All states, including Texas, require motorcycle operators to obtain an endorsement or license designed for motorcyclists. The goal of these laws is to ensure riders have the training and experience to handle a motorcycle safely. After a motorcycle crash in Dallas, TX, your compliance with Dallas motorcycle licensing requirements might determine your rights.
Specifically, a driver may attempt to blame you for the crash if you are unlicensed or have a suspended license. However, a Dallas motorcycle accident attorney from Anderson Injury Lawyers can keep the focus on the at-fault driver’s actions in your pursuit of compensation for the injuries they caused.
Contact us online or call our law office at (214) 327-8000 for a free consultation.
How Anderson Injury Lawyers Can Help After A Motorcycle Accident In Dallas, TX
When another driver’s careless or wrongful actions injure you in a motorcycle accident, our Dallas motorcycle accident attorneys provide multiple legal services.
Here are some examples:
- Learn about your accident and discuss your legal options
- Collect the records and information needed to file an insurance claim
- Negotiate with the at-fault driver’s insurer for a settlement
- Take your case to court if we cannot fairly resolve your claim
Anderson Injury Lawyers has helped injured motorcyclists in Dallas, Texas, for over 17 years. Our attorneys have decades of experience fighting at-fault drivers and their auto insurers for compensation. Our results speak for themselves. We have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and court awards for injured riders.
Contact Anderson Injury Lawyers for a free consultation with a Dallas motorcycle accident attorney and learn how we can help you pursue compensation for your losses.
Motorcycle Licensing Requirements In Texas
Texas provides the following three options for obtaining a motorcycle license, depending on your age and licensing status:
Young Applicants
Applicants 15 through 17 must pass a motorcycle safety course approved by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Additionally, applicants under 18 must meet the following requirements:
- Permission from a parent or legal guardian
- Completion of driver’s education or possession of a learner’s license
- Verification of school enrollment, a high school diploma, or a GED
- Completion of a motorcycle skills test administered by DPS
The final requirement, a DPS skills test, is required for all applicants under 18, even though they must also pass a skills test to complete the motorcycle safety course.
Adult Applicants
Adult applicants who have never held a motorcycle license or endorsement must take and pass a motorcycle safety course. They must also pass a motorcycle skills test. However, DPS waives the skills test requirement if the applicant has a valid driver’s license.
Adult Applicants With A Valid Out-Of-State Motorcycle License
Texas will issue a motorcycle license to new residents who hold a valid, unexpired motorcycle license from another state without retaking the skills or knowledge tests. However, the state may require new residents to take the motorcycle safety course if they have not completed the course within 24 months before applying for a Texas motorcycle license.
Impact Of Licensing On Motorcycle Crash Liability
Unlicensed motorcyclists are more likely to have a fatal crash than those with licenses. This statistic arises for several reasons, including:
- Less training
- Less experience
- Prior violations that resulted in suspension
Unlicensed riders are not necessarily precluded from seeking injury compensation merely because they had no license when they were hit. Motorcycle accident liability depends on negligence law. Drivers are negligent when they fail to exercise reasonable care for the safety of other road users.
This doctrine ensures that the liability for the crash falls on the responsible driver. For example, suppose that a driver turned left in front of your motorcycle as you approached an intersection. The liability for a left-turn accident will likely fall on the driver for failing to yield to you, regardless of whether you hold a valid motorcycle license or not.
However, Texas also uses a doctrine called modified comparative negligence when both parties contribute to the cause of an accident. Under this doctrine, a crash victim’s compensation will be reduced by their share of the blame. For example, if you were 18% at fault for your motorcycle crash, you can only recover 82% of your losses in an insurance claim or lawsuit.
Fortunately for unlicensed riders, comparative negligence relies on their actions rather than their licensing status. In other words, you are not necessarily negligent simply because you rode without a motorcycle license. However, you may be negligent if you made a preventable mistake while riding.
For example, suppose that you were speeding through an intersection to catch a yellow light when a driver ran a red light. You lost control of your motorcycle while swerving and slammed into the car. You may bear part of the blame since you were speeding.
Contact Our Dallas Motorcycle Accident Lawyers For A Free Consultation
Negligent drivers can cause a motorcycle accident regardless of your licensing status. Contact Anderson Injury Lawyers for a free consultation with a Dallas motorcycle accident attorney to discuss your options for seeking injury compensation under Texas law.