Texas Bicycle Accident Lawyers
Fighting for injured bicycle riders in Austin, Dallas, and Fort Worth
Bicycles are a wonderful way to see the sights of Texas. Both adults and children may ride around their neighborhoods, and many cyclists ride on trails in local parks. Car, truck, and motorcycle drivers need to be on the lookout for cyclists and respect their right to share the road.
When bicycle accidents cause serious injuries or the death of a loved one, you need experienced aggressive personal injury attorneys on your side. At Slack Davis Sanger, our Texas bicycle accident lawyers work with investigators and the police to find out how an accident happened. We work with your doctors to understand the full scope of your injuries. Our personal injury lawyers are respected across Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and throughout Texas for our record of high verdicts and settlements.
“Slack Davis Sanger came highly recommended to me by a colleague. From my first meeting with Mike Davis, I knew my sisters and I had made the right choice. Slack Davis Sanger managed all of the details and people day-to-day…This firm delivered – and more.”- Kyle Smith, Client
How dangerous and deadly are Texas bicycle accidents?
When any motorized vehicle – a car, truck, or motorcycle – strikes a bicycle, the cyclist will take the brunt of all the force. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, 341 cyclists were killed in the last five years. In 2020, there were 2,173 traffic crashes involving bicyclists in Texas. Most fatal accidents occur in the early evening.
What types of driver negligence cause bicycle accidents in Texas?
At Slack Davis Sanger, we work quickly to determine how your bicycle accident happened. Some of the common causes of bicycle accidents are:
- Driver intoxication
- Driver distraction, including texting while driving
- Violations of Texas’ traffic laws, including speeding
- Driving too fast for weather conditions
- Backing into roads from streets or driveways without checking for bicycle riders
- Not respecting the right of a bicycle rider to be on a road
- Failure to yield right of way to cyclists at an intersection/crosswalk
- Dangerous road conditions
- Poor visibility
Bicycle accidents may also be caused by defective bicycle parts.
What are common bicycle accident injuries?
Our law firm works with your doctors and our own network of doctors when necessary to understand how severe your injuries are. We represent Texas bicycle accident victims who have:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage or paralysis
- Traumatic amputation injuries
- Multiple and complex bone fractures
- Neck, shoulder, and back injuries
- Road rash or burn injuries
- Dental injuries
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Emotional trauma
- Other severe injuries
Many bicycle accident victims are never the same, and many live with severe and constant pain.
Who is liable for a Texas bicycle accident?
Drivers need to be alert for bicycle riders on slower roads and must respect the rights of cyclists at crosswalks. Our Texas accident lawyers file claims against negligent drivers. If the owners of the vehicle are different than the driver (such as when parents let their teens use their vehicle), we file a claim against the owners. Other defendants may include trucking companies, employers of the driver, and the manufacturers of defective bicycle or auto parts.
Normally, the driver’s liability insurance policy should pay for your damages and losses. We’ll explain whether a bicycle rider can use his/her own UM/UIM policy if the responsible defendant is not insured or does not have enough insurance to pay the full damage award.
What are Texas’ bicycle laws?
- Bicyclists must operate the vehicles like other vehicle operators.
- Riders should ride near the curb and travel in the same direction as traffic.
- Riders should have one hand on the handlebars. Two is better.
- Riders should use proper hand and arm signals.
- There should be just one rider per saddle.
- Riders can ride two abreast if they don’t impede traffic.
- The bicycles should be equipped with a “white light on the front and a red reflector or red light on the rear” for riding at night and in low visibility conditions.
- “Brakes capable of making the braked wheel skid.”
Riders should use bike lanes where possible. There are additional rules for electric bicycles.
How can cyclists stay safe while riding?
There are numerous steps bicycle riders should take. Some involve the bicycle, some involve your gear, and some involve where and how you ride. Common safety suggestions include:
- Use hand signals.
- Have lamps on your bicycle or avoiding riding at night.
- Understand the traffic laws.
- Understand what roads you can drive on and which ones you cannot.
- Wearing helmets is recommended, though not required in Texas.
- Make sure you and your bicycle are visible.
- Conduct regular inspections of your bicycle including the brakes and gears.
- Ride with traffic.
- Try to make eye contact with drivers, especially at crosswalks.
What is my bicycle accident case worth?
Our Texas bicycle accident lawyers understand all the ways your injuries are affecting you. We explain that the purpose of damages is to compensate you in such a way to make you as “whole” as possible as you were before the accident. Damages in personal injury cases typically include:
- Your medical expenses, current and future
- Your income loss, including lost benefits - current and future
- Your daily physical pain and emotional suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement damages
- Other economic and non-economic damages
We file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the family if a loved one died due to a Texas bicycle accident.
How much time do I have to file a Texas bicycle accident claim?
Generally, personal injury and wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the accident date. The best course of action is to contact Slack Davis Sanger as soon as possible. We’ll answer your questions, investigate the accident, perform discovery, and speak with your doctors. After this process is complete, we’ll negotiate your claim with the insurance companies. If the offers from the insurance company are not just, we’ll prepare your case for a jury trial.
Do you have a bicycle accident lawyer near me?
Slack Davis Sanger has three Texas offices for your convenience. Our Austin office is located at 6001 Bold Ruler Way, Suite 100. Our Dallas office is located at 3500 Maple Avenue, Suite 1200. Finally, our Fort Worth office is located at 100 Lexington Street, Suite 70.
Contact our Texas bicycle accident attorneys today
At Slack Davis Sanger, our lawyers have more than 200 years of combined experience fighting for personal injury victims, including those injured in bicycle accidents. We are respected by former clients, insurance carriers, and defense lawyers for our tenacity, persuasiveness, and preparation. To schedule a free consultation at one of our locations in Austin, Dallas, or Fort Worth, please call 800-455-8686 or complete our contact form.