San Antonio Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

San Antonio Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Being involved in a motorcycle accident in San Antonio, Texas, can be an extremely distressing experience, leaving victims with significant injuries and financial burdens. These accidents are often more severe in impact when compared to traditional vehicles, as motorcyclists are exposed. If you have recently been involved in an accident like this, you need to hire a San Antonio motorcycle accident lawyer to help you secure compensation.

At KLJ Law, PLLC, our advocacy for motorcyclist rights has been on full display in the San Antonio community for years. We have a deep passion for helping our clients receive funds for the damages they have sustained from motorcycle accidents. From the moment we meet, our attorneys can make you feel at home as we get to know you and your case on a personal level. Connect with us today to see why so many clients have trusted KLJ Law, PLLC.

What Evidence Helps Secure Compensation for Motorcycle Accident Damages?

To maximize your chances of securing the compensation package you deserve, you and your motorcycle accident lawyer will need to collaborate and collect enough evidence to support your claims of what happened. This evidence must demonstrate that you experienced physical and mental damages directly from the crash. It must also point to who was responsible for the accident and is, therefore, liable to pay for the damages you have sustained.

Some of the most compelling evidence to bring to court includes:

Medical Records

One of the first things you will do after being involved in a motorcycle accident is go to the hospital for care. As part of this process, a number of records will be created to document your condition and the types of treatments that were administered. All of these records will be critical for your case, as they will help quantify the extent of your damage to prove the amount of compensation you need to recover.

Accident Report

In most cases, the police will be called to the scene of a motorcycle accident. As part of this process, they will need to create a number of reports that detail what they observed. This will include the date, time, and location of the accident, as well as other important observations like where a certain skid mark was on the road or where the motorcycle was positioned. It may also state whether they identified any visible hazards that could have contributed to causing the crash.

Photographs and Videos

Bringing a series of photographs and videos to court can help bring a judge and jury back to the scene of the incident as if they were there. One of the first pieces of visual evidence your attorney will likely try to find is surveillance footage from local businesses that may have caught the accident on camera. This can help to demonstrate how damaged vehicles were and who caused the accident.

Witness Statements

Anyone who observed what happened at the accident scene qualifies as a witness. Providing their statements to the court can help add an unbiased account of what happened and why. Witnesses who were not in any of the vehicles that crashed may be able to describe what happened more clearly than those involved. You and your attorney need to ensure all witnesses are accounted for and interviewed to ensure you are not missing any useful testimonies.

Expert Testimonies

Sometimes, a professional opinion is needed to help explain why or how something happened. These are called expert testimonies, which most commonly come from healthcare professionals, mental health therapists, and accident reconstructionists. Expert testimonies are considered a piece of evidence that can be used in combination with surveillance footage and witness testimonies to help further substantiate a claim.

While there are more categories of evidence that can be used in a motorcycle accident, these are some of the most commonly used. Be sure to work closely with your attorney to collect any evidence, as any procedural errors in the process could dismiss its use in court.

Why Do Motorcycle Accidents Happen in San Antonio, Texas?

With so many cars on the road and a number of hazards that could impact the flow of traffic, motorcycle accidents in San Antonio, TX happen for many different reasons. Some of the most common reasons include:

Driver Inattention and Distraction

One of the leading causes of motorcycle accidents in San Antonio is when drivers become distracted. This happens when a driver uses their phone to text or call at the same time they are operating a vehicle. This makes them much less likely to notice other things on the road, such as a motorcycle, until it’s too late.

Speeding

Posted speed limits exist across all Texas roads to prevent anyone from driving at dangerous speed levels. Unfortunately, these speed guidelines are neglected by some drivers, which can cause motorcycle accidents. When someone is driving too fast, it prevents them from being able to respond to hazards on the road and slow down before causing an accident. Failing to adjust your speed to weather conditions can also cause a motorcycle crash.

Failure to Yield

When someone neglects to yield the right of way to a motorcycle, it can cause an accident due to the assumption of other drivers on the road that the rule will be obeyed by all. Because motorcyclists are so much more exposed to outdoor elements when compared to other drivers, crashing into someone who failed to yield can cause significant physical harm. The same concept is true when drivers fail to use their blinkers when changing lanes and hit a motorcycle.

Road Conditions

Driving over poor road conditions can also cause a motorcycle to either crash on its own or into another moving vehicle. This could be due to potholes, debris, or any other instances of an uneven surface. Motorcycles are more sensitive to these types of poor road conditions due to their limited shocks and other materials to offset the road conditions. Weather can also disrupt seemingly normal road conditions. For instance, rain can make a freshly paved road slippery.

Alcohol and Drug Use

When someone abuses drugs or alcohol before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle, it impairs their ability to operate it carefully. Whether you are under the influence while driving a vehicle or motorcycle, the impact of drugs and alcohol is the same. It impairs your judgment and reduces your ability to react to hazards on the road quickly. This can not only increase the risk of a collision but can result in more severe accidents due to the impaired driver’s inability to react.

Inexperienced Riders

Anyone who is new or inexperienced at driving a motorcycle might be at risk of lacking the skills needed to handle the vehicle during an unexpected situation. For example, heavy traffic flows or adverse weather conditions happening suddenly might challenge a new rider to continue operating the motorcycle safely. Driving a motorcycle without a license indicates that the driver has not been properly trained on safety rules, which can further increase the risk of an accident.

Road Rage

Engaging in aggressive behavior while driving, such as tailgating or screaming expletives from the window of your car, can also cause motorcycle accidents. Sometimes, a driver gets frustrated with a motorcyclist for cutting them off or driving between cars to avoid traffic. As a result, they could develop a dangerous level of road rage that inspires them to engage in unsafe behavior, which could cause a crash.

Mechanical Failures

When mechanical failures happen suddenly, like a brake failing or tire defaulting, it can cause the driver to lose control of their motorcycle and cause an accident. This is why it’s highly recommended to prioritize a regular maintenance schedule to ensure your motorcycle is always safe to operate. Neglecting maintenance needs can increase the risk of mechanical failure, which can prevent a motorcyclist from relying on the responsiveness of their vehicle.

How Much Do Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Cost?

There is no universal price for a motorcycle attorney that can help you estimate the exact cost of these services. The final cost will vary widely based on how much time it takes to close your case and how many years of experience the attorney has.

How much the final services will cost also depends on how they collect money from their clients. Different attorneys enforce a few different payment structures. These include:

• Hourly fees: When an attorney struggles to predict how much time they might have to spend on a motorcycle accident case, they may feel most comfortable having their client pay hourly. This is a simple format of charging an hourly fee for their time and energy being put toward the case.
• Flat fees: A flat fee arrangement is when a motorcycle accident lawyer charges their client a single fixed price for a specific service. This price will not change no matter how many hours the attorney spends on the case. This arrangement is advantageous for clients who feel more comfortable knowing exactly how much each legal service will cost rather than waiting to see a final bill after their attorney completes the job.
• Contingency fees: Sometimes, an attorney agrees to not get paid unless they win the case for their client. In these arrangements, the client and attorney agree upfront on a certain percentage that an attorney will take of a final settlement award if the case is won. This is a beneficial arrangement for clients who are struggling to afford any legal services upfront.

Be sure to ask your attorney about costs and payment structures before you agree to hire them. You’ll want to ensure you are comfortable with the financial arrangements and will be able to afford their services until the case is closed. This can help you avoid any surprise fees that might arise later on.

FAQs

How Much Money Are Most Motorcycle Accident Settlements?

The severity of injuries and the total amount of property damage sustained are two conditions that will influence how much money is included in a motorcycle accident settlement. The longer someone is under medical care to recover from their injuries, the more bills they will have once treatment is complete. If a settlement is awarded, it will need to not only cover the costs of these bills but also replace all items that were damaged in the accident.

What Should I Do After a Motorcycle Accident?

The first thing you should do after a motorcycle accident is to stay safe and call for emergency services. Once they arrive, receive any care you need while law enforcement also arrives to help direct traffic and clear the scene. You then will need to notify your insurance company of what happened to discuss damages and coverage with them while also hiring a personal injury lawyer to start the process of obtaining the compensation you are owed.

How Long Does It Take to Settle a Motorcycle Accident Claim?

The timeline of a motorcycle accident claim is largely influenced by how contentious the case is. When both parties agree on what happened and what the repercussions should look like, these cases close fairly quickly. The more both parties disagree, the longer it will take to resolve these differences in court to reach a final agreement. Contention increases the number of negotiations needed, and it could force the case to go to trial, which could lengthen the process considerably.

What Extra Costs Could Arise in a Motorcycle Accident Case?

Various court fees and costs to generate more evidence are two main areas of extra costs that could arise during a motorcycle accident claim. For example, if you need an expert witness to help establish who is liable for the accident, you will need to pay for their time and knowledge. There could also be investigation costs involved with gathering new evidence and interviewing witnesses to ensure your legal defense is as comprehensive as possible.

Contact KLJ Law, PLLC, Today

If you have recently been involved in a motorcycle accident, connect with the attorneys of KLJ Law, PLLC, as soon as you can. Our team is always standing by, ready to help guide you through each step of your case while ensuring no one takes advantage of your rights. Connect with us today to ensure you secure as much compensation as possible to cover your damages. We look forward to meeting you and learning more about how we can help.