Car, motorcycle and pedestrian
Dallas motorcycle accident lawyer.
After a motorcycle crash, the driver usually says they never saw you, and the insurance company starts from the idea that riders take risks. The injuries are often serious and the bias is real, so the evidence has to do the talking. We save the scene, the video and your gear, answer the helmet and speed arguments with facts, and value everything the crash took, from surgery and road rash to the bike itself.
Right now
If you just went down.
- 01
Get medical care today
Adrenaline hides fractures, head injuries and internal injuries. Road rash needs proper cleaning to avoid infection and scarring. Go to the ER or urgent care even if you rode away.
- 02
Keep your helmet and gear
Do not throw away the helmet, jacket, gloves or boots, even if they are ruined. They show where and how hard you hit, and they answer the helmet argument.
- 03
Photograph the bike and the road before repairs
Scrapes on the bike, the point of impact, skid marks, gravel, potholes and the intersection. Do not repair or sell the bike until it has been documented.
- 04
Get the report and the witnesses
Call police and get the report number. Riding partners and other drivers are important witnesses, so get their names and numbers. A helmet camera or phone video from a riding partner can settle the case.
- 05
Do not discuss speed or blame with the adjuster
Insurers ask riders how fast they were going to build a fault argument. You do not have to give a recorded statement.
- 06
Call us before you sign anything
The first consultation is free, in English or Spanish.
Key deadlines and numbers
- Helmet law
- Required under 21. Riders 21 and older are exempt with a safety course or at least $10,000 in medical coverageSource: Tex. Transp. Code 661.003
- Left turns
- A driver turning left must yield to oncoming traffic, motorcycles includedSource: Tex. Transp. Code 545.152
- Deadline to sue
- 2 years from the crashSource: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.003
- If you are partly at fault
- You can recover if you are 50% or less at fault, reduced by your shareSource: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 33.001
- Minimum insurance in Texas
- $30,000 per person, $60,000 per crash, $25,000 propertySource: Tex. Transp. Code 601.072
Texas law
How Texas law treats a motorcycle crash.
A rider has the same rights on the road as any driver. The driver who caused the crash, and that driver's insurance, pays. The difference is in how the insurer handles the claim: it will look for any reason to put part of the blame on you, and every percent counts.
| Type of loss | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Medical expenses | ER, surgery, wound care and skin grafts for road rash, therapy and future care. Limited to amounts actually paid or owed. |
| Lost income | Time off work and earning capacity you lost. |
| Pain and mental anguish | Past and future, with no general cap in a motorcycle case. |
| Scarring and impairment | Road rash scars, lost motion and what you can no longer do. |
| The bike | Repair or value, including aftermarket parts and custom work you can document. |
| Gear | Helmet, jacket, gloves, boots and anything else damaged in the crash. |
"I didn't see the motorcycle" is not a defense
The most common motorcycle crash is a car turning left across the rider's path. Texas law requires that driver to yield. Failing to see a motorcycle that was there to be seen is carelessness, not an excuse.
Source: Tex. Transp. Code 545.152No helmet does not end your claim
Many adult riders may legally ride without a helmet. Even so, the insurer may argue a helmet would have reduced a head injury and ask a jury to cut your recovery. That argument does not touch injuries a helmet would not have prevented, like a broken leg or road rash, and it needs proof.
Source: Tex. Transp. Code 661.003Speed and lane position get scrutinized
Insurers often claim the rider was speeding or weaving. Texas does not allow lane splitting, so if traffic was stopped, expect that question. Video, data from the other vehicle and a reconstruction usually show what really happened.
Source: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 33.012How we work
How we build a motorcycle claim.
Mr. Estrada reads your file and sets the strategy. Our team works the details with him, and you get updates in English or Spanish.
01
Save the scene and the video
Preservation letters for business and traffic cameras, dashcams and the 911 call, plus scene photos before the road is cleaned or repaired.
02
Reconstruct the crash
Where the bike was hit, scrape marks, final positions and the other vehicle's data show speed and sight lines. We work with accident reconstruction professionals when speed or visibility is disputed.
03
Answer the helmet and gear arguments
We keep your helmet and gear as evidence and use your medical records to separate injuries a helmet could not have changed.
04
Document the full harm
Motorcycle injuries are often long-term. For serious injuries the firm works with medical professionals, life care planners and economists to put future care and lost earning capacity on paper.
05
Find every policy, then negotiate or sue
The driver's policy, any employer's policy and your own uninsured or underinsured coverage. When the offer does not match the evidence, we file and prepare for trial.
Who handles it
The lawyer on the sign is the lawyer on your case.
Mr. Estrada has practiced in Texas since 2003, in state court and in the Northern, Eastern and Western federal districts of Texas. He reads the file and sets the strategy, with associates and staff who work the case alongside him. Everything is explained to you in English or Spanish.
What clients say
“Mr. Estrada did an excellent representation of my case and was very explicit and direct on what my consequences were and implications.”Questions riders ask us about money and paperwork.
- Who pays my medical bills right now?
- Your health insurance, any medical payments coverage on your motorcycle policy, or a doctor who agrees to wait for the case. Motorcycle policies are not always set up like car policies, so we read yours.
- My bike had custom parts
- Insurers often value a bike as if it were stock. Receipts, photos and build records for aftermarket parts and paint help you get paid for what you actually had.
- I did not have a motorcycle license
- Riding without a Class M license can bring a ticket, but it does not by itself mean you caused the crash. The claim still turns on who was careless. Talk to us privately.
Dallas and Odessa
Where riders get hurt in Dallas and West Texas.
In Dallas we see motorcycle crashes on I-30, I-35E, Loop 12 and US-67, at left-turn intersections across Oak Cliff and southern Dallas, and on the weekend routes toward Joe Pool Lake and Cedar Hill. From Odessa we handle crashes on I-20, SH-191 and the oilfield roads of Ector and Midland counties, where gravel, heavy trucks and wide turns make riding risky.
FAQ
Questions people ask.
Can I still recover if I was not wearing a helmet?
Yes. Not wearing a helmet does not erase the other driver's fault. The insurer may argue it made a head injury worse, and that can affect part of the claim, but it does not apply to injuries a helmet would not have prevented.
The driver says they never saw me. Does that help them?
Usually not. Drivers have a duty to look for and yield to motorcycles. Saying they did not see you often admits they were not paying attention.
What if I was lane splitting?
Texas does not allow lane splitting, and the insurer will use it to argue you share the blame. You may still recover if your share is 50% or less. Tell us exactly what happened so we can evaluate it honestly.
How much is a motorcycle accident case worth?
It depends on your injuries, treatment, lost income, the effect on your life, fault and the insurance available. No honest lawyer can give you a number on the first call. We can tell you what drives the value and how to protect it.
How long do I have to file in Texas?
Generally two years from the crash. Claims involving a government vehicle or road can require written notice within months. Evidence like video and the other vehicle's data disappears much sooner.
How much does it cost to hire you?
The first consultation is free. Injury cases are handled on a contingency fee, which means the fee comes out of the recovery, not out of your pocket. We explain the exact terms, including case costs, before you sign.
Related situations
- Car accidents
- Brain injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Hit and run and uninsured drivers
- Wrongful death
- 18 wheeler and truck accidents
- All: Personal Injury
Updated October 2026
This page is general information about Texas law, not legal advice for your situation. Reading it does not create an attorney client relationship. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a future outcome.
Two offices
Oak Cliff and Odessa.
Mon to Fri 9 to 5, Sat 9 to 12. Emergencies 24/7 by phone.
Law Office of Olegario Estrada, P.C.
We explain everything.We answer 24/7.Se habla español.
Free consultation by phone, video, or in person. Offices in Dallas and Odessa.