versed in motorcycle litigation will be familiar with the ins and outs of the insurance business and will be willing to take on even the most challenging case.

The Impact of Your Injuries

Injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident can be severe and long lasting.  The affects of these injuries range from mild to life ending.  Some of the more common and serious injuries sustained during a motorcycle crash include:

• Brain and head trauma (concussion, skull fractures, disfigurement, loss of life) 
• Spinal cord injury (partial or total paralysis, loss of life)
• Broken bones
• Internal injuries
• Road rash and infection
• Burns
• Severe cuts and lacerations

Any of these injuries can necessitate long hard months of surgeries and physical therapies.  Only a knowledgeable Houston motorcycle accident attorney can be sure that you and your family will be taken care of today, tomorrow and for as long your recovery takes.  Be sure that you get the advice of an experienced lawyer before signing any insurance documents.

A Disturbing Pattern

As more and more people own and operate motorcycles, the risk to bikers has increased.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in only ten years the number of people killed in motorcycle crashes has doubled- from 2,161 in 1996 to 4,810 in 2006. 

Though bikers get a bad rap as excessive speeders and reckless drivers, very often the other vehicle involved in the accident is to blame.  Since drivers are not accustomed to looking out for cyclists, they may miss seeing a motorcycle and change lanes or turn in front of the bike, causing a serious and avoidable accident.

Breaking the Cycle

Many programs are being put into place to help combat the increasing rate of injuries and deaths stemming from motorcycle accidents.  Though there are motorcycle laws in Texas aimed at helping protect both the biker and other drivers, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has launched a campaign to make drivers more aware of motorcyclists.  Drivers are encouraged to “look twice for motorcyclists” in an attempt to increase awareness of safety measures necessary to protect bikers.

Your Next Step

The SMSH team consists of experienced attorneys ready to fight for your rights and obtain a fair and just settlement on your behalf.  If you need help filing your insurance claim or have received an offer much lower than expected, do not hesitate to call.  At Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P. we have the serious experience needed to help you through your serious accident. 

Call a Texas motorcycle accident lawyer today. 
1-800-282-2122

Though driving a motorcycle on any road can be dangerous, the following Texas highways and interstates are known for their frequent accidents:  I 610 (The Loop, Loop 610), I 10, I 45, Highway 225, Highway 59, Highway 290, Highway 90, Highway 288, Sam Houston Parkway, Hardy Toll Road

The offices of Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P. are located in Houston.  However, we help clients nationwide and in the following Texas cities:  Houston, Pasadena, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Galveston, Port Arthur, Baytown, Beaumont, Kirkwood, Humble, Spring, Round Rock, Katy, League City, Freeport, Corpus Christi, Texas City, Lake Jackson, Bay City, Matagorda Bay, Victoria

Blog for Houston Motorcycle Accidents

• Consumer Reports Motorcycle Safety Survey Finds Low Rates of Helmet Use

  Description: A recent survey by Consumer Reports found that approximately 25% of motorcyclists do not wear a helmet while riding.

• Focus on Motorcycle Safety Awareness This May

  Description: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has dedicated May for motorcycle safety with their "Share the Road" campaign. The NHTSA wants to target both motorists as well as motorcyclists. It's important that motorists and motorcyclists understand the need to share roads with each other.

• Gonzales, Texas Fatal Motorcycle Crash Kills Husband, Injures Wife

  Description: Eric Coleman, 44, evening coordinator and instructor of the Del Mar College GED program was killed in a motorcycle accident this weekend. His wife, Leola Coleman, riding as his passenger at the time of the crash, sustained multiple injuries in the accident. She has been employed in Del Mar College's Cosmetology department for nine years. The accident occurred in Gonzales, Texas when a white Chevrolet van veered into their lane. The couple was driving home from Lockhart. The Colemans were on Highway 183 near State Highway 97 when the fatal Texas Motorcycle Crash took place. The van's driver was cited for failing to yield.

• Corpus Christi, Texas Motorcycle Accident Kills One, Critically Injures Another

  Description: Friday night, a motorcycle crashed into a truck on the Nueces Bay Causeway, leaving one dead, the motorcycle rider. The accident sent the passenger to the hospital. We have written about how the repeal of the Texas motorcycle helmet law has led to an increase in fatal traffic accidents involving motorcycles. Our Texas motorcycle accident lawyers can assist you with injuries sustained in a Texas motorcycle accident. Contact the experienced legal team of motorcycle injury lawyers at Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer and Harris, LLP. We’ll listen to you and help you understand your options. Contact us today at 1-800-282-2122 or at info@smslegal.com.

• Motorcycle Accident Death in Lewisville, Texas Also Severely Injures Passenger

  Description: A 22-year-old Lewisville man named Craig Bishop was sadly pronounced dead Thursday night at Medical Center of Lewisville, Texas shortly after a motorcycle accident in a residential neighborhood. A 19 year-old female passenger on his motorcycle was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Texas, for treatment of broken bones and internal injuries. If you sustained an injury in a Texas motorcycle accident and you haven’t contacted a lawyer contact the experienced legal team of Houston motorcycle injury lawyers at Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer and Harris, LLP. We’ll listen to you and help you understand your options. Contact us today at 1-800-282-2122 or at info@smslegal.com.

• Texas Motorcycle Helmet Law Repeal Leads to Rise in Deadly Accidents

  Description: A study of Texas motorcycle riding, published in the Southern Medical Journal, found that in the seven years after Texas repealed its mandatory motorcycle helmet law in 1997, Texas motorcycle accident deaths are up by 25%. Our Texas motorcycle accident lawyers can assist you with injuries sustained in a Texas motorcycle accident. Contact the experienced legal team of motorcycle injury lawyers at Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer and Harris, LLP. We’ll listen to you and help you understand your options. Contact us today at 1-800-282-2122 or at info@smslegal.com.

• Legally Blind Motorist Kills Motorcycle Rider in Waco, Texas

  Description: A 39-year-old Waco, Texas woman has been charged with manslaughter in connection with a fatal traffic accident that killed a motorcyclist. She admitted to police that she is legally blind and should not have been driving. Trena Evette Mitchell surrendered to Waco police and is charged with manslaughter and injury to a child. If you sustained an injury in a Texas motorcycle accident and you haven’t contacted a lawyer contact the experienced legal team of Houston motorcycle injury lawyers at Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer and Harris, LLP. We’ll listen to you and help you understand your options. Contact us today at 1-800-282-2122 or at info@smslegal.com.

• Motorcycle Precautions That Can Save Your Life

  Description: Each year, many Houston, Texas residents die as a result of motorcycle accidents. As Houston Motorcycle Injury Lawyers, we advise caution in general when operating a motorcycle. Our Houston, Texas Motorcycle Accident Attorneys has helped motorcycle injury victims for over forty years. Please contact us at info@smslegal.com or toll-free by phone at (800) 282-2122 for a free evaluation of any motorcycle injury case.

• Waco man killed in motorcycle accident
• Motorcyclist critically injured in accident
• May is Motorcycle Safety Month in Some Texas Areas
• Blood Test For Brain Injuries Gains Momentum
• Two People Killed In Motorcycle Accident

Web Resources for Houston Motorcycle Accidents:

• Texas Department of Public Safety Motorcycle Safety Unit

  Description:

  The Motorcycle Safety Unit is assigned to the Texas Department of Public Safety Training Academy and administers two statewide training programs, the Motorcycle Operator Training and Safety Program and the All-Terrain Vehicle Education and Certification Program. In addition, the unit performs the duties necessary to fulfill the legislatively mandated requirements of the Moped Certification Program.

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Arthur L. Schechter, Matthew D. Shaffer and Jonathan S. Harris are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

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