How Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Help in Bedford
We use Texas traffic and insurance rules to show who caused your crash and which policies must pay. Insurers know these laws well, and they use them to argue riders share the blame.
When you hire us, we:
- Investigate the crash and check the other driver’s compliance with traffic laws
- Find every available policy, including liability, uninsured motorist, and PIP coverage
- Answer arguments about helmets, licensing, or lane position
- Negotiate with insurers and file suit if needed
Texas Motorcycle License and Helmet Laws
You need a Class M motorcycle license to ride legally in Texas. DPS lets applicants as young as 15 apply after completing an approved course (MSB-9 or MSB-8R). Applicants under 18 must also pass a riding test.
Under Transportation Code §661.003, riders and passengers under 21 must wear a helmet. Riders 21 and older may go without one if they completed an approved safety course or carry at least $10,000 in medical insurance coverage.
Texas Motorcycle Insurance Laws
Every motorcycle owner must carry liability insurance, according to the Texas Department of Insurance. The minimums are:
- $30,000 for each injured person
- $60,000 per crash for all injuries
- $25,000 for property damage
That coverage pays people you injure. To protect yourself, consider uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection. Texas insurers must offer both, and they apply unless you reject them in writing. If a driver without enough insurance hits you, see our page on uninsured motorist claims.
Lane Use and Passenger Rules
Motorcycles get full use of a lane. Two riders may share a lane side by side or staggered. Riding between lanes of traffic moving the same direction, known as lane splitting or filtering, is not legal in Texas.
For passengers:
- Children under 5 may not ride unless seated in a sidecar
- Passengers need a permanent seat, footrests, and handholds
- Passengers under 21 must wear a helmet
How These Laws Affect Your Crash Claim
Breaking a motorcycle law doesn’t automatically bar your claim, but insurers will raise it. Texas uses modified comparative fault: your award is reduced by your share of fault, and you recover nothing if you are more than 50% responsible. Following the rules makes it much harder for the other side to shift blame. You generally have two years from the crash to file a lawsuit.
About Brad Parker
Motorcycle Laws in Texas FAQs
What are the Texas motorcycle insurance laws?
Texas requires motorcycle owners to carry liability insurance of at least $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per crash, and $25,000 for property damage. Liability coverage pays others you injure, not you. Uninsured motorist and personal injury protection coverage can protect you, and insurers must offer them unless you reject them in writing.
Is lane splitting legal in Texas?
No. Texas does not allow motorcycles to ride between lanes of traffic moving in the same direction. Riders do have full use of a lane, and two motorcycles may ride side by side in one lane. A rider who was lane splitting may be assigned part of the fault for a crash.
At what age can you get a motorcycle license in Texas?
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, applicants can be as young as 15 if they complete an approved motorcycle safety course. Applicants under 18 must also pass a DPS road test. Adults 18 and older must pass the safety course before getting a Class M license.
How much does it cost to hire your firm after a motorcycle crash?
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers handles motorcycle cases on a contingency fee. You pay nothing upfront and owe no attorney's fees unless we recover money for you. Our fee will never exceed your recovery, and we put the exact terms in writing before we begin.
Visit Our Bedford Office
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers – Bedford Office
2317 Plaza Pkwy #100, Bedford, TX 76021
- Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday Closed