Group motorcycle rides can provide greater safety, as multiple motorcycles are more visible to other drivers than one alone. If your group ride ended in a harmful motorcycle accident, however, it is important to know your rights and how to get the financial compensation you need to recover. Speak with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in San Antonio for legal guidance.
Who Is Responsible for Your Group Ride Accident?
Many motorcycle accidents in Texas are caused by driver errors. Drivers can behave carelessly or recklessly in ways that increase the odds of crashing into a motorcycle. This includes distracted driving, drowsy driving, driving under the influence, failing to check blind spots, running red lights and making unsafe lane changes.
Sometimes, group ride accidents are caused by a motorcyclist. It can be difficult to file a claim against someone in your riding group, as it is likely a friend of yours. However, if another rider made a mistake that left you with serious injuries and expenses, you have the right to recover financial compensation. Keep in mind that the claim you file will go to their automobile insurance policy, not the individual.
It may also be possible to hold a group leader responsible for your motorcycle crash. If your group had a designated person who chose the route, set the pace, determined the difficulty level of the ride or had a duty to communicate hazards, this person could be held partially responsible for an accident if they acted negligently.
Finally, a third party could be partially at fault for your accident if they contributed to the crash or your injuries in any way. Examples include the manufacturer of a defective motorcycle part or the government agency in charge of repairing dangerous road conditions.
Proving Your Motorcycle Accident Case
Under Texas’s “at-fault” insurance law, a person who causes an automobile accident can be held liable or financially responsible for related damages, including medical bills and property repairs. It is up to the injured victim to prove fault using evidence, such as a police report, eyewitness statements, photographs and video footage.
Whether the at-fault individual was a fellow motorcyclist within your group or another driver on the road, he or she may be liable for your losses. All vehicle owners in Texas are required to carry minimum amounts of automobile insurance to cover at-fault accidents. You can access the coverage of the at-fault party by filing a claim shortly after your crash.
You will need to provide evidence to support your claim. Most motorcycle accident cases allege liability based on negligence, which is someone’s failure to act with proper care. If another driver caused your crash by speeding or distracted driving, for example, this can make the driver liable for your losses.
What If the At-Fault Party Does Not Have Insurance?
If the person who caused your motorcycle accident is uninsured or underinsured, you may have coverage on your own motorcycle insurance. Contact your insurance provider and ask if you have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. This is an optional type of insurance that can protect you if the at-fault party does not have sufficient coverage or you are injured in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident.
What If I Was a Passenger?
If you were taking a ride on someone else’s motorcycle at the time of the accident, you may qualify for compensation from the insurance provider of the at-fault party as well as the operator of the bike you were riding. Even if you were not wearing a helmet, you could receive compensation since you were not responsible for causing the crash as a passenger.
Motorcycle accident cases involving groups of bikers where one or more were injured or a fellow rider is to blame can be complicated and difficult to navigate. To fully protect your rights during the insurance claims process, contact a car accident attorney in San Antonio to represent you.