Plano Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Motorcycle Accident Representation in Plano, Texas
A motorcycle crash is not like a car accident. There is no steel frame, no airbags, no crumple zone between you and the road. When a collision happens on US-75 (Central Expressway), State Highway 121 (Sam Rayburn Tollway), or the President George Bush Turnpike, the injuries are almost always catastrophic — and the insurance company's first move is almost always to blame the rider.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists are 27 to 28 times more likely to die per mile traveled than occupants of passenger cars. Roughly 80% of all motorcycle crashes result in injury or death. And research consistently shows that other drivers cause 60% to 66% of multi-vehicle motorcycle collisions — typically by failing to yield the right-of-way or failing to see the rider.
At The Law Office of Joel M. Vecchio, P.C., attorney Joel Vecchio has over 25 years of personal injury trial experience and has recovered over $2.25 million in a single motorcycle injury case. When you call this office, you speak directly with your attorney — not a paralegal, not an intake coordinator. Joel Vecchio personally manages every motorcycle accident claim from the first phone call through the final resolution.
The firm operates on a contingency fee basis. No upfront costs. You pay nothing unless compensation is recovered. Consultations are free, available 24/7, with bilingual services in English and Spanish.
The Biker Bias Problem and Why It Matters
There is a pervasive bias against motorcyclists in the insurance industry. Adjusters, jurors, and even some judges carry an assumption that riders are inherently reckless — that they "assumed the risk" by choosing to ride. This bias has no legal basis in Texas, but it directly influences how claims are evaluated and defended.
Insurance companies exploit this bias aggressively, pushing fault allocations onto the rider to reduce or eliminate payouts under Texas's 51% comparative fault bar. An experienced motorcycle accident attorney knows how to neutralize this bias with evidence, witness testimony, and strategic framing.
Catastrophic Injuries Common in Motorcycle Crashes
Without the protection of an enclosed vehicle, motorcycle riders sustain injuries of a severity that far exceeds typical car accident claims. The damages in these cases are correspondingly higher — and the insurance company fights correspondingly harder to minimize them.
Impact Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries — even with a helmet, the force of impact can cause concussions, contusions, and diffuse axonal injury requiring lifelong care.
Spinal cord damage and paralysis — complete or partial loss of motor function below the injury site.
Compound fractures — breaks requiring surgical hardware, multiple procedures, and months of rehabilitation.
Surface and Extremity Injuries
Severe road rash — deep abrasion injuries requiring skin grafts, infection management, and permanent scarring.
Crushed extremities and traumatic amputations — loss of limbs or permanent loss of function.
Internal organ damage — lacerations or hemorrhaging that may not produce symptoms for hours after the crash.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Texas
At the scene: Call 911 immediately. Texas Transportation Code Section 550 requires reporting accidents involving injury, death, or major property damage. Document everything — photograph the vehicles, road conditions, skid marks, your injuries, and your damaged helmet and gear. Get witness contact information. Do not admit fault or apologize.
Within 24 hours: Go to the emergency room even if you feel fine. Adrenaline masks pain. Motorcycle riders frequently walk away from crashes with fractured bones, internal bleeding, or traumatic brain injuries that do not produce symptoms for hours. The medical record created at that visit becomes the foundation of your injury claim.
The first week: Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company. Do not accept a quick settlement offer. Do not post about the accident on social media. Keep every document related to the crash — medical bills, pharmacy receipts, repair estimates, tow receipts, and all correspondence from insurance companies.
Save physical evidence: Keep your damaged helmet, clothing, and gear in their current condition. Do not repair your motorcycle until it is fully inspected and photographed. These items are physical evidence of the crash forces involved.
Texas Legal Rules That Affect Motorcycle Accident Claims
Two-Year Statute of Limitations
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If the crash results in death, the family has two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim.
Modified Comparative Fault (51% Bar Rule)
Under Chapter 33, if you are assigned 51% or more of the fault, you recover nothing. Insurance companies exploit biker bias to inflate the rider's fault allocation. Experienced legal counsel is critical to defeating these tactics.
Helmet Law Considerations
Texas law requires motorcycle helmets for riders under 21 and for riders who have not completed a safety course or do not carry qualifying health insurance. If you were not wearing a helmet, the defense may argue your head injuries would have been prevented — but failure to wear a helmet does not make you legally at fault for the crash itself.
Government Entity Deadlines
If the accident involved a government vehicle or a road defect on a government-maintained highway, formal notice must be served in as few as 90 days under the Texas Tort Claims Act.