Helping Injured Clients in Austin and Central Texas - Hablamos Español (512) 474-0222
Call for a Free Case Evaluation (512) 474-0222
Call for a Free Case Evaluation (512) 474-0222
Nothing says “freedom” quite like hitting the open highways of Austin, Texas, on a motorcycle. To avoid a traffic citation, it’s important to follow Texas motorcycle laws. Regardless of where your motorcycle license was issued, Texas law assumes you are aware of its rules and restrictions.
However, even though following these laws may keep you from getting a ticket, they, unfortunately, do not prevent you from being hurt in a potential accident.
You may be entitled to compensation for your resulting medical bills and other losses following a motorcycle crash. At McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers, our Austin motorcycle accident lawyers are ready to assist you in navigating the often complex claims process. Contact us today for a free consultation at (512) 474-0222.
For twenty years, the Austin motorcycle accident attorneys at McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers have been helping injured riders in the city and throughout the state, securing millions of dollars in compensation for injury victims, including those harmed in motorcycle crashes.
Following your crash, our Austin personal injury lawyers can do the following to help guide you through the steps of the legal process:
Motorcycle accidents can lead to severe injuries, from extensive road rash to traumatic brain injuries. Insurance companies, however, will do all they can to limit the compensation they pay. Having an experienced injury attorney fighting on your behalf can make a significant difference in your claim’s outcome, so do not hesitate to contact McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers in Austin, TX, today.
There are many laws pertaining to motorcyclists and their vehicles that those in Texas must follow. They cover topics such as licensing, equipment requirements, and operation on Texas roads.
In particular, five of these laws that all bikers who ride in Texas should familiarize themselves with are as follows:
Motorcyclists under the age of 21 must wear an approved helmet when riding a motorcycle in Texas, whether as the driver or as a passenger. Older motorcyclists are not legally required to wear a helmet, but doing so can, of course, protect them from serious head injuries in a wreck.
Lane splitting — the practice of using the dashed white line that divides two lanes of traffic going in the same direction as a third, “motorcycle-only” lane — is illegal in Texas. Riders can only occupy one marked lane of travel at a time and must ride between the lane markings. Lane sharing, however, is permitted; motorcyclists can ride two abreast in a single lane of traffic.
Texas law prohibits all children under the age of five from riding as passengers on a motorcycle. Any child above that age can ride in a sidecar, but they are still required to wear a properly fitted and approved safety helmet.
Given the risk of serious injuries motorcyclists face, Texas law requires all bikers to have sufficient liability coverage to operate their motorcycles. Any policy must provide a minimum of $30,000 in bodily injury coverage per person and a minimum of $60,000 for all bodily injury claims per accident. These are the same requirements that traditional motorists must meet.
To operate a motorcycle, you must have a Class M license or endorsement. If you have a general driver’s license, you can get a Class M endorsement added to your license upon meeting certain requirements; otherwise, you can apply for a Class M license and then pass a road skills test and safety course.
In addition to these five specific laws, motorcyclists must generally follow all other traffic laws that apply to motorists. For example, they are still subject to the same speeding laws, right-of-way rules, and prohibitions against drunk driving that drivers of private motor vehicles are. Moreover, motorcyclists are subject to the same penalties for law violations.
McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers offers prospective clients free, no-obligation case consultations. We will discuss the compensation you could be entitled to receive and how our knowledgeable team can help in your recovery.
Reach out to us today to speak with one of our experienced Austin motorcycle accident attorneys about the facts of your case.
