Fort Worth Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Why Cyclists Are Vulnerable on Fort Worth Roads

Fort Worth's road network was designed overwhelmingly with cars in mind. Despite growing investment in bike lanes and multi-use trails along the Trinity River and around cultural districts, most cyclists in the city still share lanes with fast-moving traffic on roads that offer little or no physical protection. When a vehicle and a bicycle collide, it is almost always the cyclist who bears the catastrophic consequences.

Unlike drivers, cyclists have no steel cage, no airbags, and no crumple zones standing between them and a multi-thousand-pound vehicle. Even a relatively low-speed collision can send a cyclist over the hood, into oncoming traffic, or directly onto asphalt. Traumatic brain injuries, fractured bones, severe road rash, and spinal cord damage are common outcomes — even when the cyclist is wearing a helmet and following every rule of the road.

Insurance companies know that bicycle accident victims are often seriously hurt, and they work quickly to minimize their exposure. They may argue that the cyclist was at fault, that they were riding unpredictably, or that their injuries are exaggerated. Patterson Law Group's Fort Worth bicycle accident attorneys have spent decades countering exactly these arguments and securing full, fair compensation for injured cyclists throughout Tarrant County.

Common Causes of Fort Worth Bicycle Accidents

Bicycle accidents in Fort Worth happen for a wide range of reasons, but negligent driver behavior is responsible for the vast majority of serious collisions. Our attorneys investigate each crash to identify the specific cause and establish who is liable.

Texas Law and Cyclist Rights

Under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 551, cyclists operating on public roadways have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle drivers. A cyclist riding lawfully has every legal right to occupy a travel lane, and drivers are required to treat them exactly as they would any other vehicle. This is a foundational principle that our attorneys assert forcefully when dealing with insurance companies that try to shift blame onto an injured cyclist.

Texas law also requires drivers to maintain a safe distance when passing a cyclist. Under Texas Transportation Code §545.0516, a driver overtaking a bicycle must pass at a safe distance — no less than three feet — from the bicycle. Violating this three-foot passing rule is negligence per se under Texas law, meaning that a driver who failed to maintain that distance has automatically breached their legal duty of care.

Texas uses a modified comparative fault system (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §33.001). This means that even if an insurance company argues you were partially at fault for the accident, you can still recover compensation as long as you are found to be no more than 50 percent responsible. However, your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. This is why it is critical to have an experienced attorney who can build the strongest possible case establishing that the driver was primarily at fault.

Many bicycle accident victims are unaware that Texas law requires them to file a lawsuit within two years of the date of the accident (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003). Acting promptly also helps preserve critical evidence — surveillance footage, skid marks, and witness memories all degrade quickly after a collision.

Common Injuries in Bicycle Accidents

The injuries sustained in bicycle accidents range from painful but recoverable to catastrophic and permanently life-altering. The severity depends on factors including vehicle speed, point of impact, protective gear worn, and whether the cyclist was thrown into additional hazards such as oncoming traffic or barriers. Our attorneys have represented cyclists with injuries including:

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Fort Worth

If you are physically able to act after a bicycle accident, the steps you take in the immediate aftermath can significantly strengthen your legal claim. Even small actions can make a meaningful difference when your case is later evaluated by an insurance adjuster or jury.

1. 1
   Call 911: Report the accident to police and request an ambulance if you are injured. A police report is important evidence in your case and documents the at-fault driver's information, the conditions at the scene, and any traffic violations observed.
2. 2
   Stay at the scene: Do not leave before police arrive. Exchange information with the driver — name, insurance, license plate — and get contact information from any witnesses.
3. 3
   Document everything: Use your phone to photograph the vehicle, your bicycle, the road conditions, traffic controls, skid marks, and any visible injuries. Take wide-angle shots and close-ups.
4. 4
   Do not accept blame: Do not tell the driver or police that you are "okay" or apologize for anything. Statements made at the scene can be used against your claim.
5. 5
   Seek medical care immediately: Even if you feel you were not seriously hurt, get evaluated at an emergency room or urgent care center. Adrenaline masks pain, and many serious injuries — including TBI and internal bleeding — may not be symptomatic at first.
6. 6
   Preserve your bicycle and gear: Do not repair your bicycle or discard a damaged helmet. These items are physical evidence of the force of the collision and can support your case.
7. 7
   Contact Patterson Law Group: Call us as soon as possible. We can immediately begin preserving surveillance footage, securing witness statements, and protecting your legal rights before critical evidence disappears.

How We Build Your Bicycle Accident Case

A successful bicycle accident claim requires more than simply showing that a driver hit you. Insurance companies will demand evidence of exactly what happened, who was at fault, and how your injuries connect to the collision. Our attorneys build comprehensive cases by conducting thorough, independent investigations from the moment we are retained.

We begin by obtaining and preserving all available evidence: police reports, 911 call recordings, traffic camera and business surveillance footage, photos from the scene, and data from the at-fault driver's vehicle. We interview witnesses and, when necessary, retain accident reconstruction experts who can analyze the physical evidence to demonstrate exactly how the crash occurred and who was responsible.

On the medical side, we work closely with your treating physicians to document the full extent of your injuries, your treatment course, and the long-term prognosis for recovery. When your injuries require ongoing care, future surgeries, or result in permanent limitations, we retain life care planners and economic experts to quantify the full lifetime cost of your damages.

We handle all communication and negotiation with the insurance company so you can focus entirely on your recovery. If the insurer refuses to offer fair compensation, we are fully prepared to take your case to trial in Tarrant County or wherever your case is venued.

Damages You Can Recover

Texas law allows injured cyclists to recover compensation for the full scope of losses caused by a negligent driver. These damages fall into two categories: economic damages (financial losses with objective dollar values) and non-economic damages (losses that are real but harder to quantify, such as pain and suffering).

Why Choose Patterson Law Group for Your Bicycle Accident Case

Patterson Law Group is a Fort Worth personal injury firm with over 30 years of experience representing injured Texans against insurance companies and negligent parties. We are not a high-volume settlement mill — we take on cases we believe in, invest the time and resources to build them properly, and are willing to take them to trial when insurance companies refuse to pay what our clients deserve.

We have recovered more than $100 million for our clients and have earned over 483 five-star Google reviews from people we have helped throughout Tarrant County and across Texas. Our attorneys understand the unique dynamics of bicycle accident cases — how insurance companies attack cyclist credibility, how to use Texas Transportation Code §551 and the three-foot passing law as cornerstones of liability arguments, and how to document and present cycling-related injuries to maximize compensation.

We handle bicycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win your case. Your consultation is always free. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident anywhere in the Fort Worth area, call us at (817) 784-2000 or reach out online to speak with an attorney today.