Legal Considerations for Motorcyclists Involved in Accidents with Commercial Trucks

There is a unique sense of freedom that comes with riding a motorcycle on the open roads of Texas. It’s a connection to the environment and a feeling of control that drivers in enclosed vehicles rarely experience. But that freedom comes with inherent vulnerability.

This vulnerability is never more apparent than when sharing the road with an 80,000-pound commercial truck. In a fraction of a second, the rumble of the engine and the blur of the landscape can be replaced by the catastrophic violence of a collision, leaving an injured rider to face a long and arduous path to recovery.

In the aftermath of such a life-altering event, injured motorcyclists and their families often discover the fight is just beginning. They face not only immense physical and emotional pain but also a powerful corporate adversary in the form of a trucking company and its insurance carrier, who may even try to unfairly blame the rider for the crash.

At Will Adams Law Firm, we have seen the devastation these accidents cause. We are committed to championing the rights of injured motorcyclists, combining a deep understanding of complex trucking litigation with a compassionate approach to helping our clients rebuild their lives.

The Unique Dangers Commercial Trucks Pose to Motorcyclists

A collision between a motorcycle and a commercial truck is a classic “David and Goliath” scenario. The massive disparity in size and weight means the motorcyclist almost always bears the brunt of the physical force. Understanding the specific dangers a truck presents is the first step in understanding how these accidents happen.

Massive Blind Spots or “No-Zones”: Large commercial trucks have significant blind spots on all four sides—directly in front, directly behind, and along both sides of the cab and trailer. A motorcycle can easily disappear from a truck driver’s view, making lane changes, turns, and merges exceptionally dangerous.
Devastating Air Turbulence: The air currents and wind buffeting created by a large truck moving at highway speeds can be strong enough to destabilize a motorcycle, potentially pushing the rider out of their lane or causing a loss of control.
Wide Turns: A truck making a right turn often needs to swing wide to the left first, encroaching on adjacent lanes. A motorcyclist riding alongside the truck can be caught off guard and crushed if the driver fails to see them.
Road Hazards from Debris: Trucks can drop debris from their loads or suffer tire blowouts, leaving dangerous obstacles on the roadway. A car might run over this debris with little issue, but for a motorcyclist, it can be deadly.
Overwhelming Size: The simple, intimidating presence of a large truck can make it difficult for a rider to maneuver safely, especially in the heavy traffic common to the I-10 corridor and other major Houston-area highways.

Common Causes of Motorcycle-Truck Accidents in Texas

While every accident is unique, most collisions involving motorcycles and commercial trucks can be traced back to a specific act of negligence, often on the part of the truck driver or the company they work for.

Negligence by the Truck Driver

Failure to See the Motorcycle: This is the most common reason given by truck drivers after a crash. Whether due to inattention or failure to properly check the large “no-zones,” a driver who merges or turns into a motorcyclist is often at fault.
Unsafe Lane Changes: A trucker who changes lanes without signaling or without thoroughly checking their mirrors and blind spots can easily force a rider off the road or into another vehicle.
Following Too Closely: A loaded tractor-trailer requires a much longer stopping distance than a passenger vehicle. A trucker tailgating a motorcycle leaves no margin for error if the rider needs to slow down or stop suddenly.
Driver Fatigue: Federal regulations limit the number of hours a trucker can drive, but economic pressures often lead to violations. A drowsy driver has slower reaction times and impaired judgment, a deadly combination around a motorcycle.
Distracted Driving: Using a cell phone, manipulating a GPS, or interacting with a dispatch radio takes a driver’s attention off the critical task of driving safely.

Negligence by the Trucking Company

Inadequate Training: Trucking companies have a responsibility to train their drivers on how to safely share the road with smaller vehicles, including specific training on motorcycle awareness and blind-spot management. Failure to do so is negligence.
Poor Vehicle Maintenance: A crash caused by brake failure, a tire blowout, or steering malfunction may be the fault of the trucking company for failing to properly inspect and maintain its fleet according to federal standards.
Pressuring Drivers to Violate Rules: Some companies create a culture that prioritizes speed and delivery schedules over safety, implicitly or explicitly encouraging drivers to violate Hours-of-Service rules.

Fighting the Unfair “Biker Bias”

One of the most significant hurdles an injured motorcyclist faces is a pervasive and unfair bias. Insurance adjusters, and sometimes even juries, may harbor a stereotype of motorcyclists as reckless thrill-seekers. The trucking company’s defense team will exploit this prejudice, attempting to paint the rider as the architect of their own misfortune, regardless of the facts.

They will look for any shred of evidence to argue that the motorcyclist was:

Speeding
Weaving between lanes
Not wearing proper safety gear
Somehow “difficult to see”

Overcoming this bias requires building a case based on objective, undeniable facts. It is not enough to simply state what happened. You must be able to prove it with compelling evidence, such as the truck’s own data, witness testimony, and expert analysis from an accident reconstructionist who can show exactly how the collision occurred and who was truly at fault.

How Liability Is Proven in a Texas Truck Accident Claim

To win a claim, your attorney must prove that the truck driver or their employer was negligent and that their negligence directly caused your injuries. This involves four key elements:

Duty: The truck driver and trucking company had a legal duty to operate their vehicle with a high degree of care to ensure the safety of others on the road, including motorcyclists.
Breach: They breached this duty through a negligent act, such as making an unsafe lane change or violating a federal safety regulation.
Causation: This breach of duty was the direct and foreseeable cause of the motorcycle crash and your resulting injuries.
Damages: You suffered actual, quantifiable harm as a result of the accident.

The most powerful evidence in these cases often comes from the trucking company itself. A skilled attorney will immediately send a spoliation letter, a legal demand that the company preserve all relevant evidence. This includes:

The Truck’s “Black Box” (ECM/ECU): This device records data on the truck’s speed, braking, engine RPMs, and other critical information in the moments leading up to a crash.
Driver’s Logs: Whether electronic or paper, these logs show whether the driver was complying with federal Hours-of-Service rules.
Dispatch Records: Communications between the driver and the company can reveal pressure to hurry or knowledge of vehicle problems.
Maintenance and Inspection Records: These documents can show a history of neglected repairs or failed inspections.
Driver’s Qualification File: This contains the driver’s employment history, driving record, and training certifications, which can reveal a pattern of unsafe driving or inadequate training.

This evidence is vital to countering the biker bias and building a case that can stand up to the scrutiny of the trucking company’s lawyers.

Understanding the Full Scope of Catastrophic Injuries and Damages

Motorcyclists have virtually no protection in a collision with a massive truck. As a result, the injuries are often catastrophic and life-altering. Common injuries include:

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Spinal Cord Injuries resulting in paralysis
Severe “road rash” leading to disfigurement and infection
Limb amputations
Crush injuries and internal organ damage

A settlement or verdict must account for a lifetime of consequences. This requires a meticulous calculation of all economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

These are the tangible financial losses resulting from the accident.

Past and Future Medical Expenses: This includes everything from the initial emergency transport and hospitalization to projected costs for future surgeries, medications, and rehabilitation therapies.
Rehabilitation Costs: Compensation for physical, occupational, and vocational therapy needed to regain as much function as possible.
Lost Wages and Loss of Earning Capacity: Payment for the income you have lost and will lose in the future if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous career.
Costs for Assistive Devices and Home Modifications: Funds for wheelchairs, prosthetics, and modifications to your home and vehicle to accommodate a permanent disability.

Non-Economic Damages

These compensate for the profound, intangible losses that have no simple price tag.

Pain and Suffering: For the physical pain and emotional distress you have endured and will continue to endure.
Disfigurement and Scarring: Compensation for the emotional harm caused by permanent scarring or physical alterations.
Physical Impairment: For the loss of the ability to perform daily life activities.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life: For the diminished ability to participate in hobbies, recreational activities, and life experiences you once enjoyed.

How Will Adams Law Firm Champions Injured Riders

Facing a powerful trucking company requires an advocate with specific knowledge and proven experience. At Will Adams Law Firm, we understand the unique challenges injured motorcyclists face, and we are equipped to fight for them.

We Fight the Bias: We know the stereotypes trucking companies use against riders, and we build fact-based cases designed to overcome this prejudice from day one.
We Know Trucking Litigation: Our lead trial attorney, Will Adams, has been recognized by the National Trucking Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyers in Texas. This is not a general designation; it is a recognition of his deep knowledge and successful track record in this specific, complex area of law.
We Have the Resources: We work with a network of leading accident reconstructionists, medical experts, and life care planners to accurately document what happened and calculate the full cost of your lifetime needs.
We Prepare Every Case for Trial: Our trial-ready approach sends a powerful message to insurance companies. They know we will not be intimidated into accepting an inadequate settlement and are fully prepared to take your case before a jury to demand justice. This reputation is a powerful tool in negotiations.

Contact Our Katy, TX Trucking Accident Lawyers Today

Your focus after a devastating motorcycle accident should be on one thing: your physical and emotional recovery. Let us handle the fight. As a local Katy firm, we provide the personalized, compassionate support that is essential during such a challenging time. You are not just another case file to us; you are a member of our community who needs a champion.

If you have been injured in an accident with a commercial truck, contact the Will Adams Law Firm at (281) 371-6345 for a free and confidential consultation. Let us explain your rights and help you decide on the best path forward.