Riding a motorcycle around San Antonio can be a great way to enjoy the city’s open roads, but it does come with its share of risks. One of the scariest situations for any motorcyclist is getting hit from behind in a rear-end crash. These accidents can happen in a split second but often leave long-lasting impacts, from painful injuries to financial stress.
Knowing that you don’t have to handle it alone is important if you’ve found yourself in this challenging situation. Our San Antonio rearend motorcycle accident lawyer is here to help you understand your rights and guide you through what can feel like a confusing process.
Handling the aftermath of an accident can feel overwhelming, but having legal support makes a significant difference. Reach out to Patterson Law Group today for a free consultation, and let’s discuss how we can assist you.
Common Causes of Rear-End Motorcycle Accidents
Rear-end motorcycle accidents occur for various reasons, often involving drivers who aren’t paying attention or fail to provide enough space on the road.
Here are some of the most common causes:
- Distracted Driving: One of the top causes of rear-end accidents is distracted driving. When drivers divert their attention from the road, it can have fatal consequences. Even a brief distraction can cause them to miss seeing a motorcycle ahead, resulting in a crash.
- Tailgating: When drivers follow too closely behind a motorcycle, they don’t have enough time to stop if the rider suddenly slows down or stops. Tailgating is especially dangerous for motorcyclists because a rear-end collision can easily throw them off their bikes.
- Speeding: High-speed rear-end collisions are extremely dangerous for motorcyclists. Speeding drivers have less time to react if traffic ahead slows down, making rear-end accidents more likely.
- Sudden Stops: Rear-end accidents often happen when a car doesn’t give enough space to the motorcycle in front of it. If the motorcyclist suddenly stops and the car doesn’t react in time, it can lead to a crash.
- Weather Conditions: Rain, fog, or slippery roads can reduce visibility and make it harder for drivers to stop in time. Poor weather conditions heighten the risk of rear-end accidents, especially when drivers don’t adjust their speed or maintain proper distance.
Why Rear-End Motorcycle Accidents Are Dangerous
Rear-end motorcycle accidents are dangerous because motorcycles offer far less protection than cars. In a car, you have seatbelts, airbags, and the car’s structure to absorb some of the force in an accident. On a motorcycle, none of that exists. The rider is exposed to the full impact, even in what would be considered a minor fender-bender in a car.
Even at low speeds, rear-end motorcycle crashes can lead to serious injuries, such as:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord injury
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Road rash
- Whiplash
- Concussions
- Fractured ribs
- Facial injuries
- Soft tissue damage
Any serious injury can require extensive medical care and completely disrupt your life. For this reason, it is essential to take legal action. An attorney can help you build a case against the responsible party to show liability.
Liability in Rear-End Motorcycle Accidents
In rear-end motorcycle accidents, establishing who is at fault is crucial for securing compensation for your injuries and damages. Generally, the driver who strikes the motorcycle from behind is deemed responsible, as they are required to maintain a safe distance and react promptly to avoid a collision.
But sometimes, things aren’t so straightforward. For instance, multiple parties might share the blame if the motorcyclist makes a sudden, unsafe stop, or if another driver swerves unexpectedly, causing a chain reaction.
Understanding Comparative Negligence
In Texas, there’s a rule called comparative negligence. This law divides fault among all parties involved in the accident. So, if you’re found to be partially responsible, your compensation may be reduced based on your share of the blame.
For instance, if it’s determined that you were 20% at fault for the crash, then whatever compensation you’re entitled to will be reduced by 20%. Proving liability and minimizing your share of the fault is critical to getting the maximum compensation, so having a strong case backed by solid evidence is crucial.
Proving Liability
To prove liability, your lawyer must gather as much evidence as possible. This could include the crash report from the police, which documents the details of the accident. They may also take statements from anyone who saw what happened and photos or video footage from the scene, if available.
Sometimes, your lawyer might work with accident reconstruction experts who can analyze the crash and provide a clearer picture of what occurred. These steps are necessary to show that the other party was at fault and help you receive the compensation you deserve.
Compensation for Rear-End Motorcycle Accident Victims
You may be entitled to compensation for economic and non-economic damages if you’ve been injured in a rear-end motorcycle accident.
If you’ve been injured in a rear-end motorcycle accident in San Antonio, you may be entitled to compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the types of losses from an accident that have a clear dollar amount. These are the costs that directly impact your wallet. Since these costs can pile up quickly, economic damages help cover what you’ve had to pay out-of-pocket and what you might continue to pay in the future.
This compensation aims to relieve you of the financial burden that someone else’s actions may impose. Here are some of the economic damages you may be able to recover:
- Medical Bills: The cost of emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, and future medical treatments. These bills can add up quickly; without help, it might be hard to pay for everything you need to improve.
- Future Medical Costs: If your injuries necessitate long-term care or rehabilitation, you may be compensated for these ongoing expenses. This ensures that you won’t have to worry about covering treatments that support your recovery in the months or even years following the accident.
- Lost Wages: If your injuries have caused you to miss work, you can claim compensation for your lost income. This support is vital for managing your everyday expenses, such as rent or groceries, while you are healing and unable to work.
- Motorcycle Repair Costs: If your motorcycle sustained damage in the accident, you can recover the costs associated with repairs or replacement. This compensation helps ensure you won’t bear the financial burden of fixing your bike or purchasing a new one.
By understanding these types of compensation, you can better navigate the claims process and work toward securing the financial relief you deserve.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are meant to compensate you for the personal, non-financial ways an accident affects your life. Unlike medical bills or lost wages, which have a clear dollar amount, non-economic damages are harder to calculate because they focus on how the accident impacts your overall well-being.
Some of the non-economic damages you can recover include:
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress you’ve experienced as a result of the accident. This covers the pain from your injuries and the emotional toll, like feeling anxious or upset because of what happened.
- Loss of Quality of Life: If your injuries have impacted your ability to enjoy life or do the things you love, you may be compensated for this loss. Whether it’s missing out on hobbies, spending time with family, or simply being able to move around easily, this compensation helps address how your life has changed because of the accident.
Your San Antonio, Texas, motorcycle crash attorney will work hard to ensure you receive fair compensation for all your losses.
Steps to Take After a Rear-End Motorcycle Accident
If you’ve been in a rear-end motorcycle accident, it’s essential to take the right steps to protect yourself and your legal rights. The first and most important thing to do is seek medical attention immediately, even if you feel okay or think your injuries are not too serious.
Some injuries might not show up right away. However, a doctor can identify them before they become more serious. Don’t brush off the need for medical care. Getting checked out early can make a big difference in your recovery.
Next, make sure to document the accident and any injuries you sustained. Taking pictures of the scene, your motorcycle, and your injuries can be incredibly important later on. These photos can serve as evidence if there’s a dispute about what happened or how badly you were hurt. The more details you have, the stronger your case will be.
Finally, contact a San Antonio rear end motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney will help guide you through the legal process, ensuring your rights are protected, and you’re not taken advantage of by insurance companies.
They’ll handle all the complicated legal work so you can focus on recovering from the accident. These steps can help you get the medical care, financial support, and legal help you need.
Contact Our San Antonio Rear-End Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Rear-end motorcycle accidents can have devastating consequences, but with the right legal help, you can get the compensation you need to move forward. At Patterson Law Group, our team is dedicated to helping accident victims like you.
Don’t wait—contact our Motorcycle Wreck Lawyer in San Antonio, Texas today for a free consultation. We’re here to fight for you and ensure you get the justice you deserve.
