Motorcycle riders do not need anyone to explain that they have less protection on the road. Most riders already watch traffic closely, anticipate other drivers’ mistakes, and know how quickly a careless left turn or lane change can become a disaster.
What you cannot control is a driver who looks past your motorcycle, crowds your lane, turns across your path, or assumes you must have been at fault simply because you ride.
If you were seriously injured or lost someone you love due to a negligent driver, our Fort Worth motorcycle accident lawyers are here to listen and help you fight for your recovery. Call Stephens Law at 817-420-7000 or contact us online for a free consultation. We’ll help you figure out the next steps without pressure or obligation. And you don’t owe us anything unless we win your case.
Table of contents
- Why Do I Need a Fort Worth Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?
- Why Choose Stephens Law for a Fort Worth Motorcycle Accident Case?
- Why Are Motorcycle Riders So Often Blamed After a Crash?
- Where and How Do Motorcycle Crashes Happen Around Fort Worth?
- What Injuries Can a Motorcycle Crash Cause?
- What Can a Serious Motorcycle Crash Cost You?
- How Do Texas Fault Rules and Filing Deadlines Affect My Motorcycle Claim?
- What Happens After I Hire a Fort Worth Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Worth Motorcycle Accident Claims
- Talk With a Fort Worth Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Who Will Listen
Why Do I Need a Fort Worth Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?
Motorcycle accident claims can become difficult quickly because serious injuries often come with disputes about fault. Insurance companies may question how fast you were riding, where you were positioned in the lane, whether you could have avoided the crash, or even whether the driver should have seen you.
The Texas Department of Transportation tells drivers to look twice for motorcycles, take extra care when turning left, and check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes. Those warnings reflect problems riders deal with every day and highlight how Texas motorcycle laws address safe interactions between motorcycles and other vehicles.
When a driver says, “I never saw the motorcycle,” we look at why. Traffic-camera footage, nearby surveillance video, vehicle damage, phone records, witness accounts, skid marks, electronic vehicle data, and the layout of the road may tell a much fuller story.
Our attorneys work to preserve that evidence and determine exactly how the crash happened. We also deal directly with the insurance companies, investigate everyone who may share responsibility, and calculate losses that may continue long after the first round of medical bills arrives.
That work becomes especially important when a brain injury, spinal injury, multiple fractures, or another serious injury may affect your ability to work or live independently for years.
Why Choose Stephens Law for a Fort Worth Motorcycle Accident Case?
Stephens Law handles serious injury and wrongful death cases where careful preparation can make a real difference. We intentionally limit the number of cases we accept so our attorneys and staff have the time to learn what happened, know the people we represent, and prepare each case for trial when necessary.
A Fort Worth trial firm built around serious cases
Jason Stephens founded Stephens Law after beginning a legal career devoted to people and families affected by serious injuries and wrongful death lawsuits. Nearly three decades later, he works alongside attorneys Rieker Carsey, Brison Bursey, and the rest of our legal team.
Our purpose has remained personal. We do not pass clients from one Top Fort Worth personal injury attorney to another in a high-volume system. We take the time to get to know you, and we want to know what the injury has taken from you and what your family may need in the years ahead.
Stephens Law has recovered more than $300 million for clients. Jason has also been recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Texas Super Lawyer since 2004, and one of the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Dallas/Fort Worth in multiple years.
He has served as president of the Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association and as an officer in the United States Army Reserves. His community work has included support for Big Brothers Big Sisters and foundations funding childhood cancer research.
Results in serious motor vehicle and catastrophic injury cases
Our case results include recoveries for people and families facing many of the same injuries and losses that can follow a motorcycle crash:
- $5,622,850 for a brain injury caused by an auto accident.
- $2,316,639 for a brain injury caused by a motor vehicle collision.
- $1,137,393 verdict involving wrongful death and personal injuries from a head-on collision.
- $1,020,926 for a back injury caused by a drunk driver.
- $998,376 for an adult child who lost his father in a commercial truck-versus-motorcycle crash.
- $801,562 for a leg injury, complex regional pain syndrome, and broken arm after a head-on collision.
Past results do not guarantee what will happen in another case. They do show the level of injury and loss our attorneys have handled.
Personal attention is part of the representation
A serious case can last months or longer. During that time, you should know who is handling it and be able to get answers when something changes.
“Jason and his team will be with you every step of the way. They will go above and beyond to help you.” – S. Lemmon
Our Fort Worth office is at 1300 S University Dr #300, Fort Worth, TX 76107, near the Cultural District and Texas Christian University. If traveling to us is difficult because of your injuries, call 817-420-7000, and we can discuss your situation.
Why Are Motorcycle Riders So Often Blamed After a Crash?
Motorcycle riders often face assumptions that would never be made about someone driving a sedan or pickup. An insurer may treat the motorcycle itself as evidence that the rider likes speed, takes chances, or otherwise accepted the risk of injury.
That is not evidence of fault.
Responsible riders know how little room they have for someone else’s mistake. They watch mirrors, road conditions, following distance, blind spots, and escape routes because the consequences of a collision are usually far worse for them.
The problem is that other drivers do not always give motorcycles the same attention or space. A driver may glance toward an intersection and fail to register an approaching bike. Another may change lanes after checking a mirror but never turn to check the blind spot.
We answer assumptions with evidence. Where the vehicles came to rest, the damage pattern, video, witness accounts, phone records, roadway markings, and reconstruction evidence may show far more than an insurer’s version of events.
Where and How Do Motorcycle Crashes Happen Around Fort Worth?
A Fort Worth ride can move from Northside and the Stockyards through downtown, west along Camp Bowie, onto I-30 or Loop 820, or out toward Weatherford and the open roads beyond the city. Each setting creates different questions when a crash occurs.
Fort Worth’s Vision Zero Safety Action Plan identifies separate high-injury networks for motorcycles and other road users. The city specifically identifies Mark IV Parkway from Meacham Boulevard to the Crossover Ramp as a corridor involving motorcycle, commercial vehicle, and other serious crashes.
Camp Bowie Boulevard also appears on the city’s High-Injury Network. On major routes such as I-35W, I-30, I-20, Loop 820, and US-287, higher speeds and dense traffic can leave riders with little room when another driver makes a bad decision.
Some crash patterns require very different evidence:
| Crash pattern | Questions we may investigate |
|---|---|
| Left-turn collision | Did the driver misjudge the motorcycle’s speed or turn without yielding? |
| Unsafe lane change | Did the driver check mirrors and blind spots before moving into the rider’s lane? |
| Rear-end crash | Was the driver following too closely or distracted in slowing traffic? |
| Roadway hazard | Did loose gravel, a pothole, construction debris, or another unsafe condition contribute to the crash? |
| Commercial vehicle crash | Was the driver working, and could an employer or other company share responsibility? |
| Hit-and-run | What video, witnesses, vehicle evidence, or insurance coverage may still be available? |
Crash location can also affect what evidence exists. A collision near a business district may have several cameras and witnesses. A wreck on a rural road outside Fort Worth may require more reliance on physical evidence, vehicle data, and reconstruction.
What Injuries Can a Motorcycle Crash Cause?
Motorcycle crashes often cause injuries that require far more than an emergency-room visit. We handle cases involving:
- traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- spinal cord injuries
- severe fractures
- road rash and burns
- nerve damage
- amputations
Some riders face additional surgeries, months of rehabilitation, or lasting problems with mobility, memory, pain, or the ability to work. We look closely at those long-term effects because the cost of a serious injury may continue for years after the crash.
Riders with catastrophic injuries may first receive care at Fort Worth Level I trauma centers such as John Peter Smith Hospital or Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth.
Recovery can continue long after discharge. The Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation in Dallas has specialized programs for traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, including nationally designated Model System programs for both conditions.
Treatment at that level can involve weeks or months of rehabilitation, follow-up care, therapy, medical equipment, and help with everyday activities. Those future needs should be considered when we determine what a catastrophic motorcycle injury has truly cost you.
What Can a Serious Motorcycle Crash Cost You?
The first hospital bill rarely tells the whole story after a severe motorcycle accident. A rider may need surgery, rehabilitation, follow-up care, time away from work, and help with everyday activities long after leaving the emergency room.
Some critically injured riders in Fort Worth receive care at John Peter Smith Hospital, Fort Worth’s Level I trauma center. For someone with a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, severe road rash, burns, or an amputation, emergency treatment may be only the beginning.
Our attorneys document how the injury affects your health, income, independence, and future. Compensation may include:
- Medical bills and reasonably expected future treatment.
- Lost income and reduced ability to earn a living.
- Physical pain and mental anguish.
- Physical impairment, scarring, and disfigurement.
- Rehabilitation and assistance with daily needs.
- Damage to your motorcycle, helmet, riding gear, and other property.
We also look at insurance beyond the obvious liability policy. A serious injury can quickly exceed basic coverage limits, making other available policies or responsible parties especially important.
If you lost a spouse, parent, or child in a motorcycle crash, we know that a financial claim cannot begin to measure what your family has lost. A wrongful death claim may provide financial support for certain losses while also holding the person or company responsible for the death accountable.
How Do Texas Fault Rules and Filing Deadlines Affect My Motorcycle Claim?
Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 33). You may recover compensation if you are 50% or less responsible for the crash, but your recovery decreases by your percentage of fault. You cannot recover damages if your responsibility exceeds 50%.
That rule makes unsupported blame especially dangerous in a motorcycle case. If an insurer argues that you were speeding, riding aggressively, or could have avoided the collision, the percentage of fault assigned to you can directly affect what you recover.
Texas also generally gives injured riders two years to file a personal injury lawsuit through its statute of limitations for personal injury claims (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003). Exceptions can change the deadline, so we confirm the date that applies rather than assume every case follows the ordinary rule.
What Happens After I Hire a Fort Worth Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?
Once we take your case, the work usually moves through several stages. Each one helps us answer a different question about how the crash happened, what it has cost you, and what a fair resolution should account for.
We Preserve the Evidence
We start by securing evidence that may explain how the crash happened. That can include traffic-camera or business surveillance footage, witness statements, crash reports, photographs, vehicle data, phone records, and information about the drivers and insurance policies involved.
We Deal With the Insurance Companies
We take over communication with the insurers so you are not dealing with repeated calls, requests for statements, or pressure to settle while you are still recovering.
An early offer may come before your doctors know whether you will need surgery, extended rehabilitation, or other long-term care. We want a clearer picture of your Fort Worth motorcycle accidents injuries before advising you about a settlement. Signing off on an initial offer without legal advice can leave you paying for unexpected expenses in the future.
We Document the Full Effect of Your Injuries
As treatment continues, we track medical expenses, lost income, future care, permanent restrictions, pain, scarring, and other ways the crash has affected your work and everyday life.
For catastrophic injuries, that may also mean evaluating future rehabilitation, reduced earning ability, home assistance, medical equipment, or other needs that could continue for years.
We Negotiate and Prepare for Court
Once have enough information to value the claim responsibly, we present the evidence to the insurer and negotiate for compensation that reflects both your current losses and the problems you may continue to face.
Most cases resolve through settlement. If the insurer disputes fault, minimizes your injuries, or refuses to offer fair compensation, we can file a lawsuit and prepare the case for trial.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Worth Motorcycle Accident Claims
How much does it cost to hire a Fort Worth motorcycle accident lawyer?
Stephens Law handles motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no upfront attorney fee, and we receive a fee only if we recover compensation for you. The initial consultation is free, so you can talk with us before deciding whether to hire us.
Can I still bring a claim if I was not wearing a helmet?
Yes, you may still have a motorcycle accident claim even if you were not wearing a helmet. Texas motorcycle helmet law (Texas Transportation Code Chapter 661) contains exceptions for certain adult riders.
Helmet use may become relevant if you suffered a head injury, but it does not automatically excuse the conduct that caused the crash. We look at the actual medical evidence and the cause of your injuries rather than accepting a blanket argument about helmet use.
What if the driver who hit me did not have enough insurance?
You may have other sources of coverage when the at-fault driver is uninsured or does not carry enough insurance to pay for a serious injury. We review your motorcycle policy, household policies, and the circumstances of the crash for uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage and other possible recovery.
Can a motorcycle passenger file an injury claim?
Yes, an injured motorcycle passenger may have a claim against the person or company responsible for the crash. Depending on what happened, that could include another driver, a commercial company, or in some cases the motorcycle operator. We investigate the evidence and available insurance before advising you about the claim.
How long does a Fort Worth motorcycle accident case take?
A motorcycle accident case may take several months or longer when injuries are severe or fault is disputed. We need enough medical information to evaluate future care and long-term limitations before recommending a settlement. Litigation can extend the timeline if the insurer refuses to resolve the case fairly.
What if a truck caused my motorcycle accident?
A motorcycle collision involving an 18-wheeler, delivery truck, or other commercial vehicle may involve both the driver and the company behind the vehicle. Our Fort Worth truck accident lawyers investigate company records, commercial insurance, driver conduct, and other evidence that may not exist in an ordinary passenger-vehicle crash.
Talk With a Fort Worth Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Who Will Listen
You already know what it means to share the road on a motorcycle. You should not have to spend your recovery defending yourself against stereotypes or convincing an insurance company that your injuries are serious.
If another driver’s carelessness changed your life or took someone you love, call Stephens Law at 817-420-7000 or contact us online for a free consultation.
There is no pressure and no obligation. Tell us what happened, ask the questions that are weighing on you, and decide whether we are the right team for your case. You pay no legal fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Stephens Law | Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents Fort Worth Office
1300 S University Dr #300
Fort Worth, TX 76107
Ph: (817) 420-7000