Plenty of motorcyclists enjoy the open roads in Texas. You may see groups of bikers in places like Bourne and Gruene, Texas. However, too often nice joy rides lead to injury because automobile drivers file to see motorcyclists. Because of the serious injuries and deaths related to motorcycle accidents, Fort Stockton recognizes the whole month of May as “Motorcycle Safety & Awareness Month.” The Fort Stockton City Council met in open session Monday night for an abbreviated session. One of the main topics of discussion included an agenda to promote motorcycle safety.
The council’s act to make May “Motorcycle Safety & Awareness Month” was made as part of the Texas Department of Transportation’s safety campaign to reduce the likelihood of motorcycle accident fatalities.
TXDOT released a report that showed that motorcycle crashes have increased an average of 5-percent per year, with 494 cyclist deaths in Texas last year, with 4,339 crashes involving at least two vehicles. TXDOT would like to fight against the increasing number of motorcycle related deaths. In order to do so, TXDOT is promoting a program called “Share the Road: Look Twice for Motorcycles,” where drivers actively keep an eye out for cyclists.
Motorcycle accidents involve serious injuries. When a car is involved in a crash, the occupant is protected by seatbelts, airbags, crumple zones, and a metal frame. A motorcyclist only has a helmet and other gear for protection. Motorcycle accidents tend to result in serious injuries including disfigurement, crush injuries, burns, spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injury. Did you know that the average cost of a fatal motorcycle injury is estimated to be around $17,000? We expect the average cost of treatment for a motorcycle accident victim without a head injury to be $16,000. We also estimate that the average cost of treating a motorcycle accident brain injury is $45,000, but these costs may vary by state.
But medical treatment of injuries isn’t the only cost associated with a Texas motorcycle crash. Related costs include loss of wages, reduced quality of life and pain and suffering.
It is no surprise that insurance companies do not want to pay these costs. For this reason, it is extremely important for Texas motorcycle accident victims to know about their rights and the compensation they are entitled to.
– Article by Richard D. Weaver, a Texas Lawyer
