Been in a Motorcycle Accident in Dallas–Fort Worth?

Motorcycle accidents produce severe injuries at rates far higher than car crashes. Without the protection of a steel frame, airbags, and seatbelts, riders are exposed to road rash, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and internal organ injuries. Call 911 immediately, even if you think you can walk.

The DFW metro's massive freeway network — I-35E, I-35W, I-30, I-635, I-20, US-75, SH-114, and SH-121 — creates constant hazards for riders. Distracted drivers, sudden lane changes, and failure-to-yield violations at intersections are the leading causes of motorcycle collisions in the DFW area. Surface streets like Harry Hines Boulevard, Lancaster Road, Singleton Boulevard, and Camp Bowie Boulevard in Fort Worth also see high rates of motorcycle crashes due to heavy traffic and multiple access points.

Texas recorded 581 motorcycle fatalities statewide in 2024. Dallas and Fort Worth consistently rank among the deadliest Texas cities for riders, driven by heavy traffic volumes, high speeds, and distracted driving. About 61% of Texas motorcycle fatalities occur between May and October, with Saturdays being the deadliest day of the week.

If you're wearing a helmet, leave it on until paramedics arrive unless it's obstructing your breathing. Removing a helmet improperly after an impact can worsen a neck or spinal injury.

Texas helmet law (Tex. Transp. Code § 661.003) requires helmets for riders under 21 and for riders of any age who do not carry at least $10,000 in medical insurance coverage and have not completed a motorcycle safety course. If you were not wearing a helmet, the insurance company will almost certainly use this against you — arguing that your injuries would have been less severe with a helmet. In 2024, 37% of Texas motorcycle fatalities involved riders not wearing a helmet. While failure to wear a helmet does not automatically bar your claim in Texas, it can reduce your compensation under the comparative negligence framework.

Even if you weren't legally required to wear a helmet, the insurance adjuster will raise it. An experienced attorney can counter this argument with medical evidence showing which injuries were and were not affected by helmet use.

If you are physically able, photograph everything: your motorcycle from multiple angles, all other vehicles involved, the intersection or stretch of road, traffic signals, skid marks, debris, road conditions, weather, and any visible injuries including road rash. These photos become the evidence your case depends on.

Get the other driver's information: full name, phone number, insurance company and policy number, driver's license number, and license plate. If there are witnesses, get their names and phone numbers. In motorcycle vs. car disputes, the car driver frequently claims they "didn't see" the motorcycle — witness testimony can be the difference between a denied claim and a successful recovery.

Do not apologize or admit fault. Do not say "I'm fine." Do not discuss speed, lane position, or whether you were wearing gear. Fault is a legal question, and anything you say at the scene can be used against you later.

If DPD or FWPD responded to the scene, they'll generate a crash report. If officers did not respond, file a report yourself — for motorcycle accidents, you want an official record documenting the other driver's actions.

Texas law requires reporting any crash involving injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000. Given that even a minor motorcycle crash usually causes at least $1,000 in damage to the bike alone, most motorcycle accidents meet this threshold.

For Dallas crashes, request your report at the DPD Records Section, 1400 Botham Jean Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75215, Monday through Friday, for $6. Call (214) 671-3343 for details. Reports are typically available 5 to 7 business days after the crash. For Fort Worth crashes, purchase reports through the LexisNexis BuyCrash portal or from FWPD Records. For any Texas crash, you can also use the TxDOT CRIS portal at cris.dot.state.tx.us/public for $6, typically available after 14 days.

Motorcycle crash injuries are often visible and obviously serious — road rash, broken bones, open wounds. But internal injuries, concussions, and soft tissue damage can be hidden. See a doctor within 24 hours even if your visible injuries seem manageable. A prompt medical evaluation documents the link between the crash and your injuries, and it catches hidden damage before it becomes life-threatening.

Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas is a Level I trauma center and one of the busiest public hospitals in the nation — it treats over 800 trauma patients per month and is equipped to handle the severe, multi-system injuries motorcycle crashes produce. Baylor University Medical Center, Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas, and Methodist Dallas Medical Center are also Level I trauma centers in Dallas. In Fort Worth, JPS Health Network and Texas Health Harris Methodist Fort Worth are Level I trauma centers. For non-emergency follow-up, DFW's extensive network of orthopedic, neurological, and rehabilitation specialists can provide ongoing care.

Keep every receipt, medical record, and prescription. Document your recovery with photos — road rash healing, surgical scars, physical therapy progress. This evidence supports your claim for compensation including pain and suffering, disfigurement, and long-term disability.

Motorcyclists face a particular challenge in insurance negotiations: anti-rider bias. Insurance adjusters — and juries — often assume motorcyclists were speeding, weaving through traffic, or riding recklessly. The adjuster will ask leading questions designed to get you to confirm these stereotypes. Do not give a recorded statement.

You are not legally required to speak with the other driver's insurance company. If they call, say: "I'm not prepared to give a statement at this time." Do not accept an early settlement offer. Early offers are calculated to close the file cheaply, before the full extent of your injuries — and their long-term impact on your life — is known.

Texas is an at-fault state with 30/60/25 minimum liability coverage. These minimums often don't cover serious motorcycle injuries. An estimated 14% of Texas drivers are uninsured. If the at-fault driver has no insurance or minimal coverage, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) policy may be your primary source of recovery.

Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Texas. Miss this deadline and you permanently lose the right to seek compensation — Texas courts enforce this strictly.

Two years may sound like enough time, but motorcycle crash injuries often require multiple surgeries, long rehabilitation, and reaching maximum medical improvement before you can fully assess your damages. DFW motorcycle cases may be filed in Dallas County or Tarrant County depending on where the crash occurred.

If your accident involved a government vehicle or occurred on a government-maintained road, the notice deadline is much shorter: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101 requires formal written notice within 6 months of the incident.

If you were injured in a motorcycle crash caused by another driver's negligence, an attorney can make a significant difference in your recovery. Motorcycle cases require countering anti-rider bias, establishing that the car driver — not you — was at fault, and demonstrating the full extent of injuries that are often more severe than typical car accident cases.

An experienced DFW motorcycle accident attorney can handle all communication with insurance companies, gather evidence including traffic camera footage and witness statements, retain accident reconstruction experts, and negotiate a settlement that accounts for your full damages — including future medical treatment, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and disfigurement.

Initial consultations are free, and motorcycle accident attorneys work on contingency — you pay nothing unless they win your case. Look for an attorney with specific experience in motorcycle cases and a track record in Dallas County or Tarrant County courts.