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Motorcycle Safety Tips In Texas

Texas offers some of the country’s best riding, from the coast along Galveston Bay to the farm roads stretching toward Corpus Christi. However, those same roads also bring heavy truck traffic, distracted drivers, and weather that can change in minutes.

Since 1951, injured Texans have brought their collision cases to Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner LLP. These motorcycle safety tips reflect what our lawyers see in real crash files. Call 713-222-7211 or contact our firm online for a free consultation.

 

Wear Gear That Protects You on Texas Roads

Wear Gear That Protects You on Texas RoadsRiding gear does not stop a crash, but it decides how much of the crash reaches your body. Summer heat across Texas tempts riders into shorts and sneakers on short trips, and asphalt punishes that choice at any speed.

Coverage matters more than comfort once you go down, and only the helmet on this list carries a Department of Transportation (DOT) certification. Riders who have crashed once tend to come back with the same kit:

  • a full-face helmet carrying a current DOT label;
  • a leather jacket with shoulder and elbow armor;
  • abrasion-resistant riding pants or reinforced riding denim;
  • gloves that cover the wrist bone;
  • boots that lock the ankle in place; and
  • bright colors and reflective panels.

Helmet rules here carry a wrinkle worth knowing. Lawmakers wrote Texas Transportation Code § 661.003 to require protective headgear for riders under 21, while riders 21 and older may go without it after an approved training course or with qualifying health coverage.

Be Alert When Riding

Alert riding starts with the assumption that no driver sees you, especially since distracted driving accidents are among the most common causes of motorcycle collisions. Intersections cause the most trouble, since a car turning left across your path never has to look far to miss you. Habits like these buy back reaction time:

  • scan your mirrors every few seconds in stop-and-go traffic;
  • cover the front brake when traffic bunches up;
  • watch the front wheels of any car waiting to turn; and
  • keep four seconds of space behind a pickup or box truck.

Our breakdown of common motorcycle crashes and how to avoid them pairs each crash type with the habit that lowers its risk.

Group rides need their own rules, including a staggered formation and a hand signal for road hazards. Riders in the back need a warning about a pothole long before they reach it at highway speed.

Be Aware of High-Risk Areas

Risk increases where traffic patterns change quickly, and drivers make sudden decisions. In Houston, motorcyclists face added danger along Interstate 45, Interstate 10, Loop 610, U.S. 59, and Beltway 8, where merging traffic, heavy truck volume, and frequent lane changes leave little room to react.

Intersections on Westheimer Road, FM 1960, and Highway 6 also see a high number of crashes because of left turns and congestion. Bar-heavy areas empty out late at night, and collisions involving drunk drivers become more common along the coastal highways running south toward Victoria and Kingsville.

Take a Safety Course

A course corrects what instinct gets wrong. Counter-steering, emergency braking, and low-speed control all feel backward at first, and an instructor can walk you through them on a closed range instead of leaving you to learn on a freeway shoulder.

Instructors also cover the rules riders break without realizing it. Under Texas Transportation Code § 545.055, riders must stay on the motorcycle’s regular seat; passengers are allowed only on bikes designed for two, and no more than two motorcycles may ride abreast in a single lane.

Motorcycle Maintenance

Mechanical failure at highway speed leaves no room to recover. Tire pressure, chain tension, and brake pad thickness all change week to week, and a five-minute walkaround before a long ride catches most of what strands riders on a shoulder.

What Should You Do After a Motorcycle Crash?

Get medical attention first, then protect the facts. Adjusters move quickly, and common insurance company tactics start with a request for a recorded statement. Do not give a recorded statement to an insurance company prior to hiring an attorney, and never hand over your full Social Security number.

Documentation matters most months later, once both sides have hardened their stories. Steps you take at the scene, or in the hours right after, tend to hold up when the other side challenges your version:

  • move away from moving traffic if you are able to;
  • ask officers for the crash report number before they clear the scene;
  • photograph the other vehicle, your bike, and the road surface; and
  • see a doctor the same day, even for pain that feels minor.

Witness information disappears quickly after a crash. A driver who stopped may have the only independent account that contradicts the other side’s version of events, so get a name and phone number before anyone leaves.

Why Riders Across Texas Call Abraham Watkins

Bias against motorcyclists often appears early in a claim, and adjusters sometimes fault the rider before the evidence is fully reviewed. Our attorneys handle motorcycle accident cases across Texas, from Harris County courts to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

Your first consultation is free, so cost never stands in the way of getting answers. Our Houston motorcycle accident lawyers deal with the insurance companies, gather the medical records, and manage the claim while you focus on your recovery.

Texas Motorcycle Safety FAQ

Is Lane Splitting Legal in Texas?

No. Riding between lanes of traffic is not permitted anywhere in the state, and a rider who does it can be cited and blamed for the resulting collision.

Do You Need a Special License to Ride Here?

Yes. Texas requires a Class M endorsement on your driver’s license. You can obtain it by passing the required written and skills tests or by completing an approved motorcycle rider training course.

Can You Recover Money If You Were Not Wearing a Helmet?

Often, yes. Texas uses a comparative responsibility system, so your recovery drops by your share of fault rather than disappearing. Our attorneys push back when the other side blames gear choices.

Motorcycle Safety Tips Cannot Undo Another Driver’s Choice

Every rider who follows the best motorcycle safety tips available can still get hit by a driver who runs a light on Westheimer. Waiting to act only gives the insurance company more room to work.

Riders who call Abraham Watkins get a straight answer from the first conversation. Call 713-222-7211 or reach us online to speak with our team today.

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