The town of San Antonio is best known for its colonial heritage, specifically the Alamo, but the second largest city in Texas has a lot more to explore. The city is especially popular for motorcycle riders and given the number of sunny days in San Antonio; it’s easy to understand why. Unfortunately, accidents happen, and if you’re the victim of a motorcycle accident, things can become complicated fast, and you need a legal team who will fight for your rights to compensation.
After an accident, you need to speak to a skilled San Antonio personal injury law firm as soon as possible. The claims process is complicated to manage, and you need an advocate in your corner with the skills and experience to see your case through to its best resolution. Our team of attorneys and legal professionals at Stewart J. Guss, Attorney at Law, represents clients in Texas and San Antonio for more than 20 years. We dedicate ourselves to work hard to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation possible to cover all your expenses in the event of a motorcycle accident. Call us now! We are open, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year at 800-898-4877, or contact us by CLICKING HERE to submit your case for evaluation. We offer a free—zero risk and zero obligation—consultation.
Dangers Common to Motorcycle Riders
One of the most appealing aspects of riding a motorcycle is that feeling of freedom—there’s nothing between you and the elements. Your senses are heightened–hearing, feeling, and seeing everything around you. At the same time, when you’re on a motorcycle, you’re at a higher risk of injury in the event of an accident. Without a protective steel barrier that a car provides, there is nothing between you and the pavement if thrown from your bike.
Take the time to recognize—and hopefully, avoid—these three common dangers when you’re on the road.
- Other drivers – When you’re on the road, other drivers can pose some of the worst dangers to a biker. By design, a motorcycle has a smaller visual outline size and height, and not as easily visible to other drivers. Drivers need to pay special attention to make sure that they see you, and often you might sit in their blind spots without knowing it. Ideally, every driver on the road is alert, attentive and sober. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. People often drive when they shouldn’t be behind the wheel.
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- Tired drivers try to push on to their destinations even when they can’t concentrate on the road.
- Drunk drivers pose a real threat to everyone around them.
- Distracted drivers are typical on the road today. People attempt to multitask—sending emails or text messages while they drive.
These drivers pose a considerable danger to everyone else nearby, especially to motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
- Weather – Driving down a quiet, serene road on a sunny day is one of the greatest benefits of owning a motorcycle. When the weather turns south, riders face immediate danger. Bikers are exposed to the elements—significantly increasing their risks when driving in the rain. When the roads are slick and wet, it is easier to slide out and harder to stop. Rain can reduce visibility and make it difficult for other drivers on the road to see you, especially while changing lanes. Hydroplaning is another danger during storms. Water collects on the side of the road, then vehicles drive through the large puddles, and their tires lose traction with the pavement causing drivers to lose control and they crash into a guardrail or cars around them.
- Poor road conditions – Driving over potholes and uneven pavement are annoyances in a car, but they present treacherous conditions for bikers. To maintain control of the motorcycle, watch for debris, holes, and cracks in the road that could potentially hurt you. If you notice that a lane is damaged and needs repair, do your civic duty, and contact the responsible government agency to report it.
Watch for Other Drivers
Driving safely on the roads should be your top priority anytime you’re on a motorcycle, but there is only so much you have control over. Other vehicles have a duty of reasonable care to drive safely and prevent accidents, but in the world of GPS, smartphones, and multitasking, you can’t assume every driver is providing their full attention to the road. Your motorcycle is harder to see due to the visible outline size and height than other cars, and for this reason, you are especially vulnerable around unsafe drivers.
One thing you can do to keep yourself safe is to recognize the signs of a dangerous driver. Remember the three Ds when it comes to dangerous drivers:
- Drunk – Although it’s illegal to drive after drinking too much alcohol, people ignore the law and still get behind the wheel when they shouldn’t drive. Drunk driving accidents are easily preventable, and they constitute some of the most devastating accidents, resulting in horrific injuries. Feelings of frustration and anger are common for drunk driving victims and their families. If you believe someone is operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, pull off to the side of the road in a safe place and call the police or highway patrol to report it— you may prevent a severe accident and saving lives.
- Distracted – A common and dangerous behavior is distracted driving. Distracted driving is any action that takes the driver’s attention off the task at hand—driving safely with their full focus on the road. Studies have concluded that those who attempt to multitask and use their cell phones when behind the wheel are as dangerous as drunk drivers. With delayed reaction times, their hands off the steering wheel, and less attention on the road, it’s easy to see why these drivers are responsible for so many accidents.
- Drowsy – Dozy driving is especially typical for commercial truck drivers who want to deliver their cargo on time, but drowsy driving can happen to anyone: early risers and workers, late-night drivers, and drivers who attempt to push through on a long road trip.
These three types of dangerous drivers are likely to show some of the same signals while operating their vehicles. Some signals to watch for include:
- Changing lanes without warning and failing to use a turn signal
- Swerving in and out of their lanes for no apparent reasons
- Driving noticeably more or less than the posted speed limit
- Ignoring stop signs and traffic signals
- The visible glow of a cell phone in the vehicle
If you are driving next to or behind someone who is displaying any of these behaviors, make sure you pull off to the side of the road and wait for the vehicle to pass you, and then call the police or highway patrol to report the driver. In addition to your own, you could save the lives of others by informing the police of the situation.
What Can You Do After a Motorcycle Accident?
Time seems to flow differently after a motorcycle accident, and depending on your injuries, take the following actions regardless of how unprepared you were for the incident.
- Call the police – They will arrive on the scene and survey the damage. Later, the cops will prepare an official accident report which may prove valuable and support your claim.
- Go to the doctor – Seek medical attention right away, even if you don’t think you were seriously hurt. Some symptoms can take hours, days, or weeks to manifest. A doctor will examine you and help you understand how to monitor your body for future injury symptoms.
- Organize your records – Keep careful and detailed records. You’ll want a copy of the police report, all your medical records, and if possible, photos of the accident scene, which will help your attorney support your claim.
- Call a law firm with experience in motorcycle accident cases – Motorcycle accident cases become complicated quickly. An experienced legal team, like the attorneys and legal professionals at Stewart J. Guss, Attorney at Law, will help you navigate the legal process so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
When feeling confused and overwhelmed, it helps to follow the four steps listed above after your accident.
How a Skilled Legal Team Helps
Working with an experienced San Antonio personal injury law firm like Stewart J. Guss, Attorney at Law helps reduce the stress of dealing with the legal aspects of your accident. Rest assured, you have a team of dedicated legal advocates working tirelessly to maximize the compensation you deserve due to your accident.
If you haven’t worked with a law firm in the past, you may wonder how our legal team of motorcycle lawyers and legal professionals can help. A few of the ways we will assist you are:
- Collect essential records – The amount of paperwork that accompanies an accident is much larger than you think. It is difficult to keep track of all the documentation when you’re in and out of the hospital, back and forth to therapy and doctor’s appointments, or resting and recovering at home. We will collect all the records needed—from accident reports to medical records. We take the burden off your shoulders.
- Communicate with insurance companies – Never speak to the insurance company after your accident about the personal injury aspect of your claim. While adjusters act concerned about your injuries, more than likely, they are setting you up to diminish your injuries and claim. Let our legal team communicate with the insurance companies on your behalf, and since they deal with us daily, they know who we are, and we know all their dirty tricks and games.
- File your claim – We understand important deadlines, how to and when to file all the paperwork related to your claim. Your legal team will submit documents timely, thoroughly, and in compliance with the law, taking the burden and worry off your shoulders.
- Estimate the value of a claim – Insurance companies are notorious for minimizing their payouts. Our experienced team of attorneys and legal professionals will help calculate your full monetary damages and get the compensation you need. We will compile a realistic list of both economic and non-economic damages and present this to the insurance company in pursuit of the maximum recovery possible. We can hire medical and economics experts to estimate the cost of future treatment and other damages if needed.
We offer a free consultation to discuss the details of your accident. If you have questions, write them down, and we can answer these questions during your free consultation. We can explain our process and answer any questions you may have and alleviate any anxiety you may feel regarding the legal process. We understand most people have never filed a legal claim, much less a lawsuit. We want you to feel confident and knowledgeable, and that’s part of our client-first philosophy. Your case is your ship, and we help you navigate the rough waters of the ocean.
Call a San Antonio Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Now
If you are suffering from an injury due to a motorcycle accident, it’s common to feel overwhelmed by the experience. Many people struggle with depression and feelings of confusion after a crash and don’t know how to sort through their options for legal action. We will discuss your options with you for free. So give us a call.
For more than 20 years, the nationally recognized team of attorneys and legal professionals at Stewart J. Guss, Attorney at Law, have tirelessly fought for motorcycle victims in San Antonio just like you. We can help you and your family. Our philosophy is simple—we put our clients first, no matter what. We are committed to providing the best service for those injured in accidents. Let us oversee the legal process so you can focus on rest and recovery.
If you are suffering due to an injury sustained in a motorcycle accident in San Antonio or the surrounding area, call our office right now for a free consultation. We take all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, and you will not owe us a DIME unless we win your case. To learn more about how we operate and what we can do for you, call us —24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year at 800-898-4877, or contact us now by CLICKING HERE for a case evaluation. Remember, our consultation is free with zero risks and zero obligations; so, don’t delay, contact us today! We are standing by to assist you right now.
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