Motorcyclists have little physical protection when another vehicle strikes them or forces them from the roadway. Even with protective equipment, a rider may suffer injuries that require emergency treatment, surgery, and rehabilitation or long-term care. Understanding the types of injuries from motorcycle accidents in Katy may help you recognize why the consequences of a crash may continue long after the collision.
When another person’s negligence causes a collision, one of our motorbike injury attorneys could evaluate how your injuries may affect your health and finances. At Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, we investigate crashes, preserve evidence, and identify losses that support personal injury claims.
Injuries Motorcycle Riders Commonly Suffer
Motorcycles lack the protective frame and restraints found in passenger vehicles, which leaves you exposed to severe impact. In a collision, the impact may throw you from your bike or you may strike the pavement with significant force. Motorcycle crashes in Katy can result in a variety of injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions
- Spinal cord damage that may cause weakness or paralysis
- Broken or crushed bones
- Road rash and other serious skin injuries
- Internal bleeding or organ damage
- Neck, back, and soft-tissue injuries
- Amputations or severe limb damage
Some injuries are obvious at the scene, while others develop over time. The severity of your injuries depends on the force of the crash and how another vehicle struck you. Prompt medical care helps protect your health and document the extent of the harm.
Does Helmet Use Affect an Injury Claim?
State law generally requires riders and passengers to use approved motorcycle helmets, although it provides limited exceptions for some people age 21 or older. Texas Transportation Code § 661.003 contains the applicable requirements.
Not wearing a helmet does not automatically relieve another driver of responsibility for causing a collision. However, an insurer or defendant may argue that your conduct contributed to the severity of a particular injury, especially head or brain trauma. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001 generally bars recovery if you are more than 50 percent responsible.
This issue requires a fact-specific analysis. We could evaluate whether motorcycle helmet use contributed to a specific injury while keeping the focus on who caused the wreck in Katy.
Serious Injuries Can Create Long-Term Needs
A motorcycle collision may create consequences that continue well beyond the initial hospitalization. Serious conditions such as spinal cord damage or traumatic brain injuries can require extensive treatment, while complicated fractures and other catastrophic harm may lead to a lengthy recovery. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may also need assistance adapting to changes in your daily life.
Regardless of the type of serious injury you sustained in a motorcycle crash in Katy, you may face medical and financial difficulty for years. For that reason, your injury claim should account for more than your current bills. The value of your claim may also depend on how the accident has altered your financial circumstances and your day-to-day life.
One of our attorneys could assess your losses by reviewing records that show the extent of your medical care and the financial impact of the crash. This evaluation also helps show how the injury has changed your daily life, including whether you can continue working as before or manage the same responsibilities independently.
Call Us About the Types of Injuries Katy Motorcyclists Suffer in Crashes
Serious injuries can make it difficult to know how much treatment you will need or what financial consequences you may experience. Learning about the types of injuries from motorcycle accidents in Katy is one part of understanding the entirety of your potential claim.
If another person caused your motorcycle crash, we could review the evidence and answer questions about responsibility while assessing the accident’s impact on your life. Contact us at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris to discuss your situation.
