Irving Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Experienced Irving Motorcycle Crash Attorneys Help Those Injured in Collisions

Irving is Texas’s twelfth most populous city. Like other cities within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area, Irving has experienced significant growth in recent years. 

Growth benefits an entire metro region, but it also comes with risks. Vehicle accidents, including motorcycle crashes, are a common risk. Motorcycle fatalities have trended upward since the COVID-19 pandemic, even as Texas has seen decreases in other types of roadway deaths. In 2023, nearly 600 motorcyclists were killed in Texas, and over 2,400 were seriously injured. Texas ranked second in motorcycle deaths among US states in 2023.

If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, don’t wait. Contact an experienced Irving motorcycle accident attorney today. The team at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys can help. 

Where Do Irving Motorcyclists Face the Most Risk?

Many major Irving roadways pose higher risks of motorcycle accidents. These include TX-183 (TEXpress), East Irving Boulevard, the President George Bush Turnpike, the N Walton Walker Texpressway, and I-30. 

On-ramps, off-ramps, and intersections leading to and from these roads can be particularly dangerous. Intersections are common sites of left-turn and rear-end collisions, two of the most common and dangerous types of motorcycle crashes. 

Many motorcycle accidents are preventable. They result from drivers failing to follow road rules or use reasonable care. Drivers may cause motorcycle crashes by:

• Turning left in front of an oncoming motorcycle,
• Failing to signal or check blind spots before switching lanes,
• Tailgating a motorcycle and causing a rear-end crash, 
• Merging or entering traffic without watching for or yielding to motorcyclists,
• Speeding by exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for conditions,
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or driving while distracted. 

These and other actions can cause an otherwise preventable crash. An injured motorcyclist can seek compensation from the driver. 

In some cases, poor road construction, design, or maintenance can also cause or contribute to a crash. Motorcyclists injured in these situations may have a claim against the unit of government responsible for the roadway as well. 

What to Do After a Motorcycle Injury in Irving, Texas

After a motorcycle accident, time is of the essence – for you and for your case. Take as many of these steps as you can after a crash. 

• Call 911 for assistance, even if you don’t think you were severely hurt. First responders will secure and document the scene, provide medical care, and reroute traffic if needed.
• Request a crash report by asking the police at the scene to make a CR-3 crash report and provide a copy.
• Document the scene for yourself. Take photos or record a video of your bike, the other vehicle, the scene, and your injuries. Make voice, video, or written notes to help you capture exactly what you remember as soon as possible after it happened.
• Speak with witnesses and request their contact information. 
• Keep all your paperwork in one place. Medical bills, notes from doctor’s visits, letters from your job about time off, repair bills for your bike: All this information can help establish your need for compensation. 

If you were severely injured or a loved one suffered fatal injuries, you may not have had a chance to take some of these steps. Instead, contact an attorney immediately. Attorneys like the team at Chandler Ross, PLLC, can gather evidence before it disappears. They can also work with investigators to understand what happened and protect your right to compensation. 

Filing Periods and Proving Fault for Irving Motorcycle Accidents

All Texas personal injury claims follow the same basic rules, yet every case has a unique result. That’s because the facts of every case are unique. Where your accident happened, who was involved, how your injuries happened, what has changed in your life as a result of your injuries, and how you can expect your injuries to affect you in the future: These factors are unique. 

At Chandler Ross, PLLC, we treat each motorcycle accident client with the personalized attention you deserve. We apply that same attention to your case. 

Time Limits

Texas law provides two years to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim after an injury occurs. When these two years end, the case can no longer be filed in court. 

Other claims have shorter deadlines. If your case involves the city of Irving failing to maintain the roads, for instance, you have only six months to provide notice of claim to the city. Many insurance companies also give injured people only a few months to file an insurance claim. 

The sooner you speak to an experienced Irving accident lawyer, the easier it is to protect your right to file your claims before that opportunity vanishes forever. 

Prompt Investigation

Insurance companies know the value of prompt investigation. In some serious accidents, an insurance company will send a representative to the scene even before first responders have finished helping the injured. 

At Chandler Ross PLLC, we get to work right away on a case. We secure police reports, 911 audio recordings, dashcam footage, surveillance video, medical records, and other essential information. When necessary, we communicate with experts such as crash scene analysts, medical professionals, and motorcycle repair and analysis teams. We visit the scene and take a good look at the roads: did any road hazards, confusing signs, or maintenance problems contribute to the crash? 

We gather and analyze information with cutting-edge technologies, reconstructing crashes to understand what happened. If the insurance company tries to blame you, we’re ready to show them where they’re wrong and why you need compensation. 

Proving Fault

Most Texas motorcycle injury claims are based on negligence. To demonstrate negligence, an injured person must show that:

• The other party had a duty to use reasonable care to prevent injury,
• The other party breached (failed to meet) that duty,
• The breach was the actual and foreseeable cause of the injured person’s injuries,
• The injuries can be compensated (usually via money damages). 

All Texas drivers have a duty to use reasonable care to prevent harm to others on the road. Using reasonable care includes following road rules, such as yielding the right of way at intersections, stopping at stop signs and signals, and obeying the speed limit. It also includes actions drivers must take to control their vehicles, such as leaving enough following distance to avoid a rear-end collision. 

In some motorcycle crashes, fault is apparent. In others, the motorcyclist and another driver may share responsibility for the collision. 

Texas employs a “modified comparative fault” rule to address cases involving shared fault. If an injured motorcyclist is 50 percent or less at fault, they can recover damages. However, their total compensation is reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to them. If the motorcyclist is 51 percent or more at fault, they cannot recover compensation. 

Insurance companies often fight to prove an injured biker is more than 50 percent at fault, so they can avoid paying anything. If they can’t do this, they’ll try to argue that your percentage of fault is as high as possible to reduce the amount they need to provide for your medical bills, lost wages, and other needs. An experienced attorney can gather the evidence needed to prove what you actually did – and what you actually need.

Compensation

Compensation seeks to cover costs caused by the accident and your injuries. Common types of compensation involved in Texas motorcycle crash claims include:

• Past and future medical bills
• Past and future lost wages
• Costs to repair or replace damaged property
• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental and emotional anguish
• Scarring and disfigurement

Other forms of compensation may also be available. Speak to an attorney to learn more. 

Contact an Experienced Irving Motorcycle Accident Lawyer at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys Today!

A motorcycle accident turns your world upside-down. Instead of your regular routine, you’re dealing with severe injuries or grieving the loss of a loved one. 

You don’t have to face an uncertain future alone. Talk to the attorneys at Chandler Ross, PLLC today. Schedule a free, confidential consultation to learn more about your legal options and the services we offer. 

FAQs About Motorcycle Accidents in Irving, TX

I wasn’t wearing a helmet. Can I still file a claim?

Yes. Your total compensation might be affected by your decision not to wear a helmet, but you can still file a lawsuit. 

What evidence proves fault the fastest in a motorcycle crash case?

Police reports, dashcam video, surveillance footage, photos of the scene, and witness statements are all powerful evidence of what happened – and who was at fault. 

How long will my case take?

Each Irving motorcycle accident case is unique. If your case is complex, it may take more than a year. An experienced attorney can streamline this process, pushing back against insurance company delays to reach a resolution faster.

I lost a loved one in a motorcycle crash. Can I file a lawsuit?

Yes. The personal representative of a deceased person’s estate may file a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death claim seeks compensation similar to a personal injury case. It can also seek compensation for the estate and family, like funeral costs.