Meghann Cuniff is a legal affairs journalist who is a veteran of daily newspapers and has deep experience reporting on complex civil litigation, including mass torts and class actions, securities cases, patent disputes and high-stakes litigation involving major tech companies. She's based in Southern California.
Meghann Cuniff
Meghann Cuniff is a legal affairs journalist who is a veteran of daily newspapers and has deep experience reporting on complex civil litigation, including mass torts and class actions, securities cases, patent disputes and high-stakes litigation involving major tech companies. She's based in Southern California.
Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida.
After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Court judge. He researched and wrote legal precedent in published opinions on behalf of the Court.
He has been an editor, columnist and journalist at the Miami Herald, The Dallas Morning News, The Oregonian, Golf Digest, FindLaw.com and other media outlets.
He lived in Colombia and Argentina teaching legal English to attorneys and law students. He is also a Spanish-language subject matter expert.
An avid waterman, he surfs and scuba dives frequently.
Reviewed
Adam Ramirez, J.D.
Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida.
After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Court judge. He researched and wrote legal precedent in published opinions on behalf of the Court.
He has been an editor, columnist and journalist at the Miami Herald, The Dallas Morning News, The Oregonian, Golf Digest, FindLaw.com and other media outlets.
He lived in Colombia and Argentina teaching legal English to attorneys and law students. He is also a Spanish-language subject matter expert.
An avid waterman, he surfs and scuba dives frequently.
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
With about 2.3 million residents, Houston is the nation’s fourth largest city. But its nearly 600 square miles make it the largest big city in terms of geography. There are plenty of roads to help connect everyone, which give motorcyclists more places to ride and more places to, unfortunately, crash.
Knowing how to find the best motorcycle accident lawyer in Houston can make your situation much easier if you do have an accident.
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Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Houston
Compare Top Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Other Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Filing a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Texas
If you want to file a lawsuit over your motorcycle accident in Texas, there are some basic things you need to know to get started.
Texas Statute of Limitations
In Texas, you have two years from the time of the incident to bring injury and medical malpractice lawsuits. Motorcycle accidents are subject to the same statute of limitations, making it imperative to seek legal advice as soon as you can.
Texas Laws for Motorcycle Drivers
- Helmet: Anyone who’s riding a motorcycle in Texas and is between five and 21 years of age must wear a helmet.
- Speed limits: Texas law sets the maximum at 70 mph but also allows for limits up to 85 mph depending on the design of the highway. Pay attention to signage and keep an eye out for adjustments. Speeding can increase your chances of liability.
- Insurance: All motorcyclists in Texas are required to have at least $30,000 in insurance per injured person and $60,000 per accident. The minimum insurance coverage for property damage is $25,000.
Identifying Fault for a Motorcycle Crash
Texas has a modified comparative negligence law that allows for judges to consider how much a party is at fault for a crash and award damages in accordance with that finding. Anyone who is found to be 51% or more responsible for an accident isn’t legally entitled to damages.
How Can an Attorney Help You?
An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in Houston can help you navigate the legal system to ensure you get the best possible outcome. Some attorneys may specialize in personal injury lawsuits but are not experienced in motorcycle accidents. Others may not have the time to devote to extensive discovery and investigation. Multi-lawyer firms can be great, but experienced solo practitioners should also be considered.
How to Find the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Houston, Texas
Attorney advertisements are everywhere, making it even more important to know how to determine who is the best motorcycle accident lawyer for your case. There are several things to consider.
- Their expertise. You want to find a personal injury attorney who is specifically experienced in motorcycle accidents. You ideally want to find a lawyer who has handled other lawsuits specifically about motorcycle accidents to help ensure the best possible representation.
- Their references. Do you have friends or family members who have previously sought a good motorcycle accident lawyer in Houston? They should have insight about who to consider. You also should read client reviews and endorsements from other lawyers.
- Their cost. Most attorneys take motorcycle accident cases on contingency, meaning they are paid by taking a percent (usually between 33% and 40%) of whatever amount of money they obtain for you..
Methodology
To come up with the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Houston in 2024, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical module considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we take into account factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses & certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education & employment background
- Scholarly lectures & writings
- Awards & honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What should I do immediately after a motorcycle crash?
First, make sure you and everyone else is safe and see if anyone needs medical attention. Call 911 and request an ambulance if anyone is hurt. If there are no injuries, call a non-emergency line to request police assistance. If no one is injured and you can safely assess the situation, exchange information with the other party and document the scene through photographs and a recorded statement as you wait for police to arrive.
How much money can I get if I get in a motorcycle crash?
It depends on liability and the extent of damages. It also depends on the ability of the opposing party to pay, which can have everything to do with insurance policies and limits. A skilled attorney can optimize settlement offers and help you understand what you might be able to obtain at trial.
What if I get a settlement offer before I hire a lawyer?
You’ll still want to contact a motorcycle accident lawyer so a professional can review the offer and ensure it is the best possible option for you. Sometimes initial settlement offers are much lower than what your case may be worth. An experienced lawyer can help you figure that out.
