Motorcycle Accidents: Common Causes and How Riders Can Protect Their Legal Rights
Aug. 23, 2025
I’ve worked with countless riders whose lives changed in a single moment. Motorcycle accidents often result in serious injuries or worse, and pursuing a personal injury claim is rarely straightforward. Understanding why these accidents happen and knowing what steps to take afterward can be the difference between a secure future and ongoing uncertainty.
At The Law Office of Aaron Fonseca, I help injured riders in Edinburg, Texas. Let’s take a closer look at the most frequent causes of motorcycle crashes and how injured riders can protect their legal rights every step of the way.
Why Motorcycle Accidents Happen So Often
Riding a motorcycle is exhilarating, but it also exposes us to unique risks. Because we’re less protected than drivers in passenger vehicles, even a low-speed crash can cause serious damage. While riders sometimes make mistakes, many collisions are caused by other drivers’ negligence. To protect ourselves legally and physically, we have to understand what we’re up against.
Driver Inattention and Distraction
One of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents is distracted driving. Whether a driver is texting, eating, or simply not paying attention to their surroundings, that momentary lapse can lead to a devastating crash. Motorcycles are smaller and easier to miss in a driver’s blind spot, which means even more vigilance is required behind the wheel.
Left-Turn Collisions
Intersections are dangerous for motorcyclists, especially when a car turns left in front of an oncoming rider. This scenario is among the deadliest and most frequent. Drivers may misjudge our speed, or they may not see us at all. Unfortunately, when this happens, the rider often takes the full force of the impact.
Lane Changes Without Warning
Unsafe lane changes are another major issue. When a driver veers into a different lane without signaling or checking their mirrors, they put motorcyclists at serious risk. Because we occupy less space on the road, many drivers don’t register that we’re there until it’s too late.
Following Too Closely
Tailgating can be particularly dangerous for motorcycles. We often have to brake more quickly to avoid road hazards like debris, potholes, or oil spills. When a vehicle is following too closely, there’s a much higher chance of a rear-end collision, which can throw us from the bike and lead to severe injuries.
Dangerous Road Conditions
Not every accident involves another driver. Sometimes, poorly maintained roads are to blame. Uneven pavement, gravel, inadequate signage, and slick surfaces can all cause riders to lose control. When a municipality or contractor fails to keep roads safe, they may be liable for resulting injuries under personal injury law.
Knowing the most common causes of accidents helps riders stay more alert on the road. But even when we’re cautious, crashes still happen—often due to someone else’s careless behavior. When that happens, understanding our legal rights is critical.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Crash
After an accident, everything can feel overwhelming. Physical pain, emotional shock, and financial stress all pile up quickly. Taking the right steps immediately after a crash not only protects your health but also strengthens any personal injury claim you may have to file later on.
Call for emergency help: Always contact 911 right away. Even if injuries seem minor, it’s important to get a police report and medical evaluation.
Document the scene: If you’re able, take photos of the vehicles, the road, skid marks, traffic signs, and your injuries. This can provide vital evidence later.
Exchange information: Get the name, contact info, insurance details, and license plate number of everyone involved.
Speak to witnesses: If anyone saw the accident, get their statements and contact details. Witnesses can help support your version of events.
Get medical care: Even if you don’t feel hurt right away, see a doctor. Injuries from motorcycle crashes can take time to appear.
The more documentation you have, the stronger your personal injury case may be. Once immediate needs are addressed, it’s time to think about legal protection.
Protecting Your Legal Rights After an Accident
After a motorcycle crash, pursuing a personal injury claim is often necessary to cover medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. But insurance companies don’t always play fair. They may downplay your injuries, blame you for the crash, or offer a low settlement. That’s where legal representation comes in.
Here’s how I help protect riders after an accident:
Investigating the accident: I review the police report, gather medical records, and work with crash reconstruction professionals if needed to build a strong claim.
Negotiating with insurance companies: I handle all communication so my clients don’t have to deal with pressure or lowball offers.
Filing a lawsuit if necessary: If we can’t reach a fair settlement, I prepare to take the case to court and present a clear, evidence-based argument for compensation.
Protecting your legal rights starts with knowing that you have them. Too often, riders are blamed for accidents they didn’t cause. A personal injury lawyer helps shift the focus back to the facts and advocates for fair treatment every step of the way.
Injuries That Riders Commonly Experience
Because motorcycles offer so little protection compared to cars, the injuries we sustain in crashes are usually serious. Even when wearing a helmet and protective gear, the physical consequences can be long-lasting.
Some of the most common injuries I see in personal injury cases include:
Head and brain trauma: Concussions and traumatic brain injuries often occur even with helmet use. These injuries can affect memory, concentration, mood, and quality of life.
Spinal cord injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or total paralysis, requiring lifelong care and adaptive equipment.
Broken bones: Riders often suffer fractures in the arms, legs, ribs, and collarbones. Recovery can take months and may involve multiple surgeries.
Road rash: Sliding across pavement at high speeds can tear through clothing and skin, leading to painful abrasions and risk of infection.
Internal injuries: Damage to organs isn’t always visible right away, but internal bleeding or bruising can become life-threatening if left untreated.
The costs associated with these injuries can be astronomical. That’s why personal injury claims are so important—they help cover the real, long-term impact of the crash.
Why Fault Matters in Motorcycle Accident Cases
In personal injury law, determining fault is essential. Texas uses a modified comparative fault rule, which means your ability to recover damages depends on how much you’re found to be at fault. If you’re more than 50% responsible, you can’t collect compensation.
This makes accurate reporting and evidence especially important in motorcycle accidents. If an insurance company tries to shift blame to the rider, I work to push back with solid facts, accident reconstruction, and medical evaluations. The more clearly we show that another party caused the crash, the stronger our claim becomes.
In many cases, the driver may have violated traffic laws, failed to yield, or acted carelessly. Documenting that behavior and tying it directly to the accident gives us a strong foundation for recovery.
Compensation Available to Injured Riders
When we pursue a personal injury claim after a motorcycle accident, the goal is to recover fair compensation for every loss you’ve experienced—not just the damage to your bike.
Types of compensation may include:
Medical expenses: This includes hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, and future treatment needs.
Lost wages: If your injuries keep you from working, you may be entitled to recover current and future income losses.
Pain and suffering: Courts recognize that injuries affect more than just finances. Emotional distress and chronic pain can also be compensated.
Loss of enjoyment: If your injuries keep you from riding, working, or participating in hobbies you once loved, that loss matters.
Property damage: Repairs or replacement costs for your motorcycle and gear may also be included in your claim.
Every case is different, but I always work to document all the ways a crash has affected your life so we can pursue the full compensation you’re entitled to under the law.
How to Reduce the Risk of an Accident
While we can’t control the behavior of other drivers, there are a few things we can do as riders to reduce our risk of being involved in a crash.
Wear protective gear: Helmets, armored jackets, gloves, and boots can reduce the severity of injuries during a fall or collision.
Stay visible: Use headlights during the day, wear bright colors, and avoid riding in blind spots.
Practice defensive riding: Always assume that drivers don’t see you. Keep a safe distance, avoid weaving between cars, and be prepared to react quickly.
Maintain your bike: Check brakes, tires, lights, and mirrors regularly. Mechanical failures can lead to serious crashes.
Take safety courses: Formal training helps you improve reaction time, understand risk, and sharpen your skills.
Even when doing everything right, accidents still happen. That’s why knowing what to do after a crash—and who to call—makes all the difference.
Reach Out to a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, don’t wait to get the legal support you need. The Law Office of Aaron Fonseca helps injured riders in Edinburg, Texas; McAllen; Mission; and throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Call today so we can discuss how to protect your personal injury claim and get you on the road to recovery.