At O’Hare and Koch, we represent injured riders and grieving families throughout North Texas. With more than 25 years of experience handling motorcycle injury cases, our firm understands both the physical challenges and the legal obstacles that follow these devastating events. We work to hold negligent parties accountable and to secure the financial recovery our clients need to rebuild.
Motorcycle riders face real risks on Dallas highways and neighborhood streets. Even the most careful rider is vulnerable when another driver is distracted, speeding, or fails to check a blind spot. A single careless maneuver can cause a crash that changes a life in an instant.
Dallas Data on Rider Risks
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, more than 500 motorcyclists lose their lives and thousands more are seriously injured in crashes across Texas each year. Data from the State’s Crash Records Information System shows that Dallas County consistently ranks among the highest in the state for motorcycle-related collisions and fatalities.
The aftermath of a motorcycle crash is often severe — injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and multiple fractures are common. Recovery can take months or years, and medical expenses often far exceed insurance coverage.
Dangerous Dallas Roads
Motorcyclists in Dallas navigate some of the busiest and most unpredictable traffic in North Texas. From fast-moving freeways to scenic backroads, a single driver’s mistake can have devastating consequences for a rider.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, many serious motorcycle crashes in the Dallas area occur along high-speed highways and major commuter routes, including:
- I-35E (Stemmons Freeway and RL Thornton Freeway) and US-75 (Central Expressway): Heavy traffic, frequent lane changes, and limited visibility make these corridors particularly dangerous for riders.
- I-635 (LBJ Freeway): Dallas’s busiest beltway, where constant merging and speed differentials contribute to serious multi-vehicle crashes.
- Loop 12 / Northwest Highway: A mix of commuter traffic and curves near White Rock Lake has led to a growing number of motorcycle collisions.
- FM 1382 through Cedar Hill State Park: Popular with weekend riders for its curves and views, but risky due to distracted drivers and tight turns.
- Highway 67 toward Midlothian: A common recreational route that combines highway speeds with heavy growth and unpredictable cross-traffic.
Accidents also occur in Dallas nightlife districts like Deep Ellum, Lower Greenville, Uptown and Trinity Groves where congestion and impaired driving increase danger after dark.
These routes show how quickly a normal ride can turn tragic when drivers fail to notice or respect motorcycles on the road.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle crashes in Dallas happen for many reasons from careless drivers in heavy traffic to unsafe road design or vehicle defects. Some of the most frequent types of motorcycle accidents we see include:
- Left-turn collisions: One of the most common and deadly scenarios occurs when a vehicle turns left in front of an oncoming motorcycle, often misjudging speed or distance.
- Lane-change crashes: In dense Dallas traffic, drivers often fail to check blind spots before merging, striking riders traveling beside them.
- Rear-end impacts: Even low-speed collisions can throw a rider from the bike, especially when drivers follow too closely at stoplights or intersections.
- Open-door or “dooring” accidents: These often occur in urban areas like Deep Ellum or Uptown when drivers or passengers open car doors into the path of an approaching motorcycle.
- Intersection crashes: Congested crossroads such as those along I-35E, US-75, and Belt Line Road see a high number of angle collisions caused by distracted or aggressive driving.
- Hazardous road conditions: Potholes, loose gravel, uneven pavement, or debris left from construction zones can cause riders to lose control, particularly on Dallas’s older urban roadways.
- Drunk or impaired drivers: Crashes involving alcohol or drug impairment remain a leading cause of serious and fatal motorcycle injuries throughout North Texas.
Compensation Available to Riders After a Dallas Motorcycle Crash
A motorcycle crash can leave lasting physical, financial, and emotional scars. Texas law allows injured riders to pursue compensation for both economic and non-economic effects of their injuries.
Recoverable damages may include:
- Medical costs: Emergency care, surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and future treatment.
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity: Time away from work and long-term financial impact.
- Property damage: Repair or replacement of the motorcycle and other personal property.
- Physical pain and suffering: Daily discomfort, ongoing treatment, and long-term pain.
- Emotional distress: Anxiety, depression, or trauma resulting from the crash.
- Disfigurement or disability: Scarring or permanent physical limitations.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Activities or experiences you can no longer fully participate in.
Each case is unique, and as your attorneys, we evaluate all damages and losses and will work tirelessly to recover the full value of your claim. Review our case results to see how we have helped other clients rebuild after serious motorcycle injuries.
Liability in Motorcycle Crash Cases
Motorcycle crashes often involve multiple contributing factors. Determining liability requires careful investigation into how the collision occurred and who failed to meet their legal duties of care. Potentially responsible parties may include:
- Drivers who failed to yield, followed too closely, or changed lanes without signaling
- Trucking or delivery companies whose employees caused a collision while working
- Vehicle or parts manufacturers when brake or tire defects contributed to the crash
- Government entities or contruction and maintenance contractors responsible for unsafe road design, unsafe road conditions or poor maintenance
- Property owners or operators responsible for drive and parking lot conditions
- Various third parties who can be shown to have contributed to or cause the collision like bars or motorcycle repair shops
We gather accident reports, photos, video footage, witness statements, and expert opinions to identify every party who had a hand in causing the accident to build the strongest claim for accountability.
Comparative Fault in Texas Motorcycle Accident Claims
Under Texas’s comparative fault law (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001), an injured person may still recover compensation even if partially responsible for the crash, so long as the rider’s share of fault is found to be 50 percent or less.
Insurance companies often use this rule to reduce payments by alleging rider error, aggressive tactics or excessive speed. O’Hare and Koch counters these tactics with detailed evidence and expert analysis to ensure that blame is fairly assigned and victims are treated justly.
Texas Helmet Laws and Dallas Rider Rights
Texas law requires motorcycle riders and passengers to wear helmets, with limited exceptions for adults who have completed a safety course or carry qualifying health insurance (Tex. Transp. Code § 661.003). Dallas follows these same statewide standards, and there is no separate city ordinance.
While helmets play a critical role in preventing severe head injuries, not wearing one does not make a rider automatically negligent. Insurance companies may argue that a helmet would have reduced the extent of an injury, but under Texas law, the choice not to wear one cannot be used to deny a valid claim.
Our lawyers know full well how insurers try to use helmet issues against injured riders, and we work to ensure those arguments do not unfairly reduce your recovery.
How O’Hare and Koch Builds Strong Cases for Injured Riders
Motorcycle accident claims require focused investigation and skilled negotiation, and our experienced lawyers build every case with the precision and determination needed to stand up to powerful insurance carriers.
To build your case, we will:
- Investigate the scene and collect critical evidence, including dash-cam, photos and surveillance video, as well as witness statements when available
- Work with accident reconstruction and medical experts to support your claim
- Manage all communication with insurers and opposing counsel
- Prepare each case for trial to maximize leverage during settlement talks
- Keep clients informed and involved throughout the process
We are known throughout the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex for our meticulous attention to detail, compassionate client service, and impressive record in serious injury litigation.
Talk With a Dallas Motorcycle Accident Lawyer About Your Case
After a motorcycle accident, you should be focused on recovery rather than paperwork and insurance disputes. Let the team at O’Hare and Koch take the strong, decisive legal action you need. We offer free, confidential consultations and charge no fees or costs unless we recover compensation for you. Call now to get started.