What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Houston

Motorcycle accidents can be even more devastating than car accidents in Houston, often leaving victims with not just medical bills and emotional trauma but also injuries that can affect their quality of life indefinitely. Although the future may seem bleak, if you know what to do after a motorcycle accident in Houston — and hire the right Houston motorcycle accident lawyer — you can hope to find justice and one day make your accident a thing of the past.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in Houston and you're looking for a compassionate advocate to help you start your road to recovery, Calderon Law Firm is here for you. Our founder, Jose Calderon, has been fighting for the rights of people injured in accidents for years, delivering quality care and unbeatable results.

Keep reading about what to do after a motorcycle accident, or call Jose Calderon and Calderon Law Firm today at (346) 999-5673 to start getting what you deserve. 

What to do after a motorcycle accident

The moments following a motorcycle accident are critical, not just for your immediate health and safety but also for any future legal claims you might pursue. Although it can be impossible to know what to do in such a difficult situation, taking some of the following steps after a motorcycle accident may help you.

1. Prioritize your safety

Before anything else, your immediate safety and the safety of others involved should be your primary concern. If possible, move to a safe location away from traffic to prevent further injuries. Check yourself and others for injuries, and call 911 immediately if anyone appears to be seriously hurt.

Try to get to the shoulder or a nearby parking lot if you can move. If you can't move due to injuries, try to make yourself visible to other drivers by turning on your hazard lights or setting up emergency flares if available.

Even if you feel fine, the adrenaline from the accident can mask serious injuries, so it's crucial to get a medical evaluation as soon as possible.

2. Collect evidence

Evidence collection begins at the scene of the accident if you're physically able. This crucial step can make or break your case later on. Here's what you should prioritize:

• Take photos of the accident scene, including all vehicles involved, road conditions, traffic signals, and any visible injuries.
• Gather contact information from all witnesses who saw the accident happen.
• Write down or record your recollection of the events while they're still fresh in your mind.
• Preserve your damaged clothing, helmet, and motorcycle parts as evidence.
• Get insurance information from all parties involved in the accident.
• Keep a detailed record of all medical treatments, expenses, and how your injuries affect your daily life.

The more evidence you collect, the stronger your case will be when seeking compensation for your injuries. Remember that evidence can quickly disappear or be altered after an accident, so acting fast is essential.

3. Contact Houston police

Although you may not want to get the police involved, getting a police report filed can serve as important evidence for your case. When the police arrive:

• Provide information about what happened, but DO NOT use words that could be interpreted as admitting fault.
• Request a copy of the police report or get the report number so you can obtain it later.
• Make note of the responding officers' names and badge numbers.

The police report will serve as an official record of the accident and can be invaluable when dealing with insurance companies or if your case goes to court. It provides an objective third-party account of the accident scene, injuries, and potential causes of the collision to support other evidence. 

4. Get medical treatment, no matter what your injuries are like

After a motorcycle accident in Houston, seeking immediate medical attention is absolutely necessary — even if you believe your injuries are minor. Due to adrenaline and shock, serious injuries aren't always immediately apparent after an accident. Some injuries, like internal bleeding or traumatic brain injuries, may not show symptoms right away and can be life-threatening if left untreated. This means doing a few things:

1. Let emergency personnel examine you at the scene if needed.
2. Go to the emergency room or medical provider recommended by your motorcycle accident lawyer.
3. Follow all treatment recommendations and attend all follow-up appointments. Following through with these appointments, while occasionally inconvenient, can be essential to getting the compensation you deserve. 
4. Keep detailed records of all medical care received, including diagnoses, treatments, medications, and costs.

Not only is prompt medical treatment essential for your health, but it also creates documentation that connects your injuries directly to the accident — evidence that can be central to your future personal injury claim.

5. Contact a Houston injury law firm to protect you

The most important step after a motorcycle accident is contacting an experienced Houston motorcycle accident attorney. Insurance companies work aggressively to minimize payouts to motorcycle accident victims, unfairly stereotyping riders as reckless and trying to assault fault for their injuries. 

The personal injury lawyers in Houston from Calderon Law Firm can:

• Handle all communications with insurance companies, preventing you from making statements that could harm your case.
• Investigate the accident thoroughly, working with accident reconstruction experts if necessary.
• Identify all potentially liable parties, which in motorcycle accidents can include other drivers, motorcycle manufacturers, or government entities responsible for road maintenance.
• Calculate the full extent of your damages, including future medical expenses and lost earning capacity — damages that are often left out of initial settlement offers. 
• Negotiate aggressively for a fair settlement, or take your case to trial if necessary.

What to do if a loved one was in a fatal motorcycle crash in Houston 

While you can never be compensated fully for the loss of your loved one in a motorcycle accident, you and your family do have a right to compensation for this incomparable loss. Wrongful death claims often have much higher stakes than normal motorcycle accident claims and feature damages that are far-reaching and difficult to calculate — not to mention a bigger fight from the insurance companies.

If your loved one was killed in a motorcycle accident in Houston, you need to speak to a wrongful death lawyer in Houston before it’s too late. Working with a Houston wrongful death lawyer can help you seek compensation for medical expenses before death, funeral and burial costs, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and emotional suffering. 

Houston motorcycle accident FAQ

At what speed is a motorcycle crash fatal?

Motorcycle accidents can be fatal at virtually any speed, though the risk increases dramatically at higher speeds. Motorcyclists represent an outsized number of fatalities on the roads — totaling 15% of all traffic fatalities in 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

Riders are at much higher risk in urban environments and at high speeds, both of which apply on Houston highways. The best thing you can do to protect your life is wear proper protective gear and keep speeding to a minimum. 

Where do 70% of motorcycle accidents occur?

Approximately 70% of motorcycle accidents occur at intersections, particularly in urban areas like Houston. Be careful when crossing any intersections of your motorcycle, and be aware of other high-risk locations for motorcycle accidents, which can include:

• Roads with heavy traffic congestion where lane-splitting might occur
• Areas with poor road conditions, including potholes or debris
• Highway on-ramps and off-ramps where speed differentials are significant
• Curves and bends in the road, especially when obscured by vegetation or structures

What is the most common injury in a motorcycle crash?

While head injuries cause the most fatalities, the most common injuries in motorcycle accidents are actually lower extremity injuries — affecting the legs, knees, ankles, and feet. Lower extremity injuries occur in most non-fatal motorcycle crashes and can range from road rash and contusions to complex fractures and amputations.

In addition to lower extremity injuries, the most common motorcycle accident injuries include:

• Upper extremity injuries (arms, hands, shoulders)
• Road rash and soft tissue damage
• Thoracic injuries to the chest and ribs
• Facial injuries, particularly in riders without full-face helmets
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal injuries, including herniated discs and spinal cord damage

Hurt in a motorcycle accident? Contact the personal injury attorneys at Calderon Law Firm.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in Houston, you don't have to go it alone. The aftermath of a motorcycle accident is almost always full of pain and chaos — but the Houston motorcycle accident lawyers at Calderon Law Firm are here to help. We can get you on the road to recovery and begin the process of getting you a settlement that truly compensates you for the harm you’ve suffered. 

Whether you need a Houston truck accident lawyer or an attorney to sort out the mess after an Uber accident, Jose Calderon and the Calderon Law Firm are here for you. Don’t wait until it’s too late; evidence disappears, memories fade, and it can get more difficult to successfully file a personal injury claim every day. 

Call Jose and the Houston injury lawyers at Calderon today at (346) 999-5673 or contact us online for a free consultation and start the process of getting the help you need.