Garland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Riders on Garland roads share them with drivers who cut across lanes on I-30, blow through lights on Garland Road, and turn left at intersections without ever seeing the motorcycle coming. 

When one of those moments ends in a crash, the injuries are serious, and the recovery is long.

Freese & Goss has represented injured riders across North Texas for over 77 years and has recovered more than $1 billion for clients nationwide. We investigate crashes thoroughly, identify who is responsible, and pursue compensation that reflects the full cost of your injuries.

Call a Garland motorcycle accident lawyer at (214) 761-6623 or fill out our online form for a free case review.

“Freese & Goss were awesome in helping me with my case. They got the job done and the result I was looking for.”

– Denzel B. | Client

What Causes Motorcycle Accidents in Garland?

Most serious motorcycle crashes in Garland are caused by other drivers. A rider can be following the law and in the correct lane and still end up seriously hurt because another driver made a mistake. 

These crashes happen on everyday drives, at intersections, on highways, and on roads people use without thinking twice. Here are the most common causes of motorcycle wrecks we see in Garland:

Left-Turn Crashes

Drivers turning at intersections often misjudge a rider’s speed or fail to see the motorcycle. These crashes happen quickly with almost no time for riders to react. Traffic congestion and limited sightlines increase risk: a driver commits to the turn and crosses into the rider’s path.

Unsafe Lane Changes

On I-30 and US-78, drivers merge without checking mirrors or blind spots. Motorcycles are easy to miss next to larger vehicles. A driver moving over without full awareness can force a rider off the road or into another lane. Even a small movement into a motorcycle’s lane at highway speed can cause a serious crash.

Following Too Closely

When a car tailgates a motorcycle, and traffic suddenly slows, the rider pays the price. Rear-end crashes at speed cause some of the most severe injuries in motorcycle accident cases. Motorcycles can slow more quickly than larger vehicles, and drivers who follow too closely do not leave enough room to react. In stop-and-go traffic, that gap disappears entirely.

Distracted Driving

Drivers checking phones, adjusting navigation, or eating behind the wheel take their eyes off the road long enough to miss a motorcycle entirely before impact. It only takes a few seconds of inattention for a driver to drift out of their lane or fail to notice traffic slowing ahead. By the time they look back up, the collision has already happened.

Impaired Driving

Drunk and drug-impaired drivers have slower reaction times and make poor decisions that put riders in direct danger. Delayed braking, missed signals, and failure to maintain a lane all increase the risk of a crash. For a motorcyclist, there is no buffer between that mistake and the impact.

Failure to Yield at Intersections

Drivers who roll through stop signs or misjudge traffic gaps at busy Garland intersections can cause head-on collisions with riders who have no room to maneuver. These crashes often happen when drivers enter a lane they think is clear but isn’t. The motorcycle is already there, and the rider can’t escape.

Road Hazards

Potholes, uneven pavement, gravel, and debris affect motorcycles far more than cars. A hazard a car rolls over without noticing can cause a rider to lose control with no other vehicle involved. 

Construction zones, loose material near intersections, and deteriorating road surfaces create additional risks that riders have to account for on every trip.

After a crash, do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company before speaking with a Garland motorcycle accident lawyer. Adjusters ask questions designed to produce answers that reduce or deny your claim.

Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule, meaning any percentage of fault assigned to you reduces what you can recover. Statements made before you have legal counsel can be used to push that number up.

What Are the Rights and Responsibilities of a Motorcyclist in Garland?

Texas law treats motorcycles as full motor vehicles. Riders have the same rights on the road as any other driver and are held to the same traffic laws. Insurance companies review compliance with these laws closely after any crash.

Helmet Laws

Texas requires all riders and passengers under 21 to wear a helmet. Riders 21 and older may ride without one if they complete a state-approved course or have qualifying insurance. Not wearing a helmet can reduce head injury compensation, but does not prevent filing a claim.

Lane Splitting

Lane splitting is illegal in Texas. Motorcycles must stay within a single lane and not pass or ride between lanes; violating this law can assign fault to the rider.

Traffic Laws

Motorcyclists must obey speed limits, signaling, right-of-way, and proper following distances—the same laws as car drivers. Following these laws strengthens your case after a crash.

Lane Sharing

Two motorcycles can ride side by side within a single lane. More than two per lane is not allowed and can be used against the rider.

Injured in a Garland Motorcycle Crash? Contact Us Now.

Insurance companies send adjusters to investigate quickly after a crash. The earlier you have legal representation, the better positioned your claim will be. Contact us at (214) 761-6623 for a free, no-pressure consultation with a Garland motorcycle accident attorney.

What Injuries Do Garland Motorcycle Crash Victims Commonly Suffer?

Motorcyclists have no airbags, no seatbelts, and no frame to protect them in a crash. The injuries that result are often severe, require extended treatment, and in some cases cause permanent changes to a rider’s life.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

A helmet reduces the risk but cannot prevent every brain injury. On impact, the brain moves inside the skull, and the resulting damage, including memory loss, cognitive difficulties, chronic headaches, and personality changes, may not be fully apparent for days or weeks.

Even at lower speeds, a rider can strike the pavement or another vehicle with enough force to cause serious head trauma.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries may cause partial or complete paralysis, impacting movement, sensation, and independence. Such injuries frequently require long-term medical care. Being ejected from a motorcycle or struck directly heightens risk compared to other crash types.

Road Rash

Severe road rash strips away layers of skin and can cause permanent scarring, nerve damage, and infection. Cases involving significant skin loss may require surgery and skin grafts. Contact with pavement at speed can lead to injuries that extend well beyond the surface.

Broken Bones

Fractures to the arms, legs, wrists, and pelvis are common in motorcycle crashes. Complex fractures often require surgery and months of rehabilitation. Riders frequently take the full force of the impact, leading to multiple fractures in a single crash.

Internal Injuries

Organ damage and internal bleeding may not be immediately visible but can be fatal if untreated. Blunt force from impacts with vehicles, the ground, or stationary objects often causes these injuries.

Crush Injuries and Amputations

When a rider is pinned under a vehicle or sustains severe limb trauma, amputation may be necessary. These cases often require long-term care, prosthetics, and continuing treatment. Collisions with larger vehicles are associated with greater risk.

Psychological Trauma

PTSD, anxiety, and depression following a serious crash are real and documented injuries. They affect a rider’s ability to return to work, maintain relationships, and function day to day. These conditions can develop even after physical injuries begin to heal.

Motorcycle Safety Checklist for Garland Riders

Riding defensively reduces risk. These practices give riders the best chance of avoiding a crash and the strongest legal footing if one happens anyway.

• Wear a DOT-approved helmet on every ride, regardless of age or legal requirement.
• Keep headlights on at all times, day and night.
• Ride in the portion of the lane most visible to other drivers.
• Treat every intersection as a potential left-turn conflict.
• Give extra following distance on highways and high-speed roads.
• Avoid riding in a driver’s blind spot, especially trucks and SUVs.
• Wear high-visibility gear when riding at night or in low-light conditions.
• Stay current on motorcycle inspections and maintenance records.
• Never ride after consuming alcohol or medications that impair judgment.
• Carry proof of your safety course completion or qualifying health insurance if riding without a helmet.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Garland Motorcycle Accident?

Liability in a motorcycle crash depends on how the collision occurred, where each vehicle was positioned, and what each driver did in the moments leading up to impact. In Garland cases, that often includes intersection layout, traffic signals, lane position, and the point of impact between the vehicles.

• The at-fault driver is the liable party in most motorcycle accident cases. Turning without yielding, changing lanes without checking mirrors, following too closely, running a red light, or driving while impaired are all actions that courts and insurers evaluate when determining fault.
• A vehicle or parts manufacturer may share responsibility when a defective component contributed to the crash. Brake failures, tire blowouts, and other mechanical failures that cause a rider to lose control can support a product liability claim.
• A government agency can be held accountable when a dangerous road condition contributed to the crash. Potholes, missing signage, and deteriorating pavement that go unaddressed are the responsibility of the agency that maintains that road.
• A property owner may factor in when overgrown vegetation blocks sightlines at an intersection or a hazard on private property extends onto the road.

Under Texas law, compensation is reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to the injured rider. At 51 percent or more fault, a rider loses the right to recover anything, even if the other driver was primarily responsible for the crash.

In motorcycle cases, insurance companies look for ways to assign part of the blame to the rider. Statements from the driver, lane position, speed, and visibility are all used to argue that the rider shares responsibility for the crash.

Motorcycle claims also face added scrutiny. Riders are frequently described as reckless or difficult to see, and those descriptions influence how claims are evaluated. Our Garland motorcycle accident attorneys address those arguments directly, using crash reconstruction, witness accounts, police reports, and traffic footage to show how the collision occurred and who is responsible.

How Insurance Companies Handle Motorcycle Accident Claims

Insurance companies move fast after a motorcycle crash, and the goal of that speed is not to help you. Adjusters review the police report, interview witnesses, and look for any evidence that assigns fault to the rider before a claimant has had a chance to speak with an attorney.

Insurance companies handling motorcycle accident claims focus on reducing what they pay. That shows up in how they investigate the crash and how they evaluate your injuries.

Common tactics include:

• Taking a recorded statement within days of the crash and using it to question speed, lane position, or reaction time;
• Relying on statements like “I didn’t see the motorcycle” to argue shared responsibility;
• Pointing to any traffic violation, no matter how minor, to shift fault;
• Disputing whether medical treatment was necessary or related to the crash;
• Highlighting gaps in treatment or delays in follow-up care;
• Requesting repeated documentation while slowing down the claim process; or
• Offering a settlement before the full extent of injuries, ongoing treatment needs, long-term rehabilitation, and future care costs are fully known.

Freese & Goss handles all communications with insurance companies on your behalf. Our Garland motorcycle accident lawyers counter lowball offers with documented evidence and prepare every case for trial from the beginning, which gives us leverage throughout negotiations.

Social Media and Your Motorcycle Accident Claim

Insurance companies review public posts during a claim. Photos, videos, location tags, and comments can be taken out of context and used to argue that your injuries are less serious than you report.

A post showing you at a family gathering or back at work can be used to minimize the impact of your injuries, even if it does not reflect what you are actually dealing with day to day.

Avoid posting about the crash, your injuries, or your recovery. Do not discuss the claim online. Privacy settings do not prevent this information from being reviewed and used.

What Compensation Can Our Garland Motorcycle Accident Law Firm Help You Recover?

When another driver’s negligence causes a crash, Texas law allows injured riders to pursue compensation for the full range of losses resulting from the crash.

• Medical expenses cover emergency treatment, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, prescription medication, and projected future care. Serious injuries often require treatment for years, and your claim should account for those costs.
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity address income missed during recovery and long-term losses when injuries prevent a return to previous work.
• Pain and suffering compensate for the physical pain and emotional toll of the crash and what follows it.
• Property damage covers the cost to repair or replace your motorcycle, helmet, gear, and any personal property damaged in the crash.
• Punitive damages may be available when the at-fault driver’s conduct was grossly negligent, such as driving drunk or street racing.

Settlement value depends on both current losses and what you are likely to face in the future. Serious motorcycle injuries often require more than initial treatment. Many riders need ongoing care, additional procedures, and extended rehabilitation.

These future costs are not always clear in the early stages of a claim, but they need to be accounted for before any settlement is reached.

In more severe cases, injuries affect how a rider moves through daily life. That can include limits on physical activity, difficulty returning to the same type of work, or the need for home modifications. These are real losses that go beyond medical bills and should be included when evaluating compensation.

Insurance companies may try to resolve a claim before the full extent of these impacts is known. Accepting a settlement too early can leave those long-term needs uncovered.

Research from Martindale-Nolo shows that injury victims with legal representation recover nearly 3.5 times more than those who handle claims without an attorney, even after accounting for legal fees.

At Freese & Goss, our results reflect that difference. With over $1 billion recovered for injured clients nationwide, we know what full and fair compensation looks like, and we pursue it.

Contact a Garland Motorcycle Crash Attorney Today

Freese & Goss fights insurance companies aggressively and represents injured clients across Garland, North Texas, and nationwide. With more than 77 years of combined experience, our attorneys focus on protecting your rights and pursuing fair compensation.

There are no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless compensation is recovered. Our line is open 24/7. Call (214) 761-6623 or contact us online to schedule a free case review with a Garland motorcycle accident attorney.

FAQs