How Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Help in Fort Worth
We keep the focus on the driver who caused the crash. After a wreck, insurers sometimes question a rider’s license or training to avoid paying a fair claim.
When you hire us, we:
- Investigate how the crash happened and who was careless
- Gather evidence such as the crash report, photos, video, and witness statements
- Document your injuries, medical bills, and lost income
- Negotiate with the at-fault driver’s insurer
- File a lawsuit if a fair settlement isn’t offered
Texas Motorcycle License Requirements
The Texas Department of Public Safety offers three paths to a Class M motorcycle license, based on your age and current license.
Applicants 18 and older must pass a DPS-approved motorcycle safety course. These courses usually follow the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s basic rider curriculum and cover:
- Starting, stopping, and shifting gears
- Cornering and riding through intersections
- Emergency braking and swerving
- Riding safely around other traffic and avoiding speeding
The course ends with a written exam and a riding test. Once you pass, the provider notifies DPS. You bring proof of identity and Texas residency to a DPS office, and the license is issued without another test.
Applicants under 18 must also complete the safety course, plus:
- Complete 32 hours of driver education or hold a valid learner license
- Show a high school diploma, GED, or proof of school attendance
- Bring a parent or guardian to the DPS office
- Pass a separate DPS road test
New Texas residents with a valid out-of-state motorcycle license can usually exchange it. DPS typically waives the course and exams, with some exceptions.
Motorcycle Safety Courses in Fort Worth
Fort Worth riders take the course through a DPS-approved provider. DPS lists approved providers on its website. Completing the course also matters for the Texas helmet law: riders 21 and older who finished an approved course may legally ride without a helmet.
Does Your License Status Affect an Injury Claim?
It can come up, but it rarely decides the case. Fault in Texas turns on who acted carelessly. A driver who turned left into your path is responsible whether or not you held a Class M license.
Insurers may still argue that a lack of training contributed to the crash. Under modified comparative fault, a jury can reduce your award by your percentage of fault, and you recover nothing only if you are found more than 50% responsible. Good evidence of how the crash happened is the strongest answer to that argument.
About Brad Parker
Motorcycle Licensing Requirements in Fort Worth, TX FAQs
Do you need a motorcycle license in Texas?
Yes. To operate a motorcycle on Texas roads, you need a Class M license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety. A regular Class C driver's license alone does not cover a motorcycle. Riding without the proper license can lead to a citation and can complicate an insurance claim after a crash.
How do you get a motorcycle license in Texas?
Adults complete a DPS-approved motorcycle safety course, which ends with a written exam and a riding test. The course provider reports completion to DPS. You then visit a DPS office with proof of identity and Texas residency, and DPS issues the license without another written or road test.
Can I still recover compensation if I didn't have a motorcycle license?
Often, yes. Lacking a license does not by itself mean you caused the crash. What matters is who acted carelessly. An insurer may argue inexperience contributed, and Texas comparative fault can reduce your award by your share of fault, but you can recover if you are 50% or less at fault.
How much does a Fort Worth motorcycle accident lawyer cost?
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers handles motorcycle crash 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 explain the exact terms in writing before we start.
Visit Our Fort Worth Office
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office
209 N Hampton St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
- Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday Closed