Personal Injury

Motorcycle Accidents

By Ted Smith, Attorney · Originally published March 30, 2020. Updated July 16, 2026.

A motorcycle crash can leave you with serious injuries, a damaged bike, and a stack of medical bills within hours. Because riders have far less protection than someone in a car, injuries from even a low-speed motorcycle wreck are often more severe than a typical car accident. If you were hurt on a motorcycle in Central Texas, the choices you make in the first days, and the deadline that follows, matter.

Why Motorcycle Crashes Cause Worse Injuries

A rider has no seatbelt, no airbag, and no steel frame between them and the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises riders to wear a helmet that meets the federal DOT safety standard, cover their arms and legs with leather or heavy denim, wear boots that cover the ankle, and use gloves for grip and hand protection. NHTSA also warns that “novelty helmets,” sold with fake DOT labels, do not meet the federal standard and offer far less protection in a crash.

Even riders who follow every safety recommendation can still be seriously hurt when another driver fails to see them, misjudges their speed, or turns into their path. Common injuries after a motorcycle crash include:

Traumatic brain injuries
Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
Broken bones and facial fractures
Road rash and severe skin abrasions
Limb injuries, including amputation in the most serious crashes

What to Do Right After a Motorcycle Accident

Check for injuries and call 911. Get medical help moving before anything else, even if you feel fine. Adrenaline can mask pain from a serious injury.
Document the scene if you safely can. Photos of the vehicles, the road, skid marks, and your gear can matter later, especially before anything is moved or repaired.
Get the other driver’s information. Name, contact information, and insurance details for everyone involved.
See a doctor, even for minor symptoms. Some injuries, including concussions and soft-tissue injuries, do not show obvious symptoms right away.
Keep records. Medical bills, repair estimates, missed work, and any communication with insurance adjusters.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes

Most multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes are not caused by the rider’s own mistakes. Common causes include:

Left-turn crashes, where a car turns in front of an oncoming motorcycle because the driver misjudged its speed or distance, or never saw it at all
Distracted driving, including phone use, that keeps a driver from noticing a motorcycle in time to react
Lane changes, when a driver does not check blind spots for a motorcycle riding beside them
Road hazards, such as potholes, gravel, or debris, that affect a motorcycle far more than a car
Following too closely, which gives a driver behind a motorcycle less time to stop if the rider slows suddenly

Understanding what caused the crash is often the first step in a claim, since it points to who was at fault and what evidence will matter.

What Compensation May Cover

If another driver’s negligence caused your crash, a personal injury claim may help recover costs tied to the accident, including medical bills, ongoing treatment and rehabilitation, lost income while you recover, damage to your motorcycle and gear, and compensation for pain and suffering. What is actually available depends on the facts of your case, your insurance coverage, and the other driver’s coverage, which is part of what a case review sorts out.

Talking to Insurance Companies

Insurance adjusters, including your own, often ask questions early to lock in a version of events before you know the full extent of your injuries. You are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer, and it is worth talking to an attorney before you do. This is especially true with motorcycle claims, where some adjusters start from an assumption that the rider was partly at fault.

The Deadline to File a Claim in Texas

Texas law generally gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This comes from the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code and applies to most motorcycle and car accident injury claims. Missing that window usually means losing the right to sue, no matter how strong the case would have been. Because evidence and witness memory fade quickly, it is best to start working on a claim well before that deadline, not at the edge of it.

Get Professional Help

If your crash happened because another driver was careless, distracted, or broke a traffic law, you may be entitled to recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Ted Smith has been licensed to practice law in Texas since 1976, and the personal injury attorneys at Ted Smith Law Group work to build the medical and factual record a motorcycle claim needs. Learn more on our personal injury page.

FAQ

Do I have to wear a helmet in Texas? Texas law requires motorcycle riders to wear a helmet. A rider who is at least 21 is exempt if the rider has completed an approved motorcycle operator training and safety course or is covered by qualifying health insurance. NHTSA’s safety guidance recommends a DOT-compliant helmet on every ride regardless of what the law requires, since it is one of the most effective ways to reduce head injury in a crash.

Will I be blamed for the accident just because I ride a motorcycle? Some insurance adjusters start with that assumption, but fault is decided by the facts of the crash, not the type of vehicle involved. A clear record from the scene and your medical providers helps counter that bias.

What if the other driver was uninsured? Your own policy may include uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage that can apply to a motorcycle crash. Reviewing your policy is part of a full case evaluation.

How soon should I contact a lawyer after a motorcycle accident? As soon as you are able to. Evidence at the scene disappears quickly, and some insurance deadlines and the two-year filing deadline both run from the date of the crash.

Does it cost anything to talk to an attorney? Ted Smith Law Group offers free consultations for personal injury matters, including motorcycle accidents.

Sources

Call or text (254) 690-5688 for a free consultation about your motorcycle accident claim.