Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Houston, TX
Get the Compensation for Catastrophic injuries from Motorcycle Accidents in Texas
The dangers are obvious & motorcycle accidents are going to happen. If you or a family member have been injured, you should contact the best Houston Lawyer you can find before accepting a settlement.
Motorcycle accidents in Texas are so common, that the large insurance company maintains claim specialist trained to handle serious accidents that involve motorcycles. If they have trained specialist, shouldn’t you have the Best Personal Injury Lawyer you can find.
James Lassiter and his Houston Lawyers are prepared and ready to fight for you. Not only is Mr. Lassiter recognized as one of the top personal injury lawyers in the Nation, & our firm is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Which is a select group of personal injury attorneys with a track record of success that sets them apart from others.
In 2007, 5,154 motorcyclists were killed in traffic accidents in the U.S., an increase of 7% from 2006. In addition, over 103,000 motorcyclists were injured. Many of these injuries and deaths could have been prevented if more motorcycle riders and their passengers wore helmets. Wearing a helmet lowers a motorcycle rider’s risk of fatal injury by 37%.
Even With A Helmet, Accidents Cause Serious Injuries & We Will Fight For Maximum Compensation
Despite the documented effectiveness of helmets, many motorcyclists choose not to wear them, especially when state laws don’t require helmet use. Currently, less than half of the states require helmet use by riders of all ages. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that helmets saved the lives of 1,784 motorcyclists in 2007. And if all motorcyclists had worn helmets, an additional 800 lives could have been saved.
Motorcycle Accident Injuries and Fatality Statistics
Per vehicle mile traveled in 2006, motorcyclists were about 35 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a motor vehicle traffic crash and 8 times more likely to be injured. While motorcycles made up no more than 3% of all registered vehicles in the U.S., motorcyclists account for 13% of total traffic deaths. In 2007, 36% of all motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were speeding, compared to 24% for passenger car drivers, 19% for light-truck drivers, and 8% for large-truck drivers.
Texas Motorcycle Laws
In Texas, motorcyclists are subject to the same speed restrictions as other vehicles. Under Texas law, all motorists are required to drive at a speed that is reasonable or prudent. Tex. Transp. Code § 545.351. Any speed in excess of the following speeds is evidence of unreasonable driving:
- 15 mph approaching a school crossing.
- 25 mph in a business or residential district.
- 65 mph in other locations.
| Motorcyclist Fatalities and Injuries and Fatality and Injury Rates, 1997-2007 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Fatalities | Registered Vehicles | Fatality Rate* | Vehicle Miles Traveled (Millions) | Fatality Rates* |
| 1997 | 2,116 | 3,826,373 | 55.3 | 10,081 | 20.99 |
| 1998 | 2,291 | 3,879,450 | 59.13 | 10,283 | 22.31 |
| 1999 | 2,483 | 4,152,433 | 59.8 | 10,584 | 23.46 |
| 2000 | 2,897 | 4,346,068 | 66.66 | 10,469 | 27.67 |
| 2001 | 3,197 | 4,903,056 | 65.2 | 9,639 | 33.17 |
| 2002 | 3,270 | 5,004,156 | 65.2 | 9,639 | 33.17 |
| 2003 | 3,714 | 5,370,035 | 69.16 | 9,577 | 38.78 |
| 2004 | 4,028 | 5,780,870 | 69.68 | 10,048 | 40.09 |
| 2005 | 4,576 | 6,227,146 | 73.48 | 10,454 | 43.77 |
| 2006 | 4,837 | 6,686,147 | 72.34 | 12,401 | 39.00 |
| 2007 | 5,154 | – | – | – | – |
| Year | Injuries | Registered Vehicles | Injury Rate* | Vehicle Miles Traveled (Millions) | Injury Rates* |
| 1997 | 53,000 | 3,826,373 | 1,374 | 10,081 | 522 |
| 1998 | 49,000 | 3,879,450 | 1,262 | 10,283 | 476 |
| 1999 | 50,000 | 4,152,433 | 1,204 | 10,584 | 472 |
| 2000 | 58,000 | 4,346,068 | 1,328 | 10,469 | 551 |
| 2001 | 60,000 | 4,903,056 | 1,229 | 9,639 | 625 |
| 2002 | 65,000 | 5,004,156 | 1,293 | 9,552 | 667 |
| 2003 | 67,000 | 5,370,035 | 1,250 | 9,577 | 701 |
| 2004 | 76,000 | 5,780,870 | 1,321 | 10,048 | 760 |
| 2005 | 87,000 | 6,227,146 | 1,402 | 10,454 | 835 |
| 2006 | 88,000 | 6,686,147 | 1,311 | 12,401 | 707 |
| 2007 | 103,000 | – | – | – | – |
*Rate per 100,000 registered vehicles. **Rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
– = not available.
Sources: Vehicle miles traveled and registered vehicles-Federal Highway Administration.
Traffic deaths-Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), NHTSA. Traffic injuries-General Estimates System (GES), NHTSA.
| Number | Percent | Percent | Percent | Percent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Total Motorcycle Riders Killed | Helmeted | Not Helmeted | Impaired Motorcycle Riders Killed (BAC=.08+) | BAC=.01+ |
| 2007 Motorcycle Rider Fatalities by State, Helmet Use, and BAC | |||||
| Alabama | 80 | 91% | 9% | 19% | 25% |
| Alaska | 6 | 100% | 0% | 30% | 35% |
| Arizona | 127 | 44% | 56% | 22% | 30% |
| Arkansas | 76 | 38% | 62% | 23% | 36% |
| California | 495 | 86% | 14% | 24% | 30% |
| Colorado | 84 | 38% | 62% | 30% | 37% |
| Connecticut | 36 | 36% | 64% | 23% | 35% |
| Delaware | 15 | 36% | 64% | 21% | 38% |
| Dist of Columbia | 2 | 50% | 50% | 50% | 100% |
| Florida | 530 | 52% | 48% | 25% | 32% |
| Georgia | 156 | 88% | 12% | 18% | 25% |
| Hawaii | 25 | 24% | 76% | 29% | 45% |
| Idaho | 26 | 35% | 65% | 24% | 30% |
| Illinois | 142 | 19% | 81% | 38% | 46% |
| Indiana | 113 | 20% | 80% | 33% | 39% |
| Iowa | 54 | 9% | 91% | 28% | 32% |
| Kansas | 41 | 28% | 73% | 21% | 30% |
| Kentucky | 105 | 37% | 63% | 25% | 28% |
| Louisiana | 78 | 76% | 24% | 31% | 40% |
| Maine | 18 | 33% | 67% | 25% | 26% |
| Maryland | 88 | 90% | 10% | 23% | 30% |
| Massachusetts | 59 | 95% | 5% | 34% | 46% |
| Michigan | 120 | 90% | 10% | 22% | 28% |
| Minnesota | 58 | 21% | 79% | 26% | 34% |
| Mississippi | 47 | 64% | 36% | 29% | 35% |
| Missouri | 84 | 79% | 21% | 31% | 38% |
| Montana | 33 | 47% | 53% | 27% | 30% |
| Nebraska | 13 | 69% | 31% | 46% | 62% |
| Nevada | 48 | 88% | 13% | 26% | 39% |
| New Hampshire | 23 | 43% | 57% | 13% | 27% |
| New Jersey | 79 | 83% | 17% | 28% | 36% |
| New Mexico | 49 | 18% | 82% | 41% | 49% |
| New York | 158 | 85% | 15% | 26% | 36% |
| North Carolina | 195 | 93% | 7% | 26% | 33% |
| North Dakota | 6 | 17% | 83% | 20% | 40% |
| Ohio | 178 | 35% | 65% | 29% | 36% |
| Oklahoma | 67 | 30% | 70% | 29% | 31% |
| Oregon | 47 | 93% | 7% | 28% | 39% |
| Pennsylvania | 210 | 46% | 54% | 34% | 43% |
| Rhode Island | 13 | 25% | 75% | 58% | 72% |
| South Carolina | 119 | 26% | 74% | 40% | 47% |
| South Dakota | 24 | 21% | 79% | 18% | 31% |
| Tennessee | 144 | 87% | 13% | 27% | 34% |
| Texas | 375 | 40% | 60% | 39% | 46% |
| Utah | 29 | 50% | 50% | 10% | 14% |
| Vermont | 7 | 71% | 29% | 14% | 29% |
| Virginia | 126 | 91% | 9% | 29% | 39% |
| Washington | 65 | 85% | 15% | 35% | 45% |
| West Virginia | 38 | 83% | 17% | 24% | 33% |
| Wisconsin | 104 | 23% | 77% | 35% | 47% |
| Wyoming | 18 | 44% | 56% | 28% | 32% |
| U.S. Total | 4,833 | 59% | 41% | 28% | 36% |
| Puerto Rico | 83 | 33% | 67% | 32% | 43% |
Note: Percent helmeted based on fatalities with known helmet use.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Houston Commercial Truck Accident Attorney Today
In all matters involving personal injury it is essential that measures be taken promptly to preserve evidence, investigate the accident in question, and file a lawsuit prior to the deadline imposed by the Statute of Limitations. If you or a loved one is a victim of personal injuries, call Lassiter Law now at (713) 489-1580 or submit a simple Case Review Form. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to accept your case, we will work on a Contingent Fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary award or recovery of funds. Don’t delay! You may have a valid claim and be entitled to compensation for your injuries, but a lawsuit must be filed before the statute of limitations expires.
The above is not legal advice. That can only come from a qualified attorney who is familiar with all the facts and circumstances of a particular, specific case and the relevant law. See Terms of Use.
