A motorcycle accident can mean many things to many people. For Gale Harold of ABC dramedy Desperate Housewives, it meant a serious injury which sidelined him while he was playing one of the biggest roles of his career: as Jackson Braddock, the new boyfriend of Susan Mayer, played by series star Teri Hatcher.

For others, a motorcycle collision may mean death — or at least debilitating injuries. In such cases, and when the motorcycle driver was not at fault, an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can help victims seek the financial compensation they deserve from those who are accountable.

Harold was lucky. He’s not only still alive, but after months away from the show, he returns to Desperate Housewives Sunday at 8 p.m. CST on ABC. In the interim his character had been written out  temporarily via a convenient trip out of town.

In the trip that included his real-life motorcycle accident, Harold suffered a fractured shoulder and wound up in intensive care. First listed in critical condition, he also suffered swelling of his brain, and he had no recollection of the accident.

Previously a star of Showtime’s Queer as Folk, Harold, 39, was last seen on Desperate Housewives in an episode that aired during the November ratings sweeps period. His character, a house painter, is expected to remain on the show at least through the end of this season.

Other motorcycle drivers, riders and enthusiasts haven’t been nearly as lucky. In the past decade, up to 5,000 Americans per year have been killed in a traffic accident while riding on a motorcycle, and many more thousands have been injured, often seriously. Frequently these motorcycle deaths and injuries involve bone fractures such as broken legs, and the victim must miss months of work, making the accident even more costly to him or her.

In deaths alone, motorcycle accidents account for 10 per cent of America’s traffic fatalities. Yet motorcycles represent only a fraction of 1 per cent of all vehicles on the road.

Motorcycle deaths have risen in part because many states have relaxed laws requiring motorcycle riders and drivers to wear protective safety helmets. Two decades ago, all but three states required helmets. Today, only 20 do. Both Texas and Florida have relaxed such helmet laws, and both states have seen an increase in motorcycle deaths.

But motorcycles also are more vulnerable than ever, often because drivers of cars, trucks and other larger vehicles are less attentive due to such things as cell phone and texting distractions, and are even less likely to notice a motorcycle’s presence. Another driver’s failure to note a motorcycle is frequently the cause of a motorcycle accident injury.

Also, many more people who are 40 or older are riding motorcycles today. Their bodies may be more vulnerable to tragic injuries or even death when hit by another vehicle due to a car or truck driver’s negligence.

If you or a loved one has suffered due to such negligence while on a motorcycle, alert a motorcycle accident lawyer with Jim S. Adler & Associates. The longtime Texas personal injury law firm offers a free case review and can fight for your right to financial compensation. No need to be desperate — fill out our free case review form and alert us for help today.

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