You’re cruising down I-45 on a clear afternoon. You’re doing everything right: gear on, eyes up, staying visible. As you approach an intersection, a car turns left in front of you. No signal, no warning. You hit the brakes, but it’s too late. You’re thrown from the bike, left bruised, broken, and buried in hospital bills. And then comes the kicker: the driver claims you were speeding or lane-splitting. Now, you’re left fighting to prove you weren’t the one who screwed up.
This is the nightmare way too many Texas bikers live through. At JCJ Law Group in Houston, we know the deck is stacked against motorcyclists. You’re often blamed before anyone looks at the facts. In this article, we describe the common causes of motorcycle accidents, and most importantly, who’s on the hook when things go sideways.
Top causes of motorcycle accidents
When a motorcycle collides with a car or truck, the rider almost always comes out the worse for wear. But pinning down why it happened is key to holding the right people accountable. Here’s a breakdown of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents.
Left-hand turns by drivers
This is by far one of the most dangerous situations for motorcyclists. A driver makes a left turn at an intersection, claiming they “didn’t see you,” and boom, you’re on the pavement.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 42% of fatal motorcycle crashes involving another vehicle happen when the car is turning left.
This usually isn’t just a mistake: it’s negligence. Drivers are required to yield to oncoming traffic. Failing to see you isn’t a valid excuse when they didn’t even bother to look.
Unsafe lane changes
Texas highways are a mess of distracted drivers weaving through traffic. When a car changes lanes without checking blind spots, motorcycles are often invisible until it’s too late.
In our experience, these accidents often involve drivers on their phones, merging blindly, or simply assuming that motorcycles don’t “count” as vehicles. We prove otherwise.
Rear-end collisions
Think rear-end crashes are no big deal? Not on a bike. When a car taps a motorcycle from behind, it can launch the rider or cause them to lay the bike down at high speed.
These often happen in stop-and-go traffic or at red lights, where drivers aren’t paying attention. And unlike a fender bender between two cars, a “minor” bump here can cause serious injuries.
Aggressive or distracted driving
Between road rage and smartphones, Texas roads are a buffet of danger. Drivers who tailgate, swerve, or speed around bikes create ticking time bombs.
In 2023 alone, distracted driving caused over 400 deaths in Texas, per TxDOT.
Whether they’re texting or just being reckless, their behavior becomes your disaster.
Road hazards and poor conditions
Motorcycles aren’t as forgiving as four-wheeled vehicles. Potholes, loose gravel, debris, or slick pavement can easily send a rider flying.
If the city or county was negligent in maintaining that road, they could be partly liable.
Who’s liable in a motorcycle accident?
Now let’s talk about what really matters when you’re staring down medical bills and lost wages: who’s paying for this mess? Liability isn’t always black and white, and it sure as hell isn’t always the biker’s fault. Here’s who might be on the hook.
The car or truck driver
More often than not, the other driver is responsible: whether it’s from failing to yield, making an unsafe turn, or just plain not paying attention.
Texas operates under a modified comparative negligence system. That means even if you were partly at fault, you can still recover damages as long as you’re less than 51% responsible.
So if the driver was 80% at fault and you were 20%, you can still recover, just 20% less than your full damages. And yes, you can rest completely assured that here at JCJ Law Group, we will fight tooth and nail to keep your fault percentage as low as possible.
The motorcycle rider
Sometimes, yeah, the rider is partly to blame. Lane-splitting, speeding, and riding impaired: these things can reduce or eliminate your ability to recover compensation.
But don’t fall for scare tactics. Just because a cop or insurance adjuster says you were “partially at fault” doesn’t make it true. We’ll investigate the facts, not the spin.
The local government or road authority
If your crash involved a giant pothole, broken guardrail, or lack of signage, the city, county, or state could be liable for failing to maintain safe roads.
It’s tough to sue a government entity in Texas, but not impossible. You’ve got to act fast and follow strict notice rules, but JCJ Law Group knows how to play that game (and win it).
Motorcycle manufacturers or repair shops
Every now and then, an accident isn’t caused by driver error: it’s a mechanical failure. Faulty brakes, a bad tire, or shoddy maintenance work could all trigger a wreck.
In those cases, we look at the manufacturer or service shop as possible liable parties.
Insurance companies acting in bad faith
Here’s one no one talks about enough: insurance companies. If they lowball you, delay your claim, or try to deny coverage with zero evidence, that’s bad faith, and we’ll sue them for it.
This is where having a hammer instead of a handshake comes in. JCJ Law Group doesn’t ask insurance companies to do the right thing. We make them.
Don’t eat the blame: make someone pay
If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, don’t let the other side make you the scapegoat. The law isn’t always on your side, but JCJ Law Group in Houston is.
Whether it’s a careless driver, a broken road, or an insurance company trying to screw you over, we hold the right people accountable. We’ve got the tools, the fire, and the legal chops to take what you’re owed: not what they offer.
Call JCJ Law Group today. When you’re injured, you don’t need polite. You need brutal, relentless legal firepower. And that’s exactly what we bring.
