A bicycle accident in Valley View can change your life in seconds. One moment you are riding along Farm-to-Market Road 1173 or cutting through the rural roads near Cooke County, and the next you are on the ground with serious injuries. If a driver’s carelessness caused your crash, Texas law gives you the right to seek compensation. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys serves injured cyclists in Valley View and across Denton County, fighting to hold negligent drivers accountable. Call us at (940) 800-2500 for a free consultation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cyclists in Valley View face real risks every time they ride. The area sits along I-35, and many connecting farm-to-market roads carry fast-moving traffic with little to no shoulder space. Drivers traveling between Denton and the Gainesville area often underestimate how quickly they approach a cyclist on these open stretches of road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2024, 80 bicyclists died and another 429 were seriously injured in 2,761 traffic crashes across Texas. Those numbers represent real people, many of whom were riding responsibly and following the law when a driver failed them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The top contributing factors in these crashes were driver inattention and failure to yield the right of way. Both of those causes are entirely preventable. When a driver is distracted by a phone or simply does not look before turning, a cyclist pays the price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While two-thirds of bicycle crash injuries occurred on city streets, the largest percentage of bicycle crash fatalities, 33 percent, occurred on U.S. and state highways, which represent only 15 percent of injuries. Valley View’s proximity to state highways means cyclists there face an elevated risk of fatal or catastrophic injuries compared to riders in purely urban settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Injuries from these crashes are not minor. Broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and severe road rash are common. When a 4,000-pound vehicle strikes an unprotected rider, the results can be catastrophic, and the path to recovery is long and expensive. That is exactly why having the right legal team in your corner matters from day one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Generally, bikes are entitled to all rights and obligated to all duties of the road that apply to a motor vehicle. This comes directly from Texas Transportation Code Section 551.101, and it is the foundation of every bicycle accident claim in the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What does that mean in practice? A cyclist riding near the Denton County Courthouse or along the rural roads outside Valley View has the same legal right to use the roadway as any car or truck. Drivers must treat them accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A person operating a bicycle on a roadway who is moving slower than other traffic shall ride as near as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway. Under certain conditions, bicyclists may take the full lane of travel, including when passing another vehicle, preparing to turn left, when unsafe conditions exist on the roadway, or when the lane is less than 14 feet wide and does not have a designated bicycle lane adjacent to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Texas does not have a law that sets a specific distance for a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle. The overtaking of a bicycle by a motor vehicle is governed by general traffic laws, and in most circumstances, such overtaking must be done to the left at a safe distance. When a driver squeezes past a cyclist without adequate room, they may be violating Texas Transportation Code Section 545.053.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Texas has no statewide helmet law. It is legal for all persons of any age to operate a bicycle without wearing a helmet unless otherwise provided by a municipal regulation. However, the absence of a helmet can become a point of dispute in a personal injury claim. Insurance companies sometimes try to use it against injured cyclists. An experienced attorney can address that argument directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Understanding these laws matters because they define what a driver owed you at the time of the crash. If a driver violated any of these rules, that violation can serve as direct evidence of negligence in your claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Texas follows a modified comparative negligence system under Chapter 33 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. This rule is critical in bicycle accident cases because insurance companies routinely argue that the cyclist shares some of the blame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an action to which this chapter applies, a claimant may not recover damages if his percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent. This is known as the “51% bar.” If a jury finds you were 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under Texas’s comparative negligence rule, you can recover damages after an accident if you are found to be 50% or less at fault. However, your compensation will be reduced in proportion to your share of fault. So if your total damages are $200,000 and you are found 20% at fault, you would receive $160,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why does this matter for cyclists? Insurance adjusters will look for any reason to assign you a higher percentage of fault. They may point to your lane position, your lighting equipment, your speed, or even your helmet choice. These arguments are designed to reduce what they owe you, not to reflect the truth of what happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n