After a Dallas bicycle crash, your next steps are to get medical care, file a Dallas Police report, photograph the scene and the bike, and talk to a cyclist-focused attorney before you speak with any insurer. Bill Shirer, the Cyclist at Law, is a board-certified personal injury trial lawyer in Dallas who represents injured cyclists only. The consultation is free: 972-843-7784.
Dallas Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Reviewed by Bill Shirer, Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law. Updated November 2026.
Hit by a driver while riding in Dallas, TX? Bill Shirer represents injured cyclists across Dallas County and the Metroplex from his office at 5720 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, Suite 595. He is board-certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, has more than 40 years of trial experience, and has ridden more than 100,000 miles as a racer and Ironman finisher. Bill personally handles the injury claim, the insurance negotiations and the bicycle damage claim. There is no attorney fee on the bodily injury claim unless there is a recovery.
Call 972-843-7784 or request a free consultation.
Why does a Dallas bicycle crash need a lawyer who rides?
Because the insurer will treat your crash like a car-on-car fender bender, and it was not one. A cyclist has no bumper, no airbag and no crumple zone. The injuries, the equipment loss and the time off the bike are different from a car claim, and an adjuster who has never ridden will not price them correctly. Bill knows what a cracked carbon frame costs to replace, what a broken collarbone does to a training season, and which Texas rules protect a rider's place on the road. Read how a cycling attorney differs from a general personal injury firm in Why choose a Dallas cycling accident attorney over a general lawyer.
Where do bicycle accidents happen in Dallas?
Most Dallas bicycle crashes Bill handles happen at intersections and driveways on arterial roads, and at the points where trails meet traffic. Dallas combines dense urban streets with one of the largest trail networks in Texas, and the transitions between the two are where riders get hurt.
Katy Trail, Santa Fe Trail and the Trinity Skyline Trail: at-grade crossings at Knox Street, Fitzhugh Avenue and the Santa Fe Trestle put trail users directly into traffic.
White Rock Lake Loop: the nine-mile loop and its approaches on Lawther Drive, Mockingbird Lane and Garland Road carry road-bike traffic all week.
Northaven Trail and Cottonwood Trail: suburban connectors with driveway and side-street conflicts in North Dallas.
Arterials: Greenville Avenue, Ross Avenue, Preston Road, Hillcrest Road, Abrams Road and Lemmon Avenue carry commuters and club rides beside fast traffic.
Downtown and Deep Ellum: one-way grids, dooring risk from curbside parking, and rideshare pickups.
These are the environments Bill investigates most often; they are examples, not a ranking of the most dangerous places to ride. Dallas County is consistently among the Texas counties with the most bicycle crashes, according to the Texas Department of Transportation's crash records and the North Central Texas Council of Governments' bicycle and pedestrian crash data.
What Dallas and Texas laws protect cyclists?
A cyclist in Texas has the rights and duties of a vehicle driver, and Dallas adds a safe passing ordinance on top of state law.
Texas Transportation Code Chapter 551: Section 551.101 gives a person operating a bicycle the rights and duties of a motor vehicle operator. Section 551.103 lets a rider leave the right edge of the lane when passing, turning left, avoiding hazards, or when the lane is too narrow for a bicycle and a car to share safely, which describes most Dallas lanes.
Dallas City Code Chapter 28, Article VI, Section 28-58.2, the Vulnerable Road User ordinance adopted in December 2012: a driver passing a cyclist must leave a safe distance, at least three feet for a passenger car and six feet for a truck or commercial vehicle, may not turn right in front of a cyclist unless safely clear, and may not throw anything at a rider. A violation supports a negligence per se argument in a civil case. The North Central Texas Council of Governments keeps a plain-language summary on its active transportation legislation page.
Dallas requires helmets only for riders under 18. Adults are not required to wear one, and the absence of a helmet does not bar an adult's claim.
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 33 sets proportionate responsibility: a rider recovers as long as their share of fault is 50 percent or less, with the award reduced by that share.
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 sets a two-year limitations period for personal injury claims. Claims against the City of Dallas or another government entity carry much shorter written notice deadlines.
What should you do after a bicycle accident in Dallas?
Get checked by a doctor, get a police report, keep the evidence, and call a lawyer before you give any recorded statement.
Call 911 even if you think you are fine. Adrenaline hides injuries, and the Dallas Police crash report becomes the backbone of the claim.
Photograph everything: the vehicle and its plate, the road, signals, debris, your bike and your injuries. Save the ride file from your bike computer or phone; it records speed, position and the time of impact.
Get witness names and numbers before people leave. If nobody stopped, read how to handle a bicycle accident claim with no witnesses.
Keep the bike, helmet and gear exactly as they are. Do not repair anything until it has been inspected and documented.
Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer, including your own, until you have talked to a lawyer. Adjusters ask questions designed to shift fault, which is why Bill asks every rider to call him first.
Call Bill at 972-843-7784. The consultation is free and he responds the same day.
The full checklist is in What to do when a bicycle accident happens.
Does your auto insurance cover you on a bike in Texas?
Often yes, and it is frequently the largest source of recovery in a Dallas crash. Texas auto policies commonly include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection that follow you while you are riding a bicycle. If the driver fled, was uninsured or carried only minimum limits, your own policy may pay. Bill collects PIP for clients at no additional fee, negotiates health insurer subrogation without charging for it, and reviews every available policy before any settlement is discussed. The coverage rules are explained in How does my auto insurance cover me in a bike accident?.
What compensation can an injured Dallas cyclist recover?
Medical costs, lost income, pain and impairment, and the full value of damaged equipment.
Medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation and future treatment.
Lost wages and reduced earning capacity.
Physical pain, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life, which for a cyclist includes the lost season and the lost ability to train. Many riders also deal with post-traumatic stress after a bike crash, and it belongs in the claim.
Bicycle and equipment damage: frame, wheels, drivetrain, helmet, shoes, computer and lights. A helmet that has taken an impact has no remaining value. Bill handles the property damage claim without a separate fee when he represents the injury claim.
Exemplary damages in cases of gross negligence, such as a drunk or fleeing driver.
How a claim is valued and how long it takes is covered in Claim value and duration.
What if you crashed on a Dallas trail or an e-bike?
Trail crashes turn on what caused them; e-bike crashes follow the same bicycle rules. A collision with another trail user on the Katy Trail or the White Rock Lake Loop is an ordinary negligence claim. A crash caused by a surface defect on city property raises the Texas Recreational Use Statute and governmental immunity rules, which limit claims unless gross negligence can be shown and require early written notice. Texas classifies e-bikes as bicycles, so an injured e-bike rider has the same rights; the insurer's usual argument is that the bike was a motor vehicle, which Bill addresses on the e-bike accident lawyer page and in Texas e-bike laws.
Why do Dallas cyclists choose Bill Shirer?
Because he is a cyclist, a trial lawyer and the person who actually works your file.
Board-certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, with more than 40 years of trial experience.
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent peer rating.
Rider and racer since 1987, Texas Masters champion, Ironman Hawaii finisher. He understands FTP, periodization and what a crash takes from a season.
Bill personally handles the investigation, the negotiations and the litigation decisions. Cases are not handed to a paralegal.
Bicycle damage and PIP claims are handled without an additional attorney fee when he represents the injury claim. Terms are explained in Hiring and fees.
Based in Dallas at 5720 Lyndon B Johnson Fwy, Suite 595, Dallas, TX 75240, and representing riders across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, including Fort Worth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I have a case if I was not wearing a helmet in Dallas?
Yes. Texas has no adult helmet law and Dallas requires helmets only for riders under 18. Not wearing one does not bar your claim. If you suffered a head injury, the defense may argue it increased your share of fault, and Bill prepares for that argument from the start.
How long do I have to file a bicycle accident claim in Texas?
Two years from the crash date under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003. Claims involving the City of Dallas or another government entity require written notice much sooner, so contact an attorney within days, not months.
What is the Dallas safe passing rule for cyclists?
Dallas City Code Section 28-58.2 requires drivers to leave a safe distance when passing a cyclist, at least three feet for a passenger car and six feet for a commercial vehicle, and prohibits turning right in front of a rider unless safely clear. A violation can establish negligence per se in a civil claim.
The driver left the scene. Can I still recover?
Usually yes. Your own auto policy's uninsured motorist coverage typically applies to a hit and run on a bicycle. The police report, witness statements, photographs and medical records support the claim.
Can I be partly at fault and still recover in Texas?
Yes. Under Texas proportionate responsibility you recover as long as your fault is 50 percent or less, reduced by your percentage. Disputing the fault split is the central issue in most Dallas bicycle cases.
Does my car insurance help if I was hit while cycling?
In most Texas policies, yes. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection follow you on a bike. Bill reviews every policy that could apply before any settlement talk.
Can I recover for my bike, helmet and gear?
Yes. Property damage is a separate category of economic damages. Replacement value for the frame and components, the helmet, shoes, computer and lights is recoverable, and high-end road, gravel and triathlon bikes represent significant claim value.
What does it cost to hire a Dallas bicycle accident lawyer at Cyclist at Law?
Nothing up front. Bodily injury claims are handled on a contingency fee with no attorney fee unless there is a recovery. Bicycle damage and PIP claims are handled without an additional fee when Bill represents the injury claim. Full terms are in the engagement agreement and on the Hiring and fees page.
Talk to a Dallas bicycle accident lawyer today
If you were hurt riding anywhere in Dallas, from the Katy Trail to White Rock Lake to a Preston Road intersection, call Bill before you talk to an insurer. 972-843-7784, or request a free consultation. If he does not win, you do not pay.
