Drivers in cars or trucks should be well aware that they are sharing the roads with motorcyclists. Now that the weather has warmed up, more people are using motorcycles to get around or even just riding for enjoyment. With the current gas prices, motorcyclists may even manage to save a bit of money considering the fuel efficiency of a bike compared to a car. However, there is one major disadvantage to riding a motorcycle - it can be considerably more dangerous than driving a car. When a motorcycle crashes, the person or people on the bike have no protection other than the gear they are wearing. 

Unfortunately, not all drivers are as attentive as they should be when it comes to preventing motorcycle accidents. If you were injured by a negligent driver while riding a motorcycle, we may be able to help you recover full compensation. 

How Careless Drivers Put Motorcyclists at Risk

When drivers are alert and mindful that there are bikes around them, most crashes can be avoided. A few careless habits some drivers have that put riders in danger include: 

The answer to this question largely depends on whose fault the car accident was. In many cases, single-car accidents are not the fault of the driver, in which case you may be able to recover compensation in one of several ways. In some cases, even if your single-car accident was your fault, you may have options for recovering funds from your own insurance company. If you were not at fault for your crash, then you may be able to recover compensation.

There are several parties who could potentially be on the hook for compensating you, ranging from the party responsible for your crash to your insurance company through uninsured motorist coverage. Identifying the party who is liable to you and then proving it can be complicated in single-car crashes, so you will need the help of an experienced attorney. 

What Causes Single-Car Accidents and Who May be Liable for Them?

It is important to identify the exact cause of your single-car accident before your lawyer can determine who might be liable. In some cases, it can be difficult to prove what happened. Witnesses often play an important role. Some common causes of single-car accidents include: 

Getting rear-ended can be a very startling event. Most people are not looking backward and do not see the car crash coming. Rear-end collisions are often impossible to avoid for the driver in front. Depending on how fast the vehicle in the back was going, and the relative sizes of the two vehicles, these crashes can be very dangerous. Even if the damage to the vehicle you were in does not look too bad, the damage to you can be severe. If you get rear-ended, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. The sooner you seek care, the sooner you will have a complete picture of what injuries you have sustained. It is important not to wait too long to seek care. Your next step should be to contact an attorney. 

What Serious Injuries Can Rear-End Collisions Cause?

It is easy to think of most rear-end crashes as minor accidents. However, the forces involved in these collisions can cause serious injury, particularly to the brain and spinal cord. Injuries that are frequently sustained during rear-end collisions include: 

• Brain injuries - People who are in a vehicle that gets rear-ended often describe being thrown forward and then back into their seats. This sudden and harsh motion can shake the brain and lead to injuries like contusions and other traumatic brain injuries. 
• Neck and spine - The same motion that tends to cause brain injuries can also harm the spinal cord or neck. These injuries sometimes lead to long-lasting and debilitating pain. 
• Arms and hands- The driver of the car that is struck from behind often has their hands on the wheel. The sudden force associated with rear-end crashes can cause injuries to the arms, wrists, and hands. Losing the use of an arm or hand even temporarily can create a serious disruption in your life, forcing you to take time off from work or causing you to struggle with basic household tasks. 
• Facial injuries - If the accident was bad enough to throw you forward into the steering wheel or seat in front of you, you may have suffered a facial injury like a broken bone or disfigurement. 

The injuries people can sustain during rear-end crashes should not be brushed off, and they almost always warrant some type of medical attention. 

Following a car accident, victims can experience a number of difficulties that may affect their finances, their health, and their overall well-being. Even if a collision seemed to be fairly minor, it may have resulted in thousands of dollars worth of damage to a vehicle, as well as injuries that required costly medical care. The insurance policy of the driver who was at fault for an accident will usually cover some of these costs. However, in accidents caused by uninsured or underinsured drivers, victims may be unsure about their options for addressing their expenses. Fortunately, an experienced attorney can assist with these issues and make sure a person receives the proper insurance coverage, or they may help victims pursue compensation from other sources.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

If an at-fault driver was uninsured, or if their insurance policy was unable to fully cover the extent of a victim’s damages, a person may receive coverage under their own insurance policy. In Texas, all liability insurance policies are required to include uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. At minimum, the amounts of this coverage must be equal to the limits for liability insurance. The Texas Transportation Code states that the minimum coverage amounts are $30,000 for the bodily injury or death of one person, $60,000 for injuries or deaths of two or more people, and $25,000 for property damage or destruction. A person may also purchase additional coverage above these policy limits, allowing them to receive more compensation if they are injured by an uninsured driver.

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage will be available in situations where a driver who caused a collision had no liability insurance policy. Uninsured motorist (UIM) coverage will address cases where the at-fault driver had insurance, but their policy did not fully cover a victim’s expenses related to injuries or property damage. In these cases, a person may receive the maximum amount of coverage under the at-fault driver’s policy, as well as additional coverage under their own policy, up to the policy limits. 

Out of all the types of accidents you can get into on the road, crashes involving commercial trucks can be some of the most severe. These enormous vehicles can cause quite a lot of damage very quickly even in a relatively minor impact. Injuries sustained during a trucking crash tend to be on the more serious side. Personal vehicles can do very little to protect its occupants when it gets hit by a commercial truck. Because of how much damage a large truck can cause, drivers have a very important responsibility to avoid negligent habits that can lead to a wreck. If you were injured by a truck driver who was not operating his vehicle responsibly, an attorney may be able to recover damages on your behalf. 

What Careless Habits Can Lead to an Accident?

Truck drivers can easily pick up a careless driving habit. They spend long hours on the road and run the risk of becoming complacent. Accidents often happen when the driver least expects it. In many cases, a lawyer can investigate and reveal some type of negligence on the driver’s part. Common types of errors lawyers find include: 

• Cell phone use - When a truck driver spends his entire work day and then some behind the wheel, it can become very tempting to carry on a text conversation, or to pick up a phone to adjust the music or find a podcast. A commercial truck driver does not need to take his eyes off the road for very long to cause a devastating crash. 
• Hours of service violations - There are strict federal and state laws that truck drivers must follow governing how long they can drive without a break. This is to prevent drivers from becoming excessively fatigued and making a critical error or even falling asleep at the wheel. 
• Speeding - Some truck companies have taken to installing devices on their trucks to prevent speeding. Others have not. Drivers are often on a tight schedule and may resort to speeding in order to get to their destination faster. 
• Drug use - Most companies require their drivers to submit to drug tests, but this does not stop some drivers. Stimulants are a popular choice among truck drivers who must remain alert for long periods of time, although alcohol and other drugs are not entirely uncommon either. 

What type of negligence the driver who hit you might have been engaging in often is not apparent at the scene. You may need assistance from a skilled attorney investigator.