When you’re injured in a motorcycle accident, the consequences can be more than physical pain. Aside from pain and suffering, you may struggle with lost wages and mounting medical bills if you cannot work because of your injuries. Reaching out to a Houston motorcycle accident lawyer can be a critical step in protecting your rights and securing the compensation you need.
If you or a loved one has been injured or died as a result of a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation to help you heal and remain financially stable during this time. At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, our motorbike accident attorneys know Texas injury law inside and out, and we will fight for the compensation you deserve.
Risks Motorcyclists Face in Houston
Motorcyclists and their passengers have much less protection than those driving inside cars, SUVs, and trucks. Even wearing a helmet and other safety gear may not prevent you from sustaining a serious or debilitating injury. Compared to people in cars, bikers are 27 times more likely to be killed and five times more likely to be injured in a crash, according to the National Highway Safety Administration.
The number of motorbike accident victims killed in 2023 increased by 7% from the year before, and intersection fatal crashes increased by 21% according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
There were 599 motorcyclists (operators and passengers) killed in 2023, and 40% of motorcyclists killed were not wearing helmets at the time of the
According to the Texas Department of Transportation report the majority of fatalities in Houston occur between May and October.
Over half of fatal motorcycle crashes result from collisions with other vehicles and most commonly occur in intersections. Congested roadways, distracted driving, and the difficulty of seeing motorcycles in traffic cause many preventable fatalities each year. Drivers either do not notice motorcycles or misjudge their distance and speed. Collisions often occur from drivers turning left in front of oncoming motorcycles because the motorcycles are closer than they appear.
In 2019, Houston was named the most dangerous city in Texas for motorcyclists.
What To Do After a Motorcycle Accident
For the best outcome, if you have been involved in a motorcycle accident and decide to pursue a personal injury case, there are things you should do in the aftermath of a motorcycle accident, both immediately and later on.
If possible, do the following:
- Move your vehicles to a safe location, like the side of the road
- Take pictures of the damage to all vehicles and of the other vehicles’ license plates
- Exchange information with the other drivers, including:
- Names
- Addresses
- Phone numbers
- Insurance information
- TDL numbers
- License plate numbers
- Vehicle makes and models
- Call the police if anyone is injured or there is substantial property damage, and get an accident report.
- Talk to witnesses, recording their comments and contact information. Gather as much evidence as you can at the scene of the crash.
- Seek medical care, even if you don’t think you are seriously injured. Some injuries take time to appear.
- Be careful what you say. Never admit fault or say you’re sorry, even if you believe you do bear responsibility, as this will be used against you.
- Don’t accept an offer of money from the other driver’s insurance company. Insurance companies make lowball offers at first, and if you accept, you will not be able to recover additional compensation.
- Contact an experienced motorcycle injury lawyer before you talk to the other driver’s insurance company.
You should contact a Houston motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible, but you have up to two years to file a personal injury claim after your accident. The two years start on the date of your accident, and after the two-year deadline passes, you may not be able to recover any compensation.
Compensation for Your Motorcycle Accident in Houston
In a motorcycle accident claim, Texas law recognizes two primary categories of damages: economic and non-economic.
- Economic Damages
These damages compensate for out-of-pocket expenses tied directly to the accident. They include: - Medical Expenses
Coverage for all necessary treatments, from emergency care to surgeries, physical therapy, and future medical needs. - Lost Wages
Compensation for income lost due to recovery time, as well as diminished earning capacity if injuries affect long-term employment. - Property Damage
Repair or replacement costs for your motorcycle and other damaged property. - Non-Economic Damages
Beyond financial losses, non-economic damages address the more personal impact of your motorcycle accident injuries: - Pain and Suffering
For physical pain endured during and after the accident, covering both immediate and long-term pain. - Emotional Distress
Compensation for psychological impacts, including anxiety, depression, or trauma, which often follow serious accidents. - Disfigurement and Disability
Damages for permanent injuries that affect appearance, function, or quality of life.
Together, these damages create a more complete picture of the compensation needed to support a full recovery, addressing both your immediate financial needs and the lasting impact of the accident. By structuring our approach around Texas law, available resources, and strategic evaluation, we aim to maximize your claim and secure the compensation that supports your recovery and future stability.
Texas Motorcycle Accident Laws and Regulations
When you’re injured in a motorcycle accident, understanding the laws at play can help you navigate the road to recovery and secure fair compensation. Texas law is designed to protect your rights and ensure those at fault are held accountable. Here’s a look at the key regulations that may impact your claim:
Statute of Limitations
You have two years from the date of your motorcycle accident to file a personal injury claim in Texas. This deadline is strict, so acting within this period is essential to preserve your right to compensation. Missing it could mean forfeiting your chance for recovery, regardless of the extent of your injuries.
Modified Comparative Fault
Texas law allows you to seek compensation even if you’re partially at fault, as long as your responsibility is less than 51%. If you’re, say, 20% at fault, you can still recover 80% of your damages. This rule ensures that even if you’re partly responsible, you can still hold the other driver accountable.
Helmet Laws
In Texas, riders under 21 are required to wear helmets. If you’re over 21, wearing one is optional if you’ve completed a safety course or have health insurance coverage. While helmets aren’t mandatory for all, not wearing one could impact your claim. Insurance companies might argue that a helmet could have lessened your injuries, potentially affecting your compensation.
Insurance Requirements
Texas requires every driver, including motorcyclists, to carry minimum liability insurance ($30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident for injuries, and $25,000 for property damage). Given the severity of motorcycle accidents, these minimums might not be enough to cover all damages. Having Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage can help ensure your financial stability if the at-fault driver’s insurance falls short.
Duty of Care
Every driver on Texas roads has a duty of care, meaning they must operate their vehicle responsibly and avoid actions that endanger others. When someone fails in this duty—whether by speeding, failing to yield, or driving distracted—and you’re hurt as a result, Texas law enables you to hold them accountable.
These laws are here to support your recovery and protect your rights as a motorcyclist. Knowing them can empower you to make informed decisions and seek the full compensation you deserve.
How Steinger, Greene & Feiner Can Help
A Houston motorcycle crash lawyer will take a huge amount of stress off your shoulders by navigating complicated laws and negotiations with insurance companies for you. It’s been shown that hiring an attorney to manage your claim will get you more compensation on average than handling your case on your own. We know how insurance companies will pressure you to accept a settlement that will not cover all the damages you have incurred.
In order to get you the compensation you deserve, we will:
- Make sure you receive the medical care you need
- Perform an in-depth investigation into your crash
- Piece together and preserve key pieces of evidence to build your case
- Seek out eyewitnesses to provide testimony that supports your claim
- Consult with top accident reconstruction experts
- Deal with insurance companies
- Handle negotiations to get you a fair cash settlement
- Take your case to trial and represent you in court, if necessary.
We can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Case Evaluation & Compensation
An injury claim after a motorcycle accident that was not your fault can vary from thousands to millions of dollars, depending on the severity of your injuries. One factor that can limit the amount of compensation you receive is insurance coverage.
How much compensation a personal injury victim can receive depends on many questions that we will answer while pursuing your case.
Those questions are:
- How clear is the liability of the other driver?
- How did the motorcycle accident happen?
- Are there extenuating factors, such as a drunk driver?
- What is the amount of liability that is available for damages?
- Where did the crash occur, and what are other venue options?
- What is the cost and type of medical care you received?
- Are there objective findings in diagnostic tests?
- What are your doctor’s opinions about the injuries’ severity and prognosis?
Damages for a case settlement are determined by combining the economic losses you have incurred, like lost wages and medical bills, with the human damages you have suffered, like pain and suffering and disfigurement.
Experienced motorcycle accident attorneys can place a value on these damages and fight to get you the full and fair compensation you deserve.
Proving Negligence in a Motorcycle Accident Case
In a motorcycle crash case, proving negligence is key to securing compensation for your injuries. Texas law requires that we establish four critical elements: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages.
- Duty of Care
Every driver on the road has a legal responsibility, or “duty of care,” to operate their vehicle safely and avoid actions that could harm others. In a motorcycle accident case, we must first show that the at-fault driver owed you this duty, a requirement that Texas law automatically imposes on all motorists. - Breach of Duty
Next, our personal injury lawyer needs to demonstrate that the other driver breached this duty by acting in a way that a reasonable, responsible driver would not. Common breaches include actions like speeding, distracted driving, tailgating, or failing to yield at intersections. Evidence such as eyewitness statements, traffic camera footage, and police reports can reveal these reckless behaviors and support your claim. - Causation
Once we establish that the driver breached their duty, the next step is linking that breach directly to the accident and your injuries. This requires showing that the driver’s actions—like running a red light or texting while driving—were the direct cause of the collision. Expert testimony, accident reconstruction, and physical evidence at the scene can all help to make this connection clear. - Damages
Finally, we must illustrate the actual losses, or damages, that you’ve suffered due to the accident. This includes medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering. Gathering medical records, bills, and documentation of missed work days strengthens the claim, giving a full picture of the impact on your life.
By building a strong case on each of these four elements, motorcycle wreck lawyers aim to prove the other driver’s negligence clearly and effectively, positioning you to recover the maximum compensation Texas law allows.
Why Choose Steinger, Greene & Feiner?
Our Houston motorcycle accident attorneys will aggressively pursue your case, whether that means negotiating with an insurance company or bringing it to a court of law.
Here is how you know that we will represent your best interests:
- We have over 25 years of experience
- We have recovered millions of dollars for clients who have been injured through no fault of their own
- We are available 24/7 for client emergencies
- We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay us nothing until we win your case
- We offer free, no-obligation consultations
- Lawyers of Distinction recognized Michael S. Steinger as a Distinguished Lawyer
- We are a BBB Accredited Business
When we take on your case, we will:
- Investigate your motorcycle accident thoroughly by collecting all relevant evidence and working in conjunction with law enforcement
- Assess all damages you have incurred as a result of the accident, including current and future medical bills, lost income, damaged property, and emotional damages, such as pain and suffering
- Demand damages from the at-fault driver’s insurance company
- Aggressively negotiate for maximum compensation
- Fight to win full and fair compensation for injuries in court, in the event that negotiation breaks down
We have secured maximum payouts from our clients who were injured as a result of someone else’s negligence. Hear from our clients why we are one of the top personal injury firms in Texas.
Contact Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Houston
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, get help from Steinger, Greene & Feiner today. We can navigate the ins and outs of complicated Texas injury laws and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf to get you the maximum compensation you deserve.
Our Houston motorbike crash lawyers provide free no-obligation consultations, and you pay nothing until we win your case. Contact Steinger, Greene, & Feiner today.