Alvin Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Fights for Maximum Compensation
Motorcycle accidents are significantly more likely than any other type of accident to result in severe injury or death. Often, injuries are so devastating and require such intense medical care that accident victims are unable to focus on legal representation until it is too late to take advantage of the best opportunities to ensure a full financial recovery. In these cases, it is a good idea for loved ones to take the lead and contact an Alvin motorcycle accident attorney for advice and assistance.
At DeKeyzer Law, we know how insurance companies make it difficult for accident victims to recover from the responsible party even when liability seems clear. We are dedicated to helping ordinary people get fair treatment and the compensation they deserve when someone’s negligence causes a motorcycle accident.
Why Motorcycle Accidents are So Much Worse Than Most Car Accidents
Motorcycles are particularly dangerous for two primary reasons: (1) motorcycles have a very narrow profile in traffic and are hard for inattentive automobile drivers to see. As a result, it’s quite common for automobile drivers to change to another lane right in front of a motorcycle rider, and (2) motorcycle riders have very little protection compared to automobile drivers and passengers. Typically, they have only a helmet (and often not even that) and (hopefully) thick clothing to protect against “road rash” in the event of an accident.
While most personal injury attorneys handle standard car accident cases, not all attorneys understand all the factors that make motorcycle accidents unique. If you or a loved one have been involved in a motorcycle accident, let an Alvin motorcycle accident attorney at DeKeyzer Law help you recover all the financial compensation you’re entitled to. We’ve recovered millions for accident victims in Texas, and when insurance companies are bringing in corporate lawyers to fight against your claim, we believe you are entitled to have an equally experienced and zealous advocate fighting on your behalf.
Damages to Offset Many Different Types of Losses
Injuries from a motorcycle accident affect the victim and their family in numerous ways, so it makes sense that with the right legal representation, victims are potentially able to recover compensation for a wide variety of effects stemming from the accident. A skilled motorcycle accident attorney in Alvin will work to obtain damages that cover both economic and non-economic losses, as well as punitive damages when those are available.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are amounts provided to cover losses that can be calculated on a financial basis. These may compensate you for expenses incurred in the past, bills owed at the present and amounts to cover financial needs anticipated in the future. Examples of economic damages include amounts for:
- Hospital and ambulance bills
- Wages lost due to time missed from work
- Medications and medical equipment
- Modifications to the home for disabilities
- Damage to your motorcycle
- Medical care needed in the future, including rehabilitation
- Reduced future income due to work limitations
Many people do not take into account the fact that their injuries could leave permanent effects or worsen over time, and they fail to seek adequate amounts needed to make up for lost wages and future medical needs. Insurance companies often pressure accident victims into accepting settlements that do not provide enough compensation to meet basic needs, let alone account for the intangible losses that are just as devastating. Working with an experienced Alvin motorcycle accident attorney can help you understand the full extent of your needs and the fair value of your claim so that you can make informed decisions about whether to accept a settlement offered by the insurance company or whether you need to have your legal advocate negotiate for a better deal or make your case to the judge.
Non-Economic Damages
When you suffer serious injuries in a motorcycle accident, the physical pain may be relentless, and the long-term mental anguish nearly impossible to bear. You may be unable to take care of yourself without help, and you miss out on so much of what your life has to offer. You might recover fully or partially, or you might regain very little of your ability to function and face a life of constant pain and disability. The uncertainty itself can be emotionally crippling.
No amount of money can make up for the physical and emotional suffering. Many people who’ve endured disabling injuries from a motorcycle accident would trade anything for one single day or hour of relief to have their lives and abilities restored. Unfortunately, the only remedy available under our legal system is to have the responsible party pay damages to offset your pain, suffering, and other intangible effects that do not have a direct economic correlation. Compensation for these effects, which often have a much greater impact than economic losses, is referred to as non-economic damages.
The amounts provided for non-economic damages, including pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life, are often much greater than the amounts provided for economic losses. At DeKeyzer Law, we calculate the value of your non-economic damages based on a number of factors, including legal precedent. Then, we can explain the value so that you understand what a fair damage award should include so that you can recover maximum compensation for your losses.
Punitive Damages
In certain circumstances, your motorcycle accident lawyer may be able to seek an additional form of damages known as punitive damages. These damages do not compensate for your losses the way the economic and non-economic damages do. Instead, they are intended to act like a fine to punish the responsible party and serve as a warning to others that they should avoid similar conduct in the future.
Punitive damages are awarded in cases where the person responsible for causing the injuries has acted in a way that is extremely irresponsible. For instance, if your motorcycle accident was caused by a driver who hit you deliberately because they dislike bikers or a drunk driver with a history of repeated impaired driving offenses, then your attorney could argue that punitive damages are appropriate in your case and those would be added to your other damage awards.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Texas
Because motorcycle riders have very little protection during an accident, the injuries that result are generally much more severe than those that occur in many car accidents. That makes it particularly crucial to understand the causes of motorcycle accidents and know how to minimize the risks.
Motorcycle riders often experience accidents that involve “laying down” the cycle, where the vehicle ends up on its side, often skidding. These can be caused by operator error, but on many occasions, a motorcycle rider loses control because of debris in the road, bad road conditions, or weather problems. When the accident is caused by road conditions, an Alvin motorcycle accident attorney may be able to locate the person or organization responsible for creating those conditions and hold them accountable for the motorcyclist’s injuries.
In many accident situations, automobiles collide with motorcycles, and since cars are much larger and heavier than motorcycles, the motorcycle rider is more likely to need intense medical care than those riding in the car. For the same reason, the most dangerous type of motorcycle accidents tend to be the collisions between a motorcycle and a large commercial truck.
As attorneys who frequently work with motorcycle accident victims, some of the situations that we see lead to collisions most often include:
- Another driver cutting off a motorcyclist because they don’t see them
- Distracted drivers swerving into a motorcycle’s lane
- A vehicle driver stopping suddenly at high speeds in front of a rider
- Operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol, drugs, medication, or fatigue
- Drivers or riders making errors in judgment due to inexperience or not paying attention
- Driving or riding too fast for conditions
- Dangerous road conditions caused by inclement weather
- Road defects like potholes or hazardous driving areas like construction zones
- Defects in a part on a motorcycle or other vehicle involved in the collision
Motorcycle riders can reduce their accident risk by maintaining extra awareness of their circumstances at all times. Drivers of other vehicles are usually not watching for the narrow profile of a motorcycle, so riders must put themselves in a defensive mindset, try to anticipate the movement of other vehicles and be prepared to adjust position quickly if needed.
Sometimes, however, even when a motorcycle rider does everything in their power to stay safe, circumstances beyond their control lead to an accident. When that happens, Holland and Meagan DeKeyzer know how to hold the responsible party accountable and fight effectively for maximum compensation.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Texas
When a motorcyclist is injured in an accident, they are significantly more likely than those in other vehicles to experience severe injury or even death. While we have seen motorcycle accidents cause all types of injuries, some of the most common motorcycle injuries include:
- Spinal cord injuries that can cause full or partial paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) that can prevent an accident victim from ever regaining their ability to think or function the way they did before the accident
- Broken bones that often require extensive surgery and that may never fully heal
- Scarring and disfigurement that change an accident victim’s self-perception and cause them to hide away for the remainder of their lives
- Injuries to internal organs which may not be apparent for some time and can lead to life-threatening complications
- Back injuries that can lead to a lifetime of increasing pain and disability
- Road rash, a friction wound that is extremely painful and can lead to infection or permanent scarring
- Severed limbs
If you are a motorcycle accident victim, it is a good idea to obtain legal representation from an Alvin motorcycle accident lawyer who can begin securing your legal rights and building the best case to obtain the maximum compensation for your losses. Holland and Meagan DeKeyzer understand how to advocate for you in the face of opposition from insurance companies and how to make the most of opportunities available under Texas law so that they can help you rebuild your life and move forward.
How an Alvin Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help
At DeKeyzer Law, we’ve helped many victims of motorcycle accidents, and we know the extreme physical devastation and property damage that motorcycle accidents can cause. You need an Alvin motorcycle accident lawyer willing to work tirelessly to gather all necessary evidence, establish a supportable fact pattern, analyze all your potential claims, provide you with options, help you decide what’s best for your unique situation, and fight for you against the insurance company. You need Holland and Meagan DeKeyzer.
We provide innovative solutions to life-changing events like motorcycle accidents. If you don’t recover, you don’t pay a penny. If your claim cannot be resolved satisfactorily through negotiation, Holland and Meagan DeKeyzer are skilled Texas trial lawyers who will pursue any legal action required to ensure you obtain all of the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to speak to one of our experienced attorneys if you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Harris County, Brazoria County, Galveston County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County, Liberty County, or anywhere in Texas.