Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in McAllen

A Texas Law Firm Helping Injured Riders Seek Compensation After a Motorcycle Accident Caused by Someone Else’s Negligence

Were you recently injured in a motorcycle accident in McAllen or the greater South Texas area? Motorcycle accidents can leave you struggling with serious injuries for months or even years. In the most tragic circumstances, motorcycle riders suffer permanent injuries or severe injuries that result in death. If you were injured, an experienced McAllen-based motorcycle accident lawyer can help you fight to recover fair compensation for your hospital bills, lost wages, and personal pain, suffering, and emotional trauma.

At The Law Office of Lino H. Ochoa, we’ve dedicated our entire legal practice to fighting for accident victims like you. We’re well-qualified to help you stand up to the insurance companies and defense lawyers so that you can recover a fair financial settlement.

Don’t let the at-fault driver off the hook. Contact our law offices in McAllen, Texas, or call 956-707-3610 to schedule a free consultation and learn how an experienced attorney can help you.

Why Hire an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer to Represent Your Personal Injury Claim?

The Law Office of Lino H. Ochoa should be one of your first calls if you were injured in an accident.

Our McAllen personal injury attorney is well known for successful legal representation throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The insurance companies know us, too. When they see our name, they’re much more likely to stop the games and take your case seriously.

Hire us, and your South Texas motorcycle accident attorney will:

  • Handle your insurance claim from start to finish
  • Immediately launch an investigation to determine who is liable for your injuries
  • Hire experts to prove various elements of your personal injury claim
  • Defend against any attempts to blame the victim
  • Help you make important decisions and determine whether a settlement offer is fair
  • Negotiate with the insurance companies for a full settlement
  • File a lawsuit and fight for your rights in court if the insurance company won’t play fair

We also work on a contingency fee basis. That means you won’t have to worry about legal fees because we don’t charge anything upfront. If you were involved in a motorcycle accident, call our McAllen personal injury attorney to learn more about the attorney-client relationship today.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Texas?

A total of 9,094 motorcycle wrecks were reported by the Texas Department of Transportation in 2022. That number might seem small. After all, the DOT reports hundreds of thousands of car accidents every year. However, motorcycle wrecks have the potential to be much more severe than typical auto accidents.

In 2022, at least 562 motorcyclists were killed in motorcycle crashes across the State of Texas. Overall, 39% of those motorcyclists were not wearing helmets. Another 2,422 motorcyclists were seriously injured in traffic accidents that year.

Fortunately, at least 3,148 people were lucky enough to walk away with only minor injuries.

What Are Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in McAllen, TX?

Most often, motorcycle accidents are caused by negligent drivers.

More specifically, some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

  • Speeding
  • Distracted driving, including texting while driving
  • Drugs and alcohol
  • Failure to yield the right-of-way
  • Tailgating
  • Weaving between lanes
  • Aggressive driving
  • Racing through intersections
  • Dangerous left-hand turns and U-turns
  • Running a red light or stop sign
  • Potholes, damaged roadways, and other road hazards
  • Limited visibility

Motorcycle accidents are almost always preventable. Still, as we know, they happen all the time. If you were a victim, it’s important to know why your accident happened. Determining causation is the first step toward holding those responsible accountable. Once we have determined the negligent act that caused the incident, we can help you take legal action with a personal injury claim or a motorcycle accident lawsuit.

What is Your McAllen Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth?

The cost of treating motorcycle accident injuries can be incredibly high. The more serious your injuries, the higher your maximum compensation is likely to be.

When you factor in things like pain and suffering, your settlement or verdict could be worth a lot of money if your injuries were severe. The insurance companies know that. They’re betting that you might not.

While all motorcycle injury cases are different, here are some of the factors that will impact your case value:

  • The type of injuries you’ve sustained
  • Whether you’re expected to make a full physical recovery
  • If not, the nature of your long-term or permanent disability
  • Whether your work or earnings have been impacted
  • Your out-of-pocket costs and the cost of your medical treatment
  • Damage to your quality of life
  • Whether your own negligence played any role in the accident

It’s always a smart idea to have an experienced personal injury lawyer review your case before accepting any insurance settlement. Our legal team will carefully review the facts to determine your case’s value. We’re here to protect your legal rights and help you get satisfactory results.

What Type of Financial Recovery is Possible with a Successful Personal Injury Claim?

You can seek compensation for all of the economic damages and non-economic damages that you experience because of the motorcycle collision.

Economic damages are meant to ease the economic burden and put you back in the financial position you had before the accident, and might include:

  • Past medical bills and future medical expenses
  • Lost income
  • Reduced earning potential
  • Physical therapy
  • Nursing care
  • Property damage
  • Funeral costs and other wrongful death damages in fatal motorcycle accident cases

Non-economic damages compensate victims for losses that don’t have a clear financial value, such as:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Emotional distress and mental anguish
  • PTSD and fear
  • Mental health issues, including anxiety and depression
  • Physical disfigurement and scarring
  • Loss of consortium

Punitive damages are much rarer. You must have clear evidence that the defendant acted intentionally or with reckless disregard for human life to seek punitive damages.

What if You Are Blamed for the Motorcycle Accident?

People tend to blame motorcycle riders for causing wrecks. Motorcyclists have a reputation for being reckless. While that’s not justified, it can significantly impact your compensation if you let it.

Under Texas’ modified comparative negligence law, you lose your right to compensation once your share of fault reaches 51%. If you share some blame, but less than 51% responsibility, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.

It’s very likely that someone will try to blame you. If they succeed, they can avoid paying you full compensation. Be prepared to defend yourself by contacting our experienced lawyer in McAllen today.

What Are Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries?

Motorcycles don’t come with airbags and seatbelts. At most, bikers have a helmet to protect them in a crash. Even a relatively minor crash can leave motorcyclists struggling with life-changing injuries.

At The Law Office of Lino H. Ochoa, we often represent clients in accident cases involving:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Other head and neck injuries
  • Chest injuries
  • Burns
  • Degloving injuries
  • Amputations
  • Crushing injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Nerve damage
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Concussions
  • Back injuries
  • Organ damage
  • Paralysis
  • Catastrophic injuries
  • Wrongful death of a loved one

Wearing a helmet can be extremely effective in preventing serious head injuries and death. Helmets cannot protect you from all injuries in a crash.

If you were seriously hurt, don’t wait to contact an experienced personal injury attorney. You don’t have to recover fully to have a lawyer in your corner. While you take care of yourself, our team will be working to build your compensation claim.

Can a McAllen Motorcycle Accident Attorney Help You Prove Negligence?

Most motorcycle crashes happen because someone makes a mistake. Drivers rarely set out to cause an accident. So, victims must therefore prove negligence in almost every accident case.

To succeed and recover compensation after a motorcycle crash in Rio Grande Valley, you must prove the following four elements:

  • Duty of care: all drivers have a duty to take reasonable precautions and avoid putting others at risk
  • Breach of duty: the at-fault driver made a mistake and violated the duty of care
  • Causation: the breach was the direct cause of the accident (there were no intervening factors)
  • Damages: you suffered some physical, financial, or emotional harm

Our lawyer in McAllen has the resources to conduct a thorough investigation and locate evidence to support your personal injury case.

We’ll search for any useful evidence, including:

  • Police reports
  • Video surveillance footage from traffic lights, dash cams, nearby businesses, and any other available sources
  • Witnesses who can testify about what they saw
  • Data from the crash scene, including skid marks, vehicle damage, and overall conditions
  • Photos of the wreckage and injuries
  • Medical records
  • Drug and alcohol test results
  • Licensing information

If there is evidence, you can count on our legal team to find it. Just call our personal injury law firm in McAllen to schedule a free case review today.

Can We Help You File a Wrongful Death Claim?

Tragically, not only do many motorcycle accidents result in catastrophic injuries like traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries, but such accidents also sometimes result in fatal injuries for the motorcycle rider or their passenger. If you are the surviving family member of the recently deceased in a fatal motorcycle accident, our legal team can help you seek compensation by filing a wrongful death action.

Wrongful death lawsuits are civil cases about recovering financial compensation, not punishing someone for wrongdoing. If the defendant who is responsible for your loved one’s death committed a crime, they may face charges in a criminal case, but that does not necessarily prevent you from pursuing a civil lawsuit in pursuit of financial recovery.

With a successful wrongful death case, it is possible to recover medical bills and other out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident from before the decedent’s passing, lost earning capacity, loss of benefits or inheritance, loss of guidance, support, and care, as well as compensation for funeral, burial, and memorial expenses. In cases where the surviving family members are lost in grief and dealing with immense emotional pain, it may be possible to recover non-economic damages for mental anguish.

What is the Deadline for Filing a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Texas?

Most motorcycle accident victims have two years to file a lawsuit. The two-year clock starts to run on the date of the accident. After this “statute of limitations” expires, you lose your right to compensation entirely.

There are exceptions to the statute of limitations, but only for some cases. Contact us as soon as possible after your crash to protect your legal rights and options.

What Other Practice Areas Does Our Texas Law Firm Represent?

Accidents and injuries can be extremely overwhelming. Many victims simply don’t know what will happen next or where to turn for help.

You don’t have to handle the aftermath alone. We serve Hidalgo County and its surrounding areas.

Contact our law office at 956-707-3610 for a free consultation with an experienced McAllen motorcycle accident lawyer today.

Our personal injury law firm in McAllen, TX also handles:

  • McAllen Bad Faith Insurance Lawyers
  • McAllen Bicycle Accident Lawyer
  • Brain Injury Lawyers in McAllen, TX
  • Bus Accident Lawyers in McAllen, TX
  • McAllen Car Accident Lawyer
  • Construction Accidents Attorneys in McAllen, TX
  • McAllen Dog Bite Lawyers
  • McAllen Medical Malpractice Lawyers
  • Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in McAllen, TX
  • Premises Liability Attorneys in McAllen, TX
  • Product Liability Lawyers in McAllen, TX
  • McAllen Slip and Fall Lawyers
  • Uber Accident Lawyers in McAllen, TX
  • Wrongful Death Lawyer in McAllen, TX

Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in McAllen, TX

The Law Office of Lino H. Ochoa
6316 N 10th St Building D, Suite 102 McAllen, Texas, 78504

Hours: Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm

Highly Rated Motorcycle Shops in McAllen, Texas

  • RGV Cycle Center – 910 Harvey St, McAllen, TX 78501
  • JCS Performance – 11 S 5th St, McAllen, TX 78501
  • Revolution Cycles – 1316 Trenton Rd, McAllen, TX 78504
  • Ryker Powersports – 2012 W Nolana Ave, McAllen, TX 78504
  • Adrenaline LLC – 2245 Austin Ave, McAllen, TX 78501

Contact Our Law Office to Schedule Your Free Case Evaluation with a McAllen Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today

Our Texas law firm has over 25 years of legal experience representing the rights of clients within our community and complex personal injury cases. As your legal representative, attorney Lino H. Ochoa and his legal staff will explore all options to help you get the justice and fair settlement you deserve.

To learn more about the benefits of retaining our legal services for personal injury matters related to your motorcycle accident case, please contact our McAllen law office to schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation today. In addition to offering free consultations to prospective new clients, we also operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you do not owe us a dime in legal fees unless and until we can recover a settlement for your case.

Schedule your risk-free case evaluation by calling us at 956-707-3610.