McLean, TX — August 11, 2024, a man was injured in a motorcycle accident at approximately 9:15 p.m. along Interstate Highway 40.

According to authorities, a 62-year-old man was traveling on a westbound Honda motorcycle on I.H. 40 in the vicinity east of State Highway 273 when the accident took place.

Reports state that construction barrels were used to indicate that the right lane of the highway was closing and that traffic should merge to the left. Officials indicate that, as the motorcycle was approaching the merge point, there was allegedly another vehicle in the left lane, so the bike continued straight between the cones. As it did so, however, the rider's left leg struck one of the barrels. He reportedly sustained serious injuries due to the impact and was transported to a local medical facility by EMS for necessary treatment. Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identity of the victim—are not available at this point in time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When someone is seriously hurt while navigating a marked construction zone, the full story isn't always obvious from initial reports. Having spent more than 30 years examining incidents like this, I’ve seen time and again how vital it is to move past assumptions and focus instead on the facts. That starts with asking the right questions.

Did police investigate the construction zone setup thoroughly and document it? The crash report mentions a lane closure marked by barrels, but were they spaced correctly, visible from a sufficient distance, and compliant with TXDOT safety standards? If they weren’t properly placed or maintained, fault may lie not with the rider but with those responsible for traffic control.

Has anyone examined whether a vehicle defect contributed to the crash? If, for instance, the motorcycle’s braking or steering system malfunctioned, it might explain why the rider couldn’t maneuver safely between the cones. Mechanical failures are often overlooked in single-vehicle crashes, but they can make a critical difference in both cause and liability.

Was the motorcycle’s electronic data module preserved? Some motorcycles, like newer touring models, have systems that log data about speed, throttle input, and braking. If such data is available, it could shed light on how the rider reacted in the seconds leading up to the collision—and whether he had time or space to avoid the hazard.

Answering these three questions is critical to making sure that no stone is left unturned in understanding the causes of a crash like this. Serious wrecks deserve serious investigation, not assumptions. Getting clear answers to these questions is crucial for those seeking to understand what happened and why—and it's the least that can be done to help those affected find the clarity and closure they deserve.