If you run a query on the Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System, you will find that Fort Worth, TX, saw 256 motorcycle crashes occur in 2024.
Beyond the injuries these accidents caused, what makes that number so poignant is that riders could have likely avoided at least some of them by taking Fort Worth motorcycle safety courses. Motorcyclists applying for a Texas motorcycle license must complete an approved course, but older riders and those from other states may benefit from a voluntary refresher course.
If you ever find yourself a victim of a motorcycle wreck in the area, a motorcycle accident lawyer from Anderson Injury Lawyers can help argue that you are a safe and knowledgeable rider. Call us at (817) 294-1900 to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury attorney to get started.
How Anderson Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident in Fort Worth, TX
Anderson Injury Lawyers has assisted motorcycle accident victims in Fort Worth, Texas, for almost two decades. Our founding attorney is board-certified in personal injury trial law and has guided the firm in recovering millions of dollars in settlements and jury awards for our clients.
If you suffer an injury in a motorcycle crash caused by someone else’s careless or wrongful actions, our team of Fort Worth motorcycle accident attorneys will provide the following services:
- Assessing your claim and explaining the process for seeking compensation
- Assembling evidence to build your case against the at-fault driver
- Negotiating with the driver’s insurer to resolve your claim
- Filing suit when the insurance company denies liability for your losses
Proving liability for a motorcycle accident is often complicated. Do not hesitate to contact our Fort Worth personal injury lawyers to schedule a free consultation and discuss your options for seeking injury compensation.
Motorcycle Safety Courses in Fort Worth
Texas accredits safety courses that are accepted for motorcycle license applications. Some providers offer unaccredited courses to advanced riders or to address specific topics or skills. However, these are generally not accepted for motorcycle license applications while the rider is still receiving additional training.
The Motorcycle Safety Course is required for licensing in Fort Worth. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) provides a map that lists approved providers for the course, all of which tend to use the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Basic RiderCourse materials and testing standards.
The Motorcycle Safety Course consists of two parts, and successful completion of both is required to obtain a motorcycle license. The course completion certificates are valid for up to 24 months. If you completed your course more than 24 months before applying for a motorcycle license, you must retake the course. The two parts of the course are:
Classroom Instruction
Classroom instruction is completed online or in person. It requires roughly five hours of instruction, but students can progress at their own pace online. The classroom segment ends with a written examination.
Hands-On Skill Instruction
The hands-on skill instruction takes about ten hours, during which students will learn the following skills:
- Inspecting the motorcycle
- Starting from a stopped position
- Braking
- Shifting gears
- Steering and cornering
- Making emergency maneuvers
- Accelerating
- Crossing obstacles, like railroad tracks
The hands-on segment of the course ends with a riding skills test on a driving course.
How Motorcycle Safety Training May Affect an Injury Claim
Liability for a motorcycle accident is determined using a negligence analysis. In other words, the motorcyclist might be responsible for the driver’s property damage and injuries if the crash resulted from negligent motorcycle operation. Thus, a common defense for drivers in motorcycle accident cases is that the motorcyclist, not the driver, caused the crash.
Overcoming that argument and saving your injury claim might involve a few key steps:
Collect Accident Reports
First, your lawyer will obtain a copy of the accident report, which is often helpful to expert witnesses in analyzing and reconstructing your crash.
Offer Witness Testimony
Second, your attorney will gather witness testimony to establish what occurred. If someone is negligent, it means they failed to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances. Eyewitnesses can establish whether you or the driver disobeyed traffic laws or did something else that exhibited a lack of care.
Provide Your Own Testimony
Third, your testimony is often critically important. When you testify, you will explain the safety training you completed when you received your license and how you maneuvered to avoid or reduce the risk of an accident.
Contact Our Fort Worth Motorcycle Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Even trained motorcyclists can be hit by careless or aggressive drivers. Contact Anderson Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to learn about your right to seek compensation from the negligent driver who hit you. Our Fort Worth motorcycle accident lawyers are standing by ready to help.