Learning to drive is a complicated process. In addition to the practical skills you must learn, from steering and yielding to braking and accelerating, you must also know the ins and outs of hundreds of traffic laws. And if you want to operate a motorcycle, you must repeat the entire process.
However, operating a motorcycle requires different skills. And you must learn about specific motorcycle laws in Texas as well. After a motorcycle accident in Friendswood, TX, your compliance with all of these laws could become an issue.
Thankfully, The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers is here to guide you through the claim process. We can also help you address any concerns or questions posed against your skills and qualifications. For more information, contact our law firm at (281) 992-8633 for a free case review.
How The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You After a Motorcycle Crash in Friendswood, TX
The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers was established nearly 25 years ago to represent injured victims throughout Friendswood, Texas. Our Friendswood motorcycle accident lawyers have over 58 years of combined experience. And most importantly, our family-run law firm has built its reputation on hard work, integrity, and skillful litigation.
Our knowledgeable and experienced lawyers provide the following services to injured clients:
- A free consultation to assess the situation and explore options
- A thorough investigation to collect the evidence and documents required
- Preparation of an insurance claim and negotiations to resolve it
- Litigation in the event that we cannot reach a settlement
Contact our Friendswood personal injury lawyers to discuss your motorcycle crash injuries and the compensation we can help you seek for them under Texas law.
Why Do States Have Special Motorcycle Laws?
Although they represent only a small sliver of motorists, motorcycle accidents are 22 times more likely to cause a fatality than car accidents. And, on top of that, motorcycle riders still accounted for 15% of all traffic deaths in a recent year.
That phenomenon likely happened for a few reasons. For one, inattentive and distracted drivers can have trouble seeing motorcycles due to their speed and size. In the event that an accident does take place, serious injuries often result since motorcycles lack a passenger compartment to protect riders.
States are aware of these statistics and pass motorcycle laws in response in order to help reduce riders’ risks. Additional training, special equipment, and unique traffic laws can protect riders from the dangers they face on Texas roads.
Laws That Apply To Motorcyclists in Texas
In Texas, motorcycle owners and riders must comply with many of the same laws as car owners and drivers. More specifically, they must carry bodily injury liability coverage of at least $30,000 per person and up to at least $60,000 per accident. They must also report any crash that causes injury or death and follow the same speed limits and right-of-way rules as car drivers.
However, Texas also has some specific laws that only apply to motorcycle riders, which involve the following:
Licensing
Every state requires motorcyclists to receive a special endorsement or license that permits them to operate a two or three-wheeled vehicle. Texas, in particular, gives riders two options for obtaining a motorcycle license.
If they have a valid out-of-state motorcycle license, they can turn it in at the Texas Department of Public Safety. The state will issue a Texas license after they prove residency and fulfill any other requirements, such as submitting a safety course completion certificate.
Motorcycle license applicants without a prior license must take a motorcycle safety course, which includes both classroom and hands-on instruction. To complete the course, applicants must pass written and road tests, both of which ensure the basic knowledge and skills needed to ride safely.
Equipment
Contrary to what you may have heard, Texas has a motorcycle helmet law requiring all operators and passengers to wear one while riding on public roads or highways. However, the law also has two huge exceptions that allow many riders to ride helmetless.
First, riders 21 or older do not need to wear a helmet if they have passed a motorcycle safety course or have health insurance to cover motorcycle injuries. Since almost all motorcycle license holders must pass the course, the law essentially exempts most operators once they turn 21.
Second, police officers cannot stop helmetless riders just to determine whether the rider meets the safety course or insurance requirements under the law. Thus, the only ground for stopping a motorcycle for a helmet violation is a rider’s age.
Traffic Laws
Individual motorcycles are entitled to use the full lane, which means drivers cannot overtake them by straddling the lane line. Instead, they must move fully into another lane to pass. However, motorcycles cannot split lanes in Texas, a practice that involves riding on the lane line between stopped cars to reach the front of an intersection.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Friendswood Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
You could face significant financial expenses after getting hit by a vehicle while riding your motorcycle, including medical costs and lost income. Contact The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation at (281) 992-8633 to discuss your losses and the compensation we can help you seek for them.
