Colleyville Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

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Motorcycle riders in Colleyville face real dangers every time they head out on roads like SH-26, Precinct Line Road, or Glade Road. When a crash happens, the injuries are often severe, and the legal process that follows can feel just as overwhelming. At Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, we represent injured riders and their families throughout the Denton, Texas area, helping them pursue the compensation they deserve under Texas law. If you or someone you love was hurt in a motorcycle accident in Colleyville, call us at (940) 800-2500 for a free consultation.

Table of Contents

Why Motorcycle Accidents in Colleyville Cause Such Serious Injuries

Motorcycles offer no steel frame, no airbags, and no seat belt. That physical reality means riders absorb the full force of a collision. A car that clips a motorcycle at 35 mph on Glade Road can send a rider into the pavement with enough force to cause broken bones, spinal damage, or a traumatic brain injury. These are not minor incidents.

According to TxDOT’s Share the Road: Look Twice for Motorcycles campaign, 581 riders were killed and another 2,534 were seriously injured in Texas in 2024 alone. That works out to roughly one motorcyclist killed every day across the state. Tarrant County, which includes Colleyville, consistently sees some of the highest crash volumes in North Texas.

TxDOT data shows that in 2024, 40% of motorcycle fatalities occurred in intersections or intersection-related areas. Think about how many busy intersections exist along Colleyville Boulevard or near the Colleyville Town Center. Any one of those spots can become dangerous when a driver fails to look twice before turning.

Common causes of Colleyville motorcycle crashes include left-turn collisions, rear-end impacts, lane changes by inattentive drivers, road hazards like loose gravel or uneven pavement, and drunk driving. Riders who survive these crashes often face months of surgeries, physical therapy, and lost income. When another driver’s negligence caused the crash, Texas law gives injured riders the right to seek full compensation for those losses. The attorneys at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys are ready to help you build that case.

Texas Motorcycle Helmet and Safety Laws That Affect Your Claim

Texas Transportation Code Chapter 661 governs protective headgear for motorcycle operators and passengers. Understanding this law matters because insurance companies often use helmet use, or the lack of it, as a way to argue that a rider shares blame for their own injuries.

Under Texas Transportation Code Section 661.003, every rider must wear a helmet that meets safety standards set by the Texas Department of Public Safety. However, there is an exception. A rider who is at least 21 years old and has either completed a motorcycle operator training course under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 662, or carries a qualifying health insurance plan, may legally ride without a helmet.

Texas Transportation Code Chapter 662 also governs motorcycle operator training and safety programs across the state. The Texas A&M Transportation Institute, working with the Department of Public Safety, researches motorcycle safety, advocates for safer riding practices, and provides public education on the issue. Completing a course under Chapter 662 is one way riders can qualify for the helmet exemption.

Here is the important legal point: riding without a helmet when you qualify for the exemption is legal. But insurance adjusters will still try to argue that your injuries were worse because you were not wearing one. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that helmets are 37% effective at preventing death in motorcycle crashes, based on analysis of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System data. That figure gives defense attorneys and insurance companies a ready-made argument. An experienced attorney from Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys can counter those arguments with evidence and push back against any attempt to unfairly reduce your compensation.

How Texas Proportionate Responsibility Law Works in Motorcycle Accident Cases

Texas follows a modified comparative fault system, and it directly controls how much money an injured motorcyclist can recover. The modified comparative fault rule in Texas is codified in Section 33.001 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as part of the Texas Proportionate Responsibility Statute. This statute outlines the rules for assigning fault and calculating damages in civil cases.

This legal principle is outlined in the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Section 33.001, which governs proportionate responsibility and comparative fault in civil cases. It states that a claimant may not recover damages if they are more than 50 percent at fault. So if a jury finds you were 51% responsible for the crash, you recover nothing, regardless of how serious your injuries are.

If your fault is 50% or less, you can still recover, but your damages are reduced by your percentage of responsibility. For example, if a plaintiff incurs $100,000 in damages and is found 40% at fault, their recovery will be reduced to $60,000. This is why fault allocation matters so much in motorcycle accident claims.

Insurance companies know this rule well. After a crash near SH-26 or along Cheek-Sparger Road, an adjuster’s first move is often to argue that the rider was speeding, weaving, or otherwise at fault. Even a small shift in the assigned fault percentage can cost you tens of thousands of dollars. The personal injury lawyers at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys work to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and challenge any attempt to inflate your share of the blame. Protecting your fault percentage is one of the most valuable things an attorney can do for your case.

What Damages Can a Colleyville Motorcycle Accident Victim Recover?

Texas law allows injured motorcyclists to pursue two broad categories of compensation: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover measurable financial losses. Non-economic damages cover the human cost of the injury.

Economic damages in a motorcycle accident case typically include past and future medical bills, the cost of surgeries and rehabilitation, lost wages from time missed at work, and loss of future earning capacity if the injury prevents you from returning to your previous occupation. Riders who suffer catastrophic injuries, like spinal cord damage or severe burns, often face medical costs that stretch over years or even a lifetime.

Non-economic damages cover physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement. These losses are real, even though they do not come with a receipt. Texas does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases, which means a jury can award an amount that truly reflects what the rider has been through.

In cases involving a drunk driver or a defendant who acted with gross negligence, Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 41.009 allows courts to award exemplary damages, which are sometimes called punitive damages. These go beyond compensating the victim and are designed to punish particularly reckless or intentional conduct. If a drunk driver caused your crash near the Colleyville Heritage Park area, exemplary damages may be part of your claim. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys can assess whether your case qualifies and pursue every category of damages available to you under Texas law.

The Two-Year Deadline to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Texas

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 sets a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. That means you have two years from the date of your motorcycle accident to file a lawsuit in court. If you miss that deadline, you lose your right to sue, regardless of how strong your case is.

Two years sounds like a long time, but it goes fast. Medical treatment, recovery, and dealing with insurance companies can consume months before you even think about legal action. Evidence also disappears quickly. Surveillance footage from intersections near Colleyville Heritage High School or along Cheek-Sparger Road gets overwritten. Witnesses forget details. Skid marks fade. Starting the legal process early preserves the evidence your case depends on.

There are limited exceptions to the two-year rule. If the injured person is a minor, the clock may not start running until they turn 18. If the victim died from their injuries, Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003(b) gives surviving family members two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim, which is separate from the personal injury claim the deceased could have brought.

Do not wait to find out whether an exception applies to your situation. Call Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 as soon as possible after a crash. We handle cases in Colleyville, Denton, and throughout the surrounding area. A free consultation costs you nothing, and acting early can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case.

FAQs About Colleyville Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Do I still have a case if I was not wearing a helmet during my Colleyville motorcycle accident?

Yes, you can still have a valid claim. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 661.003, riders who are 21 or older and meet the insurance or training requirements may legally ride without a helmet. Even if you were not wearing one, that fact alone does not bar your recovery. Texas uses a proportionate responsibility system under CPRC Section 33.001, which means fault is divided among the parties. An attorney can work to show that the other driver’s negligence was the primary cause of the crash, limiting any reduction to your compensation.

How long does a motorcycle accident lawsuit take in Texas?

There is no single answer, because every case is different. Some claims settle with an insurance company within a few months. Others require filing a lawsuit in a Tarrant County court and going through discovery, depositions, and possibly a trial, which can take one to two years or longer. The severity of your injuries, the clarity of fault, and the willingness of the insurance company to negotiate all affect the timeline. What matters most is that you start the process quickly to preserve evidence and meet the two-year statute of limitations under CPRC Section 16.003.

What if the driver who hit me in Colleyville does not have insurance?

Texas law requires drivers to carry minimum liability insurance, but not every driver follows the law. If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, you may be able to recover through your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, if you purchased it. Texas law allows you to stack these claims in certain circumstances. An attorney can review your policy, identify every available source of compensation, and help you file the right claims in the right order so you do not leave money on the table.

Can a family member file a claim if a motorcyclist was killed in a Colleyville crash?

Yes. Texas law allows surviving family members to pursue a wrongful death claim. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003(b), the deadline to file is two years from the date of death. Eligible family members typically include spouses, children, and parents of the deceased. Separately, the estate of the deceased may bring a survival action for damages the rider suffered before death, such as medical expenses and pain. These are two distinct legal claims, and an attorney can help families understand which apply to their situation.

What does it cost to hire a Colleyville motorcycle accident attorney at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys?

Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys handles motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. You do not need money upfront to get started. Your free consultation is exactly that, free, with no obligation. We will review the facts of your crash, explain your legal options, and give you an honest assessment of your case. To get started, call us at (940) 800-2500.

Content responsible attorney: Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, principal office located in Denton, Texas. Results in any case depend on the specific facts and law applicable to that case. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future matter.

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