Motorcycles are more dangerous than traditional automobiles for many reasons in San Antonio, TX. With only two wheels, they lack the stability of typical, four-wheeled vehicles. As a result, a rider must have both the balance and skill necessary to keep the motorcycle steady.
In addition, motorcycles have no passenger compartment, which means that when motorcycle accidents do happen, operators and passengers are both at high risk of ejection from the vehicle. Such crashes often cause serious injuries to the legs, arms, head, face, back, and neck.
Call George Salinas Injury Lawyers at (210) 225-0909 and discover how our San Antonio motorcycle accident lawyers can help you. Contact us today!
How George Salinas Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Motorcycle Crash in San Antonio
The personal injury law firm of George Salinas Injury Lawyers is dedicated to helping accident victims in San Antonio, Texas, pursue fair compensation from those who injured them. Our San Antonio motorcycle accident attorneys have successfully resolved thousands of cases, getting the maximum possible compensation for over 1,300 clients.
When you hire our firm, you will receive the following:
- A free consultation to explain your accident and learn about your legal rights
- An advocate motivated to make sure your voice is heard
- An experienced legal team with decades of combined legal experience
A motorcycle crash can prevent you from earning a living or even meeting your daily needs. If you hire us to help you with your case, we can handle virtually every aspect of your claim for compensation while you recover from the accident.
Learn about your right to recover fair injury compensation by scheduling a free consultation with George Salinas Injury Lawyers today.
How Many Motorcycle Accidents Happen in San Antonio?
In 2022, Texas experienced 8,672 motorcycle crashes, according to a query on the state’s Department of Transportation Crash Records Information System (CRIS). Of these, 532 occurred in San Antonio.
As San Antonio experienced a total of 48,792 traffic accidents that year, motorcycle accidents only made up about 1.1% of traffic accidents in the city in 2022. When you look at crash types, motorcyclists were involved in 349 collisions with other vehicles and 175 single-vehicle accidents, which means that motorcycles accounted for roughly 1.0% of multi-vehicle crashes and 1.2% of single-vehicle accidents.
Motorcycle Accident Causes in San Antonio
Many factors can contribute to motorcycle accidents, a few of which include the following:
Traffic Congestion
Motorcycles are less visible than cars and trucks, meaning drivers can fail to spot them in heavy traffic conditions as a result.
Road Conditions
Since motorcycles only have two tires, they have less overall contact with the surface of the road. Certain road surfaces can throw a motorcyclist off balance, such as:
- Standing water
- Dirt or gravel
- Oil and other chemical spills
- Potholes
Poor road conditions can cause a motorcyclist to lose control of their vehicle, leading to either a single- or multi-vehicle accident.
Inclement Weather
Since riders are exposed, bad weather can disproportionately affect motorcyclists over other drivers. Rain and fog can reduce the visibility of both riders and drivers on the road with them. Riders are also affected by heat and humidity. Sweat can fog up helmets and goggles, and heat can cause fatigue and dull a rider’s reflexes.
Other Road Users
The greatest dangers on the road for motorcyclists are, in fact, other drivers. The blame for most collisions between motorcycles and traditional vehicles most likely falls on the vehicle driver, as most are not attuned to sharing the road with motorcyclists and thus engage in behaviors that can lead to motorcycle crashes.
In particular, some common road dangers for motorcyclists caused by other drivers include the following:
Speeding
Speeding is a leading cause of traffic accidents in Texas. Excessive speed reduces the time a driver or rider has to react to changing traffic or road conditions. Driving too quickly for the conditions at hand can cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle and either slide or skid into a motorcyclist.
Failing to Yield the Right of Way
Intersection accidents typically occur when drivers fail to yield the right of way to motorcyclists, maneuvering without taking care to recognize an approaching motorcycle.
Instead of treating motorcyclists as equals on the road, drivers try to beat them through intersections or force them to wait while their vehicle goes first. In either case, the driver goes through the intersection rather than waiting for the motorcyclist to clear the way and ends up causing a crash.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving has grown into one of the most common causes of crashes due to the rapid adoption of smartphones, but anything that takes a driver’s hands, eyes, or mind away from driving can lead to a distracted driving crash.
Distracted driving is especially dangerous for motorcyclists. Due to their smaller size and faster acceleration, drivers can lose track of motorcyclists if they do not pay close attention.
Unsafe Lane Changes
One last common cause of motorcycle collisions is when a driver changes lanes without checking their mirrors and blind spots. They move into a lane occupied by a motorcycle and either knock the motorcycle over or cause the motorcyclist to swerve off the road or into another lane.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our San Antonio Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Were you recently injured in a motorcycle accident in San Antonio, Texas? Contact George Salinas Injury Lawyers today to discuss your legal rights and options. Your initial consultation with one of our experienced San Antonio motorcycle accident attorneys is free of charge.
