Why Texas Cyclists Hire Bill Shirer
I represent cyclists who have been injured in Texas — and only cyclists. I handle every part of your claim personally, and I keep you informed at every stage.
Legal Experience
I am board-certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and I hold the highest peer rating (AV) from Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings.1 Over 40 years of trial law, I have tried hundreds of cases and worked through every phase of litigation.
Cycling Experience
I have ridden more than 100,000 miles over the past 40 years, and I have raced for most of those years.
I have completed more than 100 triathlons, including the Ironman Hawaii — five qualifications and two starts. As a member of Team USA, I competed in World’s Events in Sweden, Australia, and Canada, and I placed in the top three at the Texas Master’s Triathlon Championship multiple times. As a road racer, I’ve done several hundred bike races; I was the Texas Masters Champion (50+) one year, with strong placings in others.
I Understand Serious Training
Periodization, Functional Threshold Power, Performance Management Charts, the way months of structured preparation build up to a key event — I know those terms because they describe how I train. When a crash erases that work, you don’t just lose fitness; you lose a season. That destroyed potential is part of the damages I pursue for my clients, and it’s something most attorneys don’t understand because they don’t live it.
I Understand Cyclists
A bike-vs-car collision shares a lot of mechanics with a normal car accident, and many fine attorneys can handle a standard auto case. Very few of them are also accomplished cyclists who understand the community and the challenges you face when presenting a claim. Beyond the medical bills, lost income, and pain, that means understanding two things insurers routinely undervalue:
Damage to Your Bike
Insurance adjusters routinely don’t understand that a carbon frame can cost $10,000 or more, that crashed carbon almost always needs to be replaced rather than repaired, that cyclists continually upgrade components, or that a used carbon bike from eBay is rarely a fair substitute. They don’t know the difference between Shimano and SRAM gruppos. I have owned at least twenty different bikes, and I use that knowledge to present your damage claim persuasively. More on how I handle bike damage claims →
Loss of the Sport Itself
We ride for health, for stress relief, for the camaraderie of group rides, and for the sense of accomplishment that comes from racing or finishing an event. Many of us ride 10+ hours a week. When a crash takes that away, the cost is loss of fitness, weight gained, social isolation, and added stress — all at once.
The physical injuries usually heal faster than the psychological ones. Post-collision anxiety affects almost every cyclist to some degree, and many of us limit or stop riding because of the worry of being hit again.2
I Am the Only Person Who Handles Your Claim
Many firms rely on legal assistants to do most of the work on a file. I don’t — I handle everything myself. I’m also not bound to office hours: you can call me on weekends or evenings, and if I’m not available when you call, I will get back to you quickly.
What I Handle for You
In short: I handle everything involving your claim. All you do is share details about your damaged bike and keep me updated on your medical progress.
Specifically, I:
- Obtain the police report.
- Set up claims with all insurers and confirm coverage.
- Handle every communication with the auto insurers (theirs and yours), health insurers, Medicare, medical providers, and anyone else involved.
- Obtain witness statements.
- Obtain all medical bills and records.
- Help your medical providers bill your health insurance, and help your insurers actually pay them.
- Negotiate your property damage claim.
- Collect PIP benefits under your auto policy.
- Keep you updated on the progress of the claim.
- Prepare and negotiate settlement demands.
- Walk you through every offer (there’s always negotiation) and explain whether it’s reasonable. I do not settle your claim until you have approved a specific in-pocket number.
- Negotiate and handle all subrogation claims from your health insurers.
- Provide copies of all settlement documents, the final accounting, and checks sent to lien holders or medical providers.
- File suit if settlement is not reached.
My Fees
I work on a straight contingency basis, which means you owe nothing unless I recover for you. Here’s exactly what I charge:
- 33.33% contingency on bodily injury recovery. This rate stays at 33.33% even if a lawsuit is filed. It does not increase.
- No fee for your bike or property damage claim. I handle that work for free when I represent you on the bodily injury side.
- No fee for any Personal Injury Protection (PIP) recovery.
- No fee for negotiating a reduction on your health insurer’s subrogation claim.
If we don’t recover, you don’t pay. There are no hourly charges, no retainers, and no hidden costs. If there is a recovery, costs3 are taken out of the settlement.
Free Consultation
Every consultation is free, with no obligation. Call 972-392-1249 or use the form on this page to schedule a conversation.
1 No one knows you better than your opponents. Martindale-Hubbell is the premier attorney rating service because its ratings come from other attorneys and judges who have litigated against the rated attorney. I hold an “AV” rating — the highest possible.
2 Mental Anguish After Cycling Collision: See A Guide to Psychological Recovery from a Bicycle Accident by Eric Yelsa, Ph.D. (2015).
3 Costs are anything I have to write a check to get — usually just medical records and bills. There are no charges for phone, postage, copies, or similar overhead. If a cost over $1,000 comes up (typically when an expert needs to be hired), I discuss it with you and get your permission first.
