Motorcycle riding in Texas comes with serious risks that the latest crash data makes impossible to ignore. According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), 581 motorcyclists were killed and 2,534 were seriously injured on Texas roads in 2024.  

That works out to roughly one rider killed every single day. Despite accounting for a small fraction of vehicles on the road, motorcyclists represented nearly 15 percent of all traffic deaths statewide. 

For riders in Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and across Texas who have been hurt in a crash, understanding these numbers is more than an academic exercise. The data reveals patterns about when, where, and why motorcycle accidents happen, and what riders can do to protect both their health and their legal rights in the aftermath. 

If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Texas, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the lawyers at Hissey Mulderig & Friend today by calling toll-free at 1-866-806-8117 or by filling out our free case evaluation form. 

When and Where Texas Motorcycle Crashes Are Most Deadly

TxDOT data shows clear patterns in the timing and location of fatal motorcycle crashes across the state. Approximately 61 percent of motorcyclist fatalities in Texas occur between May and October, with Saturdays being the single deadliest day of the week for riders. 

Intersections are especially dangerous. According to TxDOT’s Share the Road: Look Twice for Motorcycles campaign, 40 percent of motorcycle fatalities in 2024 occurred at or near an intersection. These crashes often involve a driver making a left turn directly into the path of an oncoming motorcycle, either because the driver failed to see the rider or misjudged the motorcycle’s speed and distance. 

Urban areas also have the highest risk of a motorcycle crash. Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and Fort Worth consistently rank among the Texas cities with the highest numbers of fatal motorcycle crashes, driven by a combination of traffic congestion, high speeds, and distracted driving. 

Why Motorcycle Accidents Are So Severe

Motorcyclists are roughly 28 times more likely to die per mile traveled than occupants of passenger vehicles. The reason is straightforward: motorcycles offer no airbags, no seatbelts, and no steel frame to absorb the force of a collision. Even a crash at relatively low speed can result in life-altering injuries. 

The most common serious injuries in Texas motorcycle crashes include:  

• Traumatic brain injuries 
• Spinal cord damage 
• Broken bones and fractures 
• Road rash requiring skin grafts 
• Internal organ damage, and  
• Leg and foot injuries that can require amputation.  

Many of these injuries lead to long-term disability, chronic pain, and financial hardship from mounting medical bills and lost income. 

Helmet use is a significant factor in injuries from motocycle accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that helmets are 37 percent effective at preventing death in motorcycle crashes.  

Texas has a partial helmet law: all riders under 21 must wear a helmet, while riders over 21 may go without one if they have completed a safety course or carry qualifying medical insurance. In 2024, approximately 37 percent of Texas motorcyclists killed in crashes were not wearing helmets. 

Who Is at Fault? Understanding Texas Motorcycle Accident Liability

More than half of fatal motorcycle crashes in Texas result from collisions with other vehicles. In the majority of these multi-vehicle crashes, the other driver is at fault, most commonly for failing to yield the right of way, making an unsafe lane change, or turning left in front of an oncoming rider. 

Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule under Section 33.001 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Under this rule, an injured motorcyclist can recover compensation as long as they are not more than 50 percent at fault for the accident. If the rider is found partially at fault, their compensation is reduced by their percentage of responsibility.  

For example, a rider found 20 percent at fault for a crash with $200,000 in damages would receive $160,000. But if the rider is found 51 percent or more at fault, they recover nothing. 

This rule makes it critical to preserve evidence and build a strong case early, because insurance companies routinely try to shift blame onto the motorcyclist to reduce or eliminate what they owe. 

The Problem of Motorcycle Bias in Insurance Claims

One of the biggest challenges injured riders face has nothing to do with the facts of the crash. It is the bias against motorcyclists that insurance adjusters, defense attorneys, and even juries sometimes bring to a case. Stereotypes about reckless riding can influence how fault is assigned, even when the evidence clearly shows another driver caused the accident. 

Insurance companies know that under Texas’s modified comparative fault rule, pushing the rider’s share of blame past 50 percent eliminates their obligation to pay entirely. This creates a strong financial incentive for insurers to exploit motorcycle bias at every stage of a claim. 

An experienced motorcycle accident attorney can counter these tactics by conducting an independent investigation, gathering accident reports and witness statements, working with accident reconstruction experts, and presenting clear evidence of the other driver’s negligence. 

Two-Year Statute of Limitations in Texas Motorcycle Accident Lawsuits

Texas law gives injured motorcyclists two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.  

This deadline, known as the statute of limitations, is set by Section 16.003 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. If a rider misses this window, they generally lose the right to pursue compensation through the courts, regardless of how strong their case may be. 

The two-year clock also applies to wrongful death claims filed by the families of riders who were killed in a crash.  

Because critical evidence like surveillance footage, witness memories, and physical evidence from the scene can deteriorate quickly, consulting with an attorney as soon as possible after an accident is important. 

Contact Hissey Mulderig & Friend After a Motorcycle Accident

The attorneys at Hissey Mulderig & Friend represent motorcyclists and their families in serious injury and wrongful death cases across Texas. The firm works to investigate accidents, identify all responsible parties, and pursue full compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. 

Our firm works on a strict contingency basis. This means there are no costs or legal fees unless we successfully recover compensation in your case. 

If you were injured in a motorcycle crash, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal accident, you may have legal options. Contact Hissey Mulderig & Friend to find out if you qualify or to start your claim by calling our attorneys toll-free at 1-866-806-8117, or by filling out our free case evaluation form.