Riding a motorcycle is inherently a high-risk activity. These vehicles are incredibly fast, maneuverable, and have none of the protections offered by cars, trucks, and other vehicles in which the operator is actually inside the vehicle. As a result, when motorcyclists are involved in accidents, they are often very seriously injured.
There are many things about getting older that many of us would like to avoid, and now there is another one to add to your list; according to a study published in Injury Prevention, older motorcyclists are almost three times more likely to be seriously hurt in accidents than younger riders.
The researchers grouped riders into three age groups: 20-39, 49-59, and over 60. The oldest group had nearly three times the rate of hospitalization after an accident than the youngest group. Notably, the middle age group’s twice the rate of hospitalization after an accident than the youngest group, suggesting that the risk of injury steadily increases with age.
Motorcycle Accident Victims Can Often Recover For Their Injuries
Fortunately for people who are injured in motorcycle accidents, Texas law entitles people who are hurt by the negligence of others to recover compensation for their losses. Examples of the kinds of losses that are often recovered after a motorcycle accident include medical bills, lost income, loss of quality of life, and physical and emotional pain and suffering.
In order to establish negligence, a victim needs to be able to show that a driver was in violation of a safety law that was intended to protect the motorcyclist from the type of harm he or she suffered or that a driver was driving in an unreasonably dangerous manner. Some examples of driver conduct that would likely be considered negligent include the following:
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Driving without headlights at night
- Following too closely
The best way to find out whether you have a claim after a motorcycle accident is to have your case reviewed by an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
Contact a Houston Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
As an avid motorcyclist himself, attorney Stewart Guss understands how important it is for people injured in motorcycle accidents to hold negligent motorists responsible for the accidents they cause. To schedule a free consultation with Mr. Guss, call our office today at 713-766-5883 or contact us online.
1 http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/early/2013/01/24/injuryprev-2012-040619
