Fort Worth Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Home > Fort Worth > Bicycle Accidents

Cyclists in Fort Worth share the road with cars, trucks, and commercial vehicles on some of the busiest corridors in Tarrant County. Fort Worth bicycle accident lawyers at Stephens Law represent riders who have been hit, doored, or run off the road by a negligent driver.

Under Texas law, bicycles have the same legal rights as motor vehicles, and a driver who fails to respect those rights may be held financially responsible for the harm they cause.

Our firm handles bicycle injury claims throughout Fort Worth, Weatherford, and the greater North Texas area.

If a driver’s carelessness left you with broken bones, a head injury, or worse, reach our legal team at (817) 420-7000 for a free case review.

GET A FREE CONSULTATION

What Sets Stephens Law Apart in Fort Worth Bicycle Accident Cases?

Attorney Jason Stephens has built his practice around serious injury cases, not high-volume, low-value claims.

He directs the strategy on every bicycle accident case our firm takes on, and he backs each one with the preparation and resources needed to go to trial if the insurance company refuses a fair offer.

Our firm has recovered more than $300 million for injured clients after fees and expenses across all case types.

No two cases produce the same result, and past outcomes do not guarantee future recovery.

A Firm Built for Serious Injuries, Not Quick Settlements

Bicycle accidents are a serious problem in Fort Worth and Tarrant County in general. In one recent year, the county reported 648 fatal and non-fatal bicycle collisions.

Bicycle crashes often produce injuries that rival or exceed those in motorcycle wrecks because the rider has almost no physical protection.

These cases require detailed medical documentation, accident reconstruction, and a damages calculation that accounts for years of future care. We commit the time and money to build that case from day one rather than pushing you toward a fast, low settlement.

Direct Access to Your Attorney

You communicate with the legal team handling your case, including Jason Stephens himself. Our firm does not route clients through a call center or delegate case strategy to junior staff.

That direct involvement is how we stay ahead of the defense at every stage of a bicycle injury claim.

How Does Texas Law Protect Cyclists on the Road?

Texas treats bicycles as vehicles. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 551.101, a person operating a bicycle has the same rights and duties as a driver operating a motor vehicle, with limited exceptions.

That means drivers must yield to cyclists just as they yield to other cars, and cyclists must follow traffic signals, stop signs, and lane rules.

Where Must Cyclists Ride on Fort Worth Roads?

Under Texas Transportation Code Section 551.103, a cyclist moving slower than surrounding traffic must ride as near as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway. Texas law carves out four exceptions where a cyclist may legally take the full lane:

The cyclist is passing another vehicle moving in the same direction.
The cyclist is preparing to turn left at an intersection or driveway.
A road condition, parked car, debris, or other hazard makes riding near the curb unsafe.
The outside lane is less than 14 feet wide or too narrow for a bicycle and a motor vehicle to travel side by side safely.

These exceptions matter in a bicycle accident claim because insurance adjusters frequently argue that the cyclist was riding in the wrong position on the road.

Knowing exactly what the statute permits and what it does not is the foundation of an effective liability argument in Fort Worth bicycle injury cases.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Fort Worth?

Driver inattention is the leading factor in most bicycle collisions in Tarrant County. A driver who is texting, adjusting a GPS, or simply not checking mirrors before turning creates a deadly threat to a cyclist who has no steel frame or airbag for protection.

Right-Hook and Left-Turn Collisions

A right-hook collision happens when a driver passes a cyclist and then immediately turns right, cutting directly across the rider’s path.

Left-turn collisions occur when an oncoming driver turns left through an intersection without seeing the approaching cyclist.

Both scenarios are common along busy Fort Worth corridors where drivers focus on motor vehicle traffic and fail to scan for bikes.

Dooring Accidents

A dooring accident occurs when a driver or passenger opens a car door into the path of an approaching cyclist.

Fort Worth’s growing downtown, the Near Southside district, and areas around the Cultural District have parallel parking that puts cyclists in the door zone along narrow streets.

A rider traveling at even moderate speed has almost no time to react when a door swings open.

Unsafe Passing and Road Rage

Texas does not currently have a statewide safe passing distance law for bicycles, though some Texas municipalities have adopted local ordinances requiring a minimum clearance.

Regardless of local rules, every driver must exercise ordinary care when passing a cyclist, and a driver who passes too closely and causes a collision is likely negligent under general Texas traffic law.

What Injuries Do Fort Worth Bicycle Accident Victims Suffer?

Bicycle accident injuries tend to be severe because the rider’s body absorbs the direct force of impact. Even a low-speed collision between a car and a cyclist may produce injuries that require surgery, extended rehabilitation, or lifelong medical management.

Our clients in Fort Worth bicycle crash cases commonly face:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI), meaning damage to the brain caused by a sudden blow or jolt, even when a helmet is worn
Fractured collarbones, wrists, arms, and pelvic bones
Spinal cord injuries resulting in partial or complete loss of movement
Severe road rash and soft tissue damage requiring skin grafting
Internal bleeding and organ damage from blunt abdominal trauma

The long-term costs of these injuries regularly reach into six and seven figures when you include future surgeries, physical therapy, adaptive equipment, and lost earning ability.

A damages claim that fails to account for future needs leaves money on the table that you may never recover later.

What Compensation May a Bicycle Accident Victim Pursue in Texas?

Texas law allows injured cyclists to pursue both economic and non-economic damages from the at-fault driver. Economic damages reimburse you for financial losses with a specific dollar value, while non-economic damages address the personal toll the injury takes on your quality of life.

Economic Damages

Medical bills, ambulance costs, future surgical procedures, prescription medications, physical therapy, and assistive devices all fall under economic damages.

Lost wages from time away from work and reduced earning capacity over the remainder of your career are also recoverable.

Non-Economic Damages

Pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life fall under non-economic damages.

These categories do not carry a fixed dollar value, and the amount a jury awards depends on the evidence your attorney presents about how the injury has changed your daily existence.

Wrongful Death Claims

If a bicycle accident in Fort Worth results in a fatality, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim. Recoverable damages in a wrongful death case may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and funeral expenses.

Bicycle injury claims involving severe or permanent harm demand aggressive, well-documented legal representation. If that describes your situation, call (817) 420-7000 to discuss your case with our team.

How Does Comparative Fault Work in a Fort Worth Bicycle Crash?

Texas applies a modified comparative fault rule under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 33. A jury assigns a percentage of fault to each party, and your compensation is reduced by your share of responsibility.

If your fault exceeds 50%, you recover nothing. Texas law may differ from the laws of other states.

How Insurers Use Cyclist Behavior Against You

Insurance adjusters routinely claim that the cyclist was riding outside the bike lane, failed to signal a turn, ran a stop sign, or was not wearing reflective gear at night. Even if some of these arguments have a factual basis, they do not automatically bar your claim.

The comparative fault system means you may still recover compensation as long as the driver bears the majority of responsibility. Our job is to build the evidence that pins fault where it belongs.

What Is the Filing Deadline for a Bicycle Accident Lawsuit in Texas?

Texas gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003.

This filing window, known as the statute of limitations, is strictly enforced by Texas courts. A case filed after the deadline expires faces near-certain dismissal.

Government Liability and Shorter Notice Requirements

If a dangerous road condition maintained by the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, or the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) contributed to your bicycle accident, your claim falls under the Texas Tort Claims Act.

You must send formal written notice to the government entity within six months of the accident. That six-month window closes long before the two-year statute of limitations, and missing it may eliminate your claim entirely.

Ask Stephens Law

Do I need a lawyer after a bicycle accident in Fort Worth?

Bicycle accident claims involve serious injuries, aggressive fault disputes, and insurance companies that treat cyclists as second-class road users.

Our Fort Worth bicycle accident attorneys gather the evidence needed to prove the driver’s negligence and protect your claim from being undervalued or denied.

What if the driver says I was not in the bike lane?

Texas does not require cyclists to ride in a bike lane. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 551.103, cyclists have the legal right to take the full lane in several common situations, including when the lane is too narrow for a car and a bike to share safely.

A driver who hits a cyclist lawfully occupying a travel lane bears significant fault for the collision.

What if I was not wearing a helmet when I was hit?

Texas has no statewide helmet law for adult cyclists. The absence of a helmet does not make you legally responsible for the crash itself, though an insurance adjuster may argue that it contributed to the severity of a head injury.

Your attorney addresses this argument by distinguishing between cause of the accident and cause of the injury.

FAQs for Fort Worth Bicycle Accident Lawyers

How long do I have to file a bicycle accident lawsuit in Texas?

Texas law gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003.

If a government entity’s road maintenance contributed to the accident, you must also send formal written notice within six months. Missing either deadline may permanently bar your claim.

What if the driver who hit me did not get a ticket?

A traffic citation is not required to file a civil injury claim. The legal standard for a personal injury case, called a preponderance of the evidence, is lower than the standard required for a criminal conviction.

Your attorney builds the civil case using independent evidence regardless of whether the driver received a citation at the scene.

What should I do after a bicycle accident if I am able to move?

After receiving medical attention, preserve as much evidence as possible. Take photos of the scene, your injuries, and any vehicle damage. Get the driver’s insurance information and contact details for any witnesses.

Avoid giving recorded statements to the driver’s insurance company before speaking with an attorney, as adjusters routinely use those statements to reduce or deny claims.

Are bicycle accidents treated differently than car accidents under Texas law?

Texas treats bicycles as vehicles, so the same negligence and comparative fault rules apply. The key difference is practical, not legal: juries and insurance adjusters sometimes carry biases against cyclists, assuming they do not belong on the road or contributed to the crash simply by riding a bike.

A personal injury attorney who understands these dynamics builds the case to counter those biases with facts and law.

What if the driver fled the scene after hitting me?

A hit-and-run does not end your ability to recover compensation. Our team works with Fort Worth police and reviews available surveillance footage to identify the driver.

If the driver is never located, your own uninsured motorist coverage may provide a path to recovery. Filing a police report promptly strengthens both the criminal investigation and your civil claim.

Get Your Fort Worth Bicycle Accident Claim Started Now

A bicycle accident case grows weaker every day you wait. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses gets overwritten, road conditions change, and the driver’s insurer locks in a narrative that favors their client. Acting quickly gives our legal team the strongest possible foundation to build your claim.

Jason Stephens personally oversees every bicycle accident case at our firm and invests the preparation these cases require from the very beginning. Results vary based on the unique facts of each claim.

Contact Stephens Law at (817) 420-7000 for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we obtain compensation on your behalf.