Jefferson County, TX — November 24, 2024, Shannon Murphy was injured in a motorcycle accident at approximately 4:15 p.m. along Farm to Market 1406.

According to authorities, 54-year-old Shannon Murphy was traveling on a northbound Harley-Davidson motorcycle on F.M. 1406 in the vicinity south of the George Bauer Lane intersection when the accident took place.

Reports state that the motorcycle allegedly had a defective steering mechanism. Officials indicate that, for reasons yet to be confirmed, the motorcycle was involved in a single-vehicle collision in which it apparently crashed into a ditch.

Murphy reportedly suffered serious injuries over the course of the accident. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I see reports like this, my main concern is whether Shannon Murphy and his loved ones will get the answers they need about what happened. A single-vehicle motorcycle crash might seem straightforward, but experience has shown me that these incidents often involve more than meets the eye. That’s why it’s critical to examine three key questions when looking into any serious accident.

The first question is whether authorities have conducted a thorough investigation. Law enforcement will likely document the scene and consider possible contributing factors, but motorcycle crashes can be particularly difficult to reconstruct, especially if there were no witnesses. Were there roadway hazards, such as loose gravel, potholes, or poor visibility, that may have contributed? Was another vehicle involved but left the scene? Did officers have enough time and resources to fully investigate the accident? Ensuring these questions are answered is crucial to understanding the full circumstances of the crash.

The second question to consider is whether anyone has looked into the possibility of a vehicle defect. Reports suggest the Harley-Davidson may have had a defective steering mechanism, which is a serious safety concern. If a malfunction caused the motorcycle to lose control, that could be a key factor in understanding the crash. However, the source of the defect—whether it was a design flaw, manufacturing issue, or maintenance problem—needs to be investigated further. Unfortunately, mechanical failures often go unexamined unless someone specifically pushes for that possibility to be explored. A forensic examination of the motorcycle is necessary to determine whether a defect played a role.

Finally, it’s important to determine whether all relevant electronic data has been collected. While motorcycles do not always have the same level of onboard data storage as passenger vehicles, some models do record limited performance data. Additionally, surveillance footage from nearby businesses or highway traffic cameras may provide crucial visual evidence of what happened. Even cellphone data could be relevant if distraction or another external factor played a role. The sooner this evidence is secured, the more useful it will be in clarifying the circumstances of the accident.

At the end of the day, answering these questions could be essential to understanding what really happened and why. A thorough examination of all three of these issues—including the quality of police investigations, possible vehicle defects, and electronic data—is the least that can be done to ensure that those affected by the crash receive the clarity they deserve.