Plano Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Injured in a Motorcycle Crash? Speak to an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Plano Today

Plano is one of Texas’s fastest-growing cities and has been named one of the best places in Texas to live. Yet preventable accidents happen daily. Some of those accidents cause catastrophic injuries, and some accidents involve motorcycles. 

A Plano motorcycle accident turns your world upside-down. Instead of your daily routine, you’re facing severe injuries, growing medical bills, and concerns about how you’ll pay the bills if you can’t work. Insurance companies may be delaying or denying your claims, arguing that you caused your own injuries. 

At Chandler Ross PLLC, we understand how tough life gets after a motorcycle crash. We’re here to fight for the full, fair compensation you need. 

Most Dangerous Roadways in Plano for Motorcyclists

Plano’s most dangerous roads for car accidents are often frequent sites of motorcycle crashes. US 75, TX-190, TX-121, TX-289, and CR-13 (Dallas Parkway) are all common sites of collisions. 

The entrance and exit ramps to freeways and intersections on major roads can be particularly dangerous for motorcyclists. These intersections see higher rates of left-turn and rear-end collisions than other places, especially on evenings, weekends, and holidays. 

Many Plano motorcycle crashes are preventable. They result from drivers failing to take the care needed to avoid driving errors like:

• Failing to yield the right of way at an intersection and instead turning left in front of a motorcycle
• Changing lanes without first checking blind spots for motorcycles
• Tailgating motorcyclists, leading to a rear-end collision
• Merging or entering traffic without yielding to a motorcyclist with the right of way
• Driving while distracted, drowsy, drunk, or drugged. 

Texas law prohibits these actions because they pose an unreasonable risk of causing preventable injuries to others on the road. When a motorcycle is injured by a driver’s negligence, the motorcyclist can seek compensation from the driver. When poor road design or maintenance contributes to a crash, the biker may also have a claim against the city or state responsible for the roadways. 

What To Do After a Motorcycle Crash in Plano, Texas

The sooner you act after a crash, the easier it is to gather evidence to support a future claim for compensation. Take as many of these steps as you can right after a collision.

• Call 911. Emergency first responders can provide medical attention, secure the scene, document what happened, and reroute traffic to prevent additional collisions. Call 911 even if you don’t think you’re severely injured. 
• Get a crash report. Talk to law enforcement officers and request a copy of a CR-3 crash report. 
• Take photos, record a video, and take notes. Photos of your bike, the other vehicle, the scene, and your injuries can help you show what happened. Video can provide a better sense of what the scene looked like and where vehicles were positioned right after the collision. Written or voice notes help you record your memories of the crash when they’re still fresh. Make these notes as soon as possible after the collision.
• Get witness contact information. Did another driver, bicyclist, or pedestrian see the collision? Get their contact information so you can keep in touch if you need their perspective.
• Keep your medical records and other paperwork. Save medical records, notes from doctors, work-related paperwork, and bills for items like your bike. If it’s related to the accident, keep it!

If your injuries were severe or you lost a loved one in a crash, there may have been no opportunity to talk to witnesses or take photographs. If this is your situation, contact an experienced Plano motorcycle accident lawyer right away. An attorney will track down this information and help you build a claim. 

Plano, TX Motorcycle Accidents: Filing Deadlines and Proving Fault in a North Texas Personal Injury Claim

Each motorcycle accident has unique facts – but all cases must follow rules laid out in Texas law. Attorneys at Chandler Ross, PLLC thoroughly investigate each case, analyzing information and considering all possible angles within the context of the law. We fight for your rights against insurance companies. At every stage, we prepare for the possibility of trial. 

Time Limits

Texas law provides two years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. The sooner you contact an attorney, the easier it is to preserve essential evidence and ensure your case is filed before the deadline. 

Not all claims receive a full two years. If you have a claim against a city, county, or state agency, you have only six months to provide notice of a claim. Some insurance companies limit claims filing to only a few months. Don’t wait. A delay can mean lost evidence, missed deadlines, and foreclosed opportunities to recover the compensation you need. 

Prompt Investigation

A strong motorcycle injury case depends on strong evidence. Strong evidence comes from a thorough investigation. 

At Chandler Ross PLLC, we don’t trust unreliable statements, and we don’t make guesses. We launch an investigation immediately – securing police reports, 911 audio, dashcam video, and surveillance footage. We talk to experts when needed, like crash scene analysts and experienced motorcycle repair teams. 

We examine the scene as well. Were there road hazards like potholes? Were road signs confusing, concealed, or missing? Did the city or county’s failure to maintain the roads play a role in causing the crash? 

Using advanced technology, we analyze available data to reconstruct the crash and provide a clear picture of what happened. If the insurance company tries to unfairly blame you, we’re ready to show them what really happened – and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Proving Fault

Most personal injury claims argue that the person who caused the injuries was negligent. In a negligence case, an injured person and their attorney must prove four things:

• The other party had a duty to use reasonable care to avoid causing injuries. Every Texas driver has a duty to use reasonable care to avoid harming others on the road. Many specifics, like following road rules, are laid out in Texas law.
• The other party “breached,” or failed to meet, that duty. For a driver, breaching this duty might look like driving drunk, running a red light, or failing to look before changing lanes – all behaviors that can cause a crash. Other driver errors can cause a breach of the duty to drive safely as well. 
• The breach was the actual cause of the injuries, and it was foreseeable that such a breach would lead to injuries like these. The driver’s failure has to cause the injuries, and the situation has to be one the driver could predict. For instance, a driver who turns left in front of a motorcyclist may cause injuries by hitting the biker. A reasonable driver could predict “if I turn left into the path of a motorcyclist, I might hit them, and they might get hurt.” 
• The injuries can be compensated with money damages. Usually, a negligence case will calculate a total compensation amount that will address various losses. Common types of compensation include medical costs, lost income, repairs or replacement for the motorcycle and your gear, and compensation for pain, suffering, and physical disfigurement or impairment. 

Texas uses a modified comparative fault rule. Under this rule, an injured motorcyclist’s compensation award is affected if the biker is partly or wholly at fault for their injuries. 

If you are 50 percent or less at fault for your injuries, your total compensation is decreased by the percentage of your fault. If you are 51 percent at fault or more, you cannot recover compensation at all. An experienced attorney can help you determine what your case is worth and what you’re likely to recover. 

FAQs About Plano Motorcycle Accidents

Can I file a claim even if I wasn’t wearing a helmet?

Yes. You can file a Texas motorcycle accident injury claim even if you weren’t wearing a helmet. Not wearing your helmet might affect the total value of your claim, but it doesn’t bar you from filing. 

What evidence helps prove fault in a motorcycle crash? 

The most useful evidence includes police reports, crash scene photos and video, 911 audio, dashcam or traffic video, phone records, and event data from vehicles. 

How long will it take to resolve a motorcycle injury case?

Most motorcycle injury cases resolve in a few months to a year. In a case involving complex fault questions or severe injuries, however, the case may need more than a year to resolve.

Do I really need an attorney for my motorcycle injury claim? 

Texas courts allow you to file an injury lawsuit without a lawyer. However, doing so can be a difficult task – especially when you’re already dealing with serious injuries. An attorney handles investigations, negotiations, and preparation for settlement or trial – working to maximize the value of your case while you focus on healing. 

Contact a Top-Rated Plano Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys Today!

The aftermath of a motorcycle crash can change your life, and the life of your family, forever. Don’t face this difficult time alone. Speak to an experienced Plano motorcycle accident lawyer. 

At Chandler Ross PLLC, we’re dedicated to helping our clients recover the compensation they need after a crash. To learn more, contact us today to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with one of our Plano motorcycle accident lawyers.