Riding a bicycle shouldn’t be so dangerous, but careless drivers heighten the dangers bicyclists face on a daily basis. When an injury strikes and negligence is to blame, you have strong rights you should know about, including the right to seek compensation for your medical bills, wage loss, damaged bicycle, and other losses.
At D. Miller & Associates, we are Legal Heroes for injured bicyclists throughout Texas. Whether you were injured in a dense urban center or quiet country road, our lawyers are here to provide you with the cutting-edge advocacy that has made us a leader in Texas personal injury law.
Founded in 2002 by Darren A. Miller, we have obtained more than $650 million in verdicts and settlements for injured Texans and won in excess of 36,000 cases. When you work with our Texas bicycle accident lawyers, our sole mission is to help you obtain the justice and compensation you deserve.
Making Texas Safer for Bicyclists
Sadly, Texas is not among the safest states to ride a bicycle. In a national study ranking states by factors like cyclist deaths and bike-friendly laws, Texas landed in a dismal 47th place.
There are bright spots, however. Places like College Station, University Park, Allen, and Galveston took the top seats for the most bike-friendly cities in the Lone Star State, thanks to features like ample bicycle lanes, conveniently located bike paths, and wider streets.
But negligence can strike anywhere, and injured bicyclists deserve a strong legal advocate they can trust when injuries strike.
As personal injury lawyers working statewide, we strive to make all of Texas safer for bicyclists by holding negligent parties accountable to the full extent of the law.
By demanding accountability when bicyclists are harmed, we can help push Texas toward safer roads and a future where more people can ride without fear.
Uncovering the Causes of Bicycle Accidents
If you were struck by a car and turn to us for representation, one of the first things we will do for you is to investigate the cause of your accident and identify the responsible party or parties. Our investigations often uncover evidence of negligence on the part of motorists and other parties. Some of the most common types of negligence that lead to bicycle accidents in Texas include:
Distracted Driving
A driver who is texting, adjusting the radio, looking at a GPS, or otherwise distracted may fail to notice a cyclist in time to avoid a collision. We can examine the circumstances of the crash to determine whether driver’s eyes and attention were somewhere else when they should have been on the road.
Intersection Violations
Intersections can become particularly dangerous when drivers run red lights or fail to yield the right of way to cyclists. Understanding who had right of way and what each person was doing before the collision can help establish whether a traffic violation contributed to the accident.
Illegal Merges
When drivers merge without checking for nearby cyclists, they can force a rider into traffic or even push them off the shoulder of the road. We investigate whether the driver failed to signal, failed to check blind spots, or otherwise made an unsafe or illegal merge.
Failing to Respect Dedicated Bike Lanes
Bike lanes are intended to give cyclists a designated space on the road, but drivers sometimes enter or cross them without taking proper precautions. If a motorist improperly enters a bike lane and causes a crash, evidence regarding the lane markings and driver’s actions may help establish liability.
A Texas bicycle accident lawyer can investigate the circumstances of your crash and help determine whether another party’s negligence contributed to your injuries. If you were injured while cycling, understanding how the accident happened can be an important step toward pursuing compensation.
Texas Bicycle Accident Laws That May Affect Your Claim
The Texas law books may have a lot to say regarding your ability to obtain compensation after suffering a bicycle accident injury. Some of the state-level laws and regulations that often play a role in bike accident injury claims include:
- A bicycle is considered a vehicle under Texas law, and bicyclists share the same, rights, duties and responsibilities as drivers of motor vehicles
- Bicycles moving slower than traffic should ride as near as possible to the right curb or side of the roadway (not the shoulder)
- When travelling at night, a bicycle must be equipped with a headlamp that emits white light visible from at least 500 feet, and red rear reflectors visible from at least 300 feet or a red rear lamp visible from at least 500 feet
Most cities have their own bicycle laws, so local statutes may affect how your claim plays out. But our attorneys have you covered. We are well-versed in Texas bicycle laws and can help you understand your rights no matter where your accident took place.
Comparative Fault in Bicycle Accident Claims
Another issue injured bicyclists should be aware of is Texas’s rules regarding comparative negligence. Under the state’s modified comparative negligence system, an injured cyclist who was partially at fault for an accident may still recover compensation, but that compensation will be reduced by the same percentage of fault the cyclist contributed to the accident.
For instance, a claim worth $100,000 will be reduced by 10% to $90,000 if the cyclist was 10% at fault. But there is a point at which a cyclist’s share of fault can prevent them from recovering anything at all.
If the cyclist was 50 or more percent at fault, they are completely barred from obtaining compensation. This is one reason it is so important to work with a Texas bicycle accident lawyer who knows how to fight allegations of fault that could push a cyclist’s share of responsibility beyond that crucial 50% mark and leave them emptyhanded.
Compensation for Bicycle Accident Injuries
Bicyclists are extremely vulnerable in a collision with a motor vehicle, and the injuries they suffer often prove severe and long-lasting. Texas personal injury laws are designed to help injury victims recover financially and obtain compensation for economic and non-economic losses resulting from the negligence of another.
Damages in a bicycle accident claim may include:
- Medical bills, including ER treatment, hospitalization, medication, physical therapy, and ongoing care
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Diminished quality of life
An experienced Texas bicycle accident attorney can thoroughly and accurately assess damages so you obtain all of the compensation you need to recover financially and move on with your life after this accident.
A Statewide Practice for Bicycle Accident Injury Claims
Our attorneys and investigators are prepared to protect your rights no matter where in Texas your accident took place. Our statewide coverage includes bicycle accident danger zones such as:
- Houston: The metro area’s freeways and expanding bike lanes mean cyclists often share space with fast, distracted traffic.
- Katy: As Katy continues to grow, cyclists are sharing increasingly busy roads with drivers, often with few dedicated bike routes nearby.
- Cypress: Residential streets and busy connectors see rising collisions as development in the area increases traffic.
- Galveston: Cyclists in Galveston and other Gulf Coast cities contend with crowded streets, tourist traffic, and busy areas around the Seawall, particularly during peak travel times.
- Midland: Busy highways and heavy oil-field traffic moving in and out of the Permian Basin can turn simple rides into high-impact crash risks.
- El Paso: The Trans-Pecos region’s desert terrain, mountain roads, and busy border routes can make cycling especially challenging for local riders.
Contact Us for Strong Advocacy Anywhere in Texas
With more than 66 years of combined experience, our Texas bicycle accident attorneys know how to get results for the injured. Whether you suffered an injury in a big city, small town, rural area, or anywhere in between, we represent injured bicyclists throughout the state. Contact us to arrange a free consultation with a knowledgeable member of our legal team.
