Motorcycles are fast and small. Sometimes, drivers don’t even see them until they’ve passed by the vehicle. If you’ve been hurt by a negligent motorcyclist, call our San Antonio lane-splitting accident attorneys so we can talk to you about your legal rights and options.
George Salinas Injury Lawyers is committed to helping accident injury victims in San Antonio, Texas. Our San Antonio personal injury attorneys believe that when someone causes an accident that injures you, they should be held accountable. You have to bear the physical pain of your injuries, but you shouldn’t have to carry the financial cost.
Contact us or call us today at (210) 225-0909 to set up your free, no-obligation consultation and learn more about how we can help. We understand what you’re going through, so we will always treat you with the transparency and honesty you deserve.
Why Choose George Salinas Injury Lawyers After You’ve Been Injured in a San Antonio Lane-Splitting Accident?
Our San Antonio motorcycle accident lawyers excel at what we do because we focus our law practice on advocating for the rights of accident victims. Car accidents of any kind are terrifying experiences, and their results can be tragic.
Sometimes, the insurance company stands in the way of you getting the compensation to which you’re entitled. With George Salinas Injury Lawyers in your corner, you’ll get a seasoned team of attorneys who will be well-prepared to negotiate with the insurance company by:
- Launching our own independent investigation into your accident
- Interviewing everyone who witnessed the accident
- Becoming thoroughly familiar with your injuries and medical reports
- Hiring expert witnesses such as an accident reconstructionist
- Identifying everyone who was responsible for causing the accident
When it’s time to talk to the insurance company about a financial settlement, you can trust that we’ll go to the negotiation table fully prepared and ready to protect your rights. Contact our law office in San Antonio, TX, today to get started.
What Is Lane Splitting, and Is It Legal in San Antonio?
Texas has one of the nation’s highest motorcycle fatality rates. In 2020, there were nearly 7,500 crashes involving motorcycles, and 482 motorcyclists were killed.
But negligent motorcyclists don’t only endanger their own lives. They can also put drivers with whom they share the road at risk.
One of the more potentially hazardous maneuvers that motorcycle drivers make is lane splitting. Also called “stripe riding,” lane splitting occurs when a motorcyclist moves between lanes in heavily congested traffic.
There are many opinions as to whether lane splitting is safe. Some proponents of the practice argue that it is actually safer for motorcyclists to lane split because they’re less likely to be struck from behind by other vehicles.
There are variations of lane splitting, such as lane filtering. This is where a motorcycle operator passes between cars in stopped traffic. In Texas, lane splitting is prohibited. While state law doesn’t use the term “lane splitting,” it does require vehicle operators to drive entirely within a single lane.
If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a motorcyclist who was engaged in lane splitting, you may be entitled to compensation. Call George Salinas Injury Lawyers so we can assess your case and determine what legal options are available to you.
Is the Motorcycle Rider Always Liable in a San Antonio Lane-Splitting Accident?
Texas is an at-fault vehicle accident state. This means that if you’re injured in an accident caused by the negligence of another driver, the at-fault driver or their insurance company is required to compensate you for your injuries.
Under the negligence per se rule, a person can be found liable for a car accident if they violated a law that was intended to protect the public against harm. Because lane splitting is illegal in Texas, a motorcyclist who causes an accident while lane splitting may be negligent per se.
However, Texas also follows the modified comparative negligence rule. Under this rule, if your own conduct contributed to the accident that caused your injuries, your overall damages will be reduced according to the percentage at which you were at fault. If you were more than 51% at fault, state law bars you from recovering anything.
If you were injured in a San Antonio, TX, lane-splitting accident, let George Salinas Injury Lawyers evaluate your case. If the motorcyclist was solely at fault for the accident, we’ll protect you against claims by the insurance company that you yourself were negligent.
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Motorcycles weaving in and out of traffic can wreak havoc on the roads. Even though they’re relatively small compared to other vehicles, they’re fast and can inflict a lot of damage.
If a motorcyclist caused your San Antonio, Texas, motor vehicle accident because they were lane splitting, you shouldn’t have to suffer the financial consequences. Attorney George Salinas is here to advocate for you and to give you the best possible chance of getting the compensation you need to recover from your injuries.
Start standing up for your rights by calling us today to schedule your free consultation. We’ll thoroughly investigate your case and design a legal strategy that will fit your unique situation.