Gravel as a Possible Cause of Serious Texas Motorcycle Crash Injuries

Almost two weeks ago, the former deputy chancellor of Texas A&M University, Jay Kimbrough, was critically injured in a motorcycle crash on Texas Highway 6 south of Navasota. Mr. Kimbrough, an advisor to Governor Rick Perry, reportedly lost control of the bike, flipped it over in a grassy median, and was ejected from the motorcycle. He has undergone surgery for several cracked vertebrae in his neck. Investigators from the Texas Department of Public Safety are looking into the possibility that gravel on the highway might have caused him to lose control of his motorcycle. (kbtx.com, 5/22/14) The thoughts and prayers of our Texas motorcycle accident injury attorneys are with Jay Kimbrough and his family as he recovers.

Small Things that can represent Major Crash Risks for Motorcyclists

Two wheels are inherently less stable than four wheels in a moving vehicle. Almost anything can go wrong. And if one wheel slips out from under the bike, it’s almost certain that the operator will lose control of the vehicle and the motorcycle will spin or slide into a crash.

Things that will not affect a car in the slightest as it passes along the road can easily represent a fatal crash risk for a motorcyclist. A patch of loose gravel, debris, a small animal, a minor oil slick, or a puddle of water could all result in a sudden crash for a biker. Motorcyclists traveling at highway speeds will not always have time to avoid a crash by the time they notice the small obstacles in their path.

And if that’s not enough to contend with, bikers must remain alert for drivers of larger vehicles who fail to yield the right-of-way and suddenly turn in front of their oncoming motorcycles.

Click the link to learn about accident liability issues involved in a motorcycle accident caused by loose gravel.

Failure to Yield by Other Drivers in Fatal Motorcycle Accidents

Failure to Yield by Other Drivers in Fatal Motorcycle Accidents

TxDOT launched a campaign in recent weeks to try to teach other drivers to look out for motorcycles and yield proper right-of-way to motorcyclists. The campaign was partly prompted by the increase in the numbers of fatal motorcycle accidents over recent years.

But failure to yield the right-of-way by drivers of other vehicles remains a primary cause of fatal motorcycle accidents.

For example, on a recent Sunday the driver of a Hyundai Accent failed to yield the right-of-way to the operator of a Suzuki motorcycle at the intersection of Dumas and Galveston Roads in Houston. The driver of the Hyundai turned in front of the oncoming Suzuki, which crashed into the car. The 27-year-old motorcyclist was pronounced dead the next day at Ben Taub Hospital. The HPD Vehicular Crimes Unit was continuing to investigate the case. (www.yourhoustonnews.com/bay_area/news, 5/21/14) The Houston motorcycle accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC express their deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the motorcyclist.

Statistics show Disproportionate Numbers of Serious Injuries and Fatalities among Motorcycle Riders

Over the last couple of decades, the popularity of motorcycles and the numbers of bikes on the road have increased slightly. But motorcycles still represent less than 5% of total vehicles on the road and only about 0.6% of all vehicle miles traveled. Yet motorcyclists accounted for 14% of driver deaths and 16% of passenger traffic deaths in 2010.

In that year, 4,502 motorcycle riders died and 82,000 were injured in bike crashes in the United States, an increase over the numbers of the prior year. Over the prior decade, motorcycle crash deaths increased by a full 41%. This increase occurred even as car accident fatalities were beginning to decline to their lowest levels in decades.

Part of the reason for the disparity in fatal accident rates is that bikers don’t enjoy the protection an enclosed vehicle can provide in a crash. As a result, motorcyclists are 30 times more likely than car occupants to die in a wreck.

A full 39% of the fatal motorcycle crashes in 2010 happened because the driver of an enclosed vehicle failed to the yield right-of-way and suddenly turned left in front of an oncoming bike, similarly to what occurred in the collision at Dumas and Galveston Roads.

Have You been injured or lost a Loved One in an Accident because a Driver failed to yield Right-of-Way?

Contact the Experienced Houston Motorcycle Accident Attorneys at Denena Points, PC for a Free Legal Consultation to Discuss Your Case

All drivers have a legal duty to take due care for the lives and safety of others on the roads with them. If a driver has breached that duty and harmed you or your loved ones, you might be eligible for a full financial recovery for your needless injuries and losses. Contact the experienced Houston motorcycle accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC to learn how.

We always offer you a free initial legal consultation to discuss and evaluate your case. And you have no obligation to hire an attorney. Contact us today to start your FREE consultation by calling 713-807-9500 or filling out our online contact form. Get the help you need now.

Texas Motorcycle Crash Deaths Increasing Yearly

TxDOT data shows a yearly increase of 5% in the number of motorcycle crash deaths in Texas. Accidents claimed the lives of 494 motorcyclists last year and 470 in 2012. 4,339 of the motorcycle accidents in our state last year involved at least one other vehicle.

And after a collision with a bike, drivers of larger vehicles typically say they never saw the motorcycle before the accident. The Houston motorcycle crash injury attorneys at Denena Points, PC mention that various research studies over the years that track driver’s eye movements, measure the gaps they leave for different types of approaching vehicles, and survey their reactions to traffic have shown that drivers of larger vehicles often lack perceptual awareness of approaching motorcycles, bicycles, or pedestrians.

Driving is a complex task, and drivers for their own safety try to be alert for vehicles their own size or larger into which they might crash. This sometimes leaves them without the extra conscious attention to spare for smaller vehicles or persons.

So TxDOT has launched a novel safety campaign designed to increase drivers’ awareness of motorcycles. The campaign includes a component taken from video games. Our Houston motorcycle crash injury attorneys note that video games have been shown to increase physical reflexes and reaction times among those who play them.

The TxDOT idea is apparently taken from a game called “Slug Bug.” Those who have played the game tend to show heightened awareness of Volkswagen Beetles on actual roadways even after they’ve stopped playing the game. So TxDOT’s new motorcycle safety campaign asks people to “look twice” and count the motorcycles they see on their drives in order to help heighten their awareness of the smaller vehicles. Children may enjoy this game (it offers a game sheet to download) and remain conditioned to noticing the presence of bikes when they begin driving themselves.

The campaign is called “Share the Road: Look Twice for Motorcycles” and starts in conjunction with National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in May. TxDOT has organized motorcycle processions and events around the state to help publicize the new campaign. The campaign asks all drivers to look twice for motorcycles, use signals when turning, and leave sufficient gaps in traffic for other vehicles, including bikes.

Our Houston motorcycle crash injury attorneys emphasize that research has shown that about 32% to 39% of fatal motorcycle crashes occur at intersections and involve cars or trucks turning in front of motorcyclists without leaving sufficient gaps for the bikes. The bikers don’t have enough time to stop or evade the larger vehicles and end up crashing into them.

Learn more about what to do after a serious motorcycle crash. Download your free guide from this web page.

Drivers turning in front of motorcycles cause fatal Houston crashes

Data released by the NHTSA showed that in 2010, 39% of fatal motorcycle collisions involved larger vehicles turning suddenly in front of an oncoming bike. The Houston motorcycle accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC note that this ongoing threat to motorcyclists results because drivers of larger vehicles naturally tend to keep watch for vehicles their own size or larger. They often don’t notice pedestrians or bikes, which have a smaller profile, until they’ve already started turning. And an oncoming motorcycle, especially if it’s operating at high speed, simply won’t have time to evade the impending crash.

That’s what happened on Saturday morning in southwest Houston when a wrecker truck turned in front of an oncoming bike at West Airport near Sandpiper. The motorcyclist was traveling at high speed, and the crash impact resulted in fatal injuries and utterly mangled the bike. A news account of the tragic crash said that authorities were investigating, but that the wrecker truck driver did not faces charges for the accident at that time. (KTRK, 3/15/14) Our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of the motorcyclist.

Our Houston motorcycle accident attorneys caution motorcyclists to remain alert. Drivers might not notice your bike until they’ve already made a mistake that could cost you your life.

Contact us if You need Experienced Legal Help after a Serious Motorcycle Crash has Harmed You or Your Loved One

The Board Certified Houston motorcycle accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC have more than a decade of experience helping motorcycle accident victims and their families successfully obtain the financial compensation they deserve after a serious injury or fatal crash. We understand the bias bikers and their families often face when making an injury or wrongful death claim: the natural tendency of juries is usually to blame the biker. We know how to effectively counter this bias and help you financially recover after a serious accident.

Contact us today for a free legal consultation. Call us direct at 713-807-9500 or fill out our online contact form at: http://denenapoints.com/contact.cfm to schedule your free, no obligation consultation. We’re here to help.

Texas Motorcycle Insurance Tips | Houston Accident Lawyer – Attorney

No one expects to be injured in a motorcycle accident Texas, but dangerous wrecks happen all the time. In over 96 percent of all crashes, the rider involved sustains some sort of injury. Many of these injuries are serious or even life threatening in nature.

For health and property reasons alone, motorcycle insurance is a must for all riders. However, if you or a family member has ever tried to actually purchase motorcycle insurance, you know that the process can be dizzying.

The important thing you have to remember when buying motorcycle insurance is that not all policies are alike. Your task is to find the one that works best for your needs.

Just like everything else, you get what you pay for when it comes to motorcycle insurance. Don’t just buy the cheapest policy you can find – you may end up regretting it later.

There are numerous personal factors that help determine your insurance quote. These can include your age, where you live, your driving history, past claims, value of your motorcycle and your gender and marital status.

Another factor is the type of coverage you want. Everyone is required to carry coverage that protects them against injuries and others against injuries and property damage. But you can also choose to add coverage that protects your own property in a wreck, depending on the value of your bike.

You can also choose to carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, which protects you if you are in a wreck with an uninsured person who does not have the money to cover your costs. These choices, along with the amount of your deductible, will combine to determine the price of your policy.

If you or a loved one has sustained a Houston motorcycle injury in a wreck with a negligent driver, and you want to know what is and is not covered under insurance, call us at (877) 307-9500. We may be able to help you file a personal injury claim and recover the financial compensation you deserve.

You can also download our FREE Houston motorcycle accident book for more information about your legal rights.

Where to Turn after a Serious Motorcycle Crash Injury in Texas City

Motorcycles and their riders are more vulnerable to injury than larger, heavier vehicles and their occupants. The Texas City motorcycle accident attorneys emphasize that road debris that a car or light truck can safely pass over could present a fatal hazard to a biker. A motorcycle is balanced on only two wheels, rather than a solid four, so if one tire slips, the rider usually has to lay the bike down or crash. And in the event of sharp evasive maneuvers or collision with a fixed object, the rider might be hurled from the bike to impact headfirst with the ground, another vehicle, or a concrete retaining wall.

The motorcyclist has no vehicle enclosure or 3-point seatbelt restraint to hold him in place. Air bags don’t deploy to protect him from impact. Though there are safety features like airbags available for bikes, they don’t offer the same protection as those in a car or light truck.

Motorcycle riders and their passengers end up with crash injuries that might include road rash burns, severe lacerations, broken bones, and serious head traumas. Motorcycle accidents are about 37 times more likely to be fatal to riders than enclosed passenger vehicle crashes are to their occupants.

Some studies, like a recent in-depth study out of Florida, have shown that the motorcyclist is at fault for his accident less than half the time. Browse our website and use our internal search feature to find more information on motorcycle accident data and research.

For example, on Monday morning on FM 519, a tractor-trailer truck suddenly lost its rear axle and tires, perhaps due to poor maintenance or to a vehicle defect. An unfortunate motorcyclist, 29-year-old Juan Lopez, collided with the debris and wrecked. He was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries from an accident he couldn’t avoid. (Chris Paschenko, Galveston County Daily News, 1/21/14)

Sometimes you just don’t have the time or maneuvering room to avoid a crash. When you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, you need to find the right Texas City motorcycle accident attorney to help you get the financial compensation you deserve for the needless harm you’ve suffered. And it isn’t easy to win your case. Public opinion, media opinion, insurance adjusters, and juries all tend to blame the biker first.

You need a Texas City motorcycle accident attorney familiar with the issues and the bias bikers face, and who’s experienced in handling serious motorcycle injury cases. Let us help.

Contact the Texas City motorcycle accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC. We have more than 12 years of experience successfully resolving complex motorcycle crash personal injury and wrongful death cases on behalf of our clients. Call is for a free initial legal consultation at 713-807-9500. Or just fill out our easy online contact form to schedule your no obligation consultation. Put our experience and knowledge to work for your benefit.

Fiery Houston Halloween Motorcycle Crash Severs Leg and Claims a Life

Early on Thursday morning, a motorcyclist apparently lost control of his bike and slammed into a highway barrier on the 610 North Loop near T.C. Jester. Our Houston motorcycle crash attorneys relate that the force of the high-speed impact with the barrier folded the motorcycle in half. The motorcyclist’s leg was severed in the Halloween accident that threw him from his bike into the middle lane of the North Loop freeway. The man died at the scene.

Another driver then hit part of his motorcycle that was lying in the roadway. The car burst into flames on impact with the motorcycle wreckage, but that driver managed to quickly escape his vehicle and was not hurt. (Source: Dale Lezon, Houston Chronicle, 11/1/13) The thoughts and prayers of our Houston motorcycle crash attorneys are with the family and friends of the victim of this tragic accident.

Accounts of the tragic accident did not mention what caused the motorcyclist to lose control of his bike. Sometimes other vehicles do not allow motorcycles enough of a gap to stop or maneuver because drivers have a hard time perceiving vehicles smaller than their won. Plus they tend to think smaller vehicles are further away than they actually are. So sometimes a car changes lanes, turns, or stops suddenly and while the motorcyclist might avoid crashing into the other vehicle, he cannot always maintain control of the bike during evasive maneuvers, particularly at high freeway speeds, and might crash anyway.

Our Houston motorcycle crash attorneys point out that two wheeled vehicles are inherently less stable than four-wheeled vehicles. On turns, in evasive maneuvers, at high speeds, and on loose gravel or slick spots in the roadway, a motorcyclist might find his bike’s wheels slipping out from under him where drivers of four-wheeled vehicles can drive blithely on without incident. The higher the speed of travel, the harder it is to recover from a loss of bike control.

And motorcycles don’t offer their riders the protections from impact forces that occupants of enclosed vehicles received. In an enclosed passenger vehicle, occupants have seatbelt restraints, airbags, built-in crush zones designed to extend ride-down time, padded seating, and vehicle “walls” to help protect hem from impact forces. The motorcycle rider, on the other hand, generally either gets thrown at high speed from his bike to crash at high speed into the ground or other objects, or he gets trapped in the crash under the bike. The Houston motorcycle crash attorneys at Denena Points, PCnote that a good helmet and sturdy clothing are usually the biker’s only protections from more severe injury. We mention that riders over the age of 21 in Texas are not required to wear helmets if they meet certain conditions, but we urge all riders to wear solid helmets and appropriate clothing for the road for their own safety.

Click the book icon on this page to download your FREE guide to steps to take and pitfalls to avoid in order to build a successful compensation claim after a serious motorcycle accident has harmed you or your loved one.

Fatal Motorcycle Accidents are on the Rise across the United States

Motorcycle crashes in Texas and across the nation are a matter of primary concern to riders, their families, insurers, and government officials because more than 90% of these accidents lead to personal injury or death. Specifically, over 98% of motorcycle collisions with other vehicles and 95% of single-vehicle motorcycle accidents cause some type of injury to the rider. Around Houston our motorcycle injury attorneys caution that 45% of those injuries are serious or life threatening. Crash data shows that fatal motorcycle accidents are on the rise across the United States. TxDOT data indicates that in Texas alone, the rate of fatal crashes has gone up by 83% in the last few years.

Contrary to the belief of many who drive other types of vehicles, most motorcycle accidents are NOT the rider’s fault. In Houston, about 75% of bike crashes involve at least one other vehicle. And 66% of those crashes happen because the driver of the other vehicle violates the motorcyclist’s right-of-way.

The Numbers of Fatal Motorcycle Accidents have been Skyrocketing

The popularity of motorcycles continues to grow, both as recreational vehicles and as gas-saving transportation. As the number of riders has climbed, our Houston motorcycle injury attorneys point out that the number of motorcycle accident fatalities has skyrocketed. The number of fatal bike crashes rose 127% from 1997 to 2006. During that same time period, the number of fatal car accidents decreased steadily to new lows that had not been seen in decades. Unfortunately that trend for car occupants did not last. We note that in the last two years, the numbers for all types of fatal accidents has begun to rise again.

5 Important Motorcycle Accident Facts to Know

1. Motorcycles are the most dangerous type of motor vehicle to drive. Bikes have a fatal crash rate of 35 per 100 million travel miles, compared to a rate of only 1.7 for cars.
2. Bikers experience a risk of fatal crashes that is 37 times that of passenger car occupants who have the protection of an enclosed vehicle that the motorcyclists do not.
3. Bikes account for less than 3% of all registered vehicles on our roads, yet our Houston motorcycle injury attorneys emphasize that they account for over 10% of crash injuries and fatalities.
4. Safety advocates estimate that motorcycle helmets saved more than 1,600 lives in 2006 alone and could have saved more than another 750 lives if all riders wore helmets.
5. Only about 20% of car accidents injure or kill an occupant, while up to % of motorcycle accidents result in injury or death.

The Low Crashworthiness of Motorcycles

The Houston motorcycle injury attorneys at Denena Points, PC know that bikes are much less crashworthy for their riders than enclosed vehicles are for their occupants. Bikers are far more likely to be ejected from their vehicle in a crash, and without the protection of an enclosed vehicle, they take the full force of the impact.

Motorcycles are also less visible to drivers of larger vehicles, and those drivers chronically underestimate the bikes’ distance from them when they do actually notice the smaller vehicles. This results in drivers failing to yield to bikes and to serious crashes as cars and trucks suddenly turn in front of them.

As an example, on Sunday night in Jonesboro, Arkansas, a motorcyclist and his passenger were killed when a truck driver suddenly turned left in front of them and caused the crash. Brandon Langston and Leah Shelby died in the tragic bike crash in Jonesboro. The truck driver was not injured. (Source: kait8.com, 9/23/13)

Two-wheeled vehicles are also less stable than four-wheeled vehicles, making riders more vulnerable to crashes from road conditions, debris in the road, weather, and loss of vehicle control on curves and when making evasive maneuvers in traffic.

Our Houston motorcycle injury attorneys understand that operating a motorcycle is more complex and demanding than driving a car, and requires a different combination of mental and physical skills. Bikers have to be more alert at all times to the dangers posed by drivers who remain oblivious to their presence in traffic. Drivers of larger vehicles could help reduce the numbers of bike crashes by remaining more alert for the presence of smaller vehicles on the roads.

Learn the Steps to Take after a Serious Motorcycle Crash and Injury