Motorcycle Accidents Are Rising in Texas: Safety Tips That Could Save a Life

Riding a motorcycle offers a sense of freedom that few other forms of transportation can match. Unfortunately, motorcyclists also face serious risks when sharing Texas roads with cars, trucks, and other vehicles.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), nearly 600 motorcyclists were killed in crashes in Texas in 2023, while more than 2,400 riders suffered serious injuries. Even more concerning, motorcycle fatalities increased 7% compared with the previous year, while fatal motorcycle crashes at intersections increased 21%.

These numbers are an important reminder that motorcycle safety is a responsibility shared by both riders and motorists.

Why Motorcycle Accidents Can Be So Dangerous

Motorcyclists have far less physical protection than occupants of passenger vehicles. There is no steel frame, airbag, or crumple zone surrounding a rider when a collision occurs.

Motorcycles can also be more difficult for drivers to notice because of their smaller size. Drivers may misjudge a motorcycle’s speed or distance or fail to see a rider who is temporarily hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot.

TxDOT specifically warns motorists to take extra care when turning and to look twice for motorcycles before changing lanes or entering traffic.

1. Be Especially Careful at Intersections

Intersections deserve particular attention from both riders and drivers.

TxDOT reports that more than one-third of motorcycle fatalities occur at roadway intersections. The agency also reported a 21% increase in fatal intersection crashes involving motorcycles in 2023.

One particularly dangerous situation occurs when a vehicle turns left across the path of an approaching motorcycle.

Drivers preparing to turn left should carefully check for motorcycles and avoid assuming they have enough time to complete the turn. Because a motorcycle is smaller than a passenger vehicle, judging its approaching speed and distance can be difficult.

Motorcyclists should likewise approach intersections defensively. Watch vehicles waiting to turn, reduce speed when appropriate, and be prepared for the possibility that another driver has not seen you.

2. Check Blind Spots Before Changing Lanes

Mirrors alone do not always provide a complete picture of surrounding traffic.

Before changing lanes, drivers should signal, check their mirrors, and physically check their blind spots for motorcycles. Taking an additional second to look can prevent a devastating collision.

Motorcyclists can help by avoiding prolonged riding in another vehicle’s blind spot whenever possible. If you cannot see the driver’s face in the vehicle’s mirror, there is a good chance the driver cannot see you either.

3. Give Motorcycles Enough Following Distance

Motorcycles do not always slow down in the same way passenger vehicles do. A rider may reduce speed by downshifting, which means the motorcycle can slow without its brake light illuminating.

TxDOT recommends maintaining a safe following distance and giving motorcycles a full lane.

Tailgating a motorcycle is particularly dangerous because riders are vulnerable even in relatively low-speed collisions. Leaving additional space gives everyone more time to react to changing traffic or road conditions.

4. Avoid Distracted Driving

A motorcycle can enter and leave a driver’s field of view quickly. Looking away from the road to read a text message, adjust navigation, or handle another distraction can therefore have devastating consequences.

Drivers should give the road their full attention.

Motorcyclists should do the same. Even experienced riders need sufficient time to recognize hazards and take evasive action.

5. Obey the Speed Limit and Adjust for Conditions

Speed reduces the amount of time available to react to a dangerous situation and can increase the severity of a collision.

Drivers and motorcyclists should obey posted speed limits and reduce their speed when traffic, weather, visibility, construction, or road conditions make traveling at the posted limit unsafe.

For motorcyclists, conditions such as loose gravel, standing water, potholes, debris, and uneven pavement can create hazards that may be less significant for a four-wheeled vehicle.

6. Make Yourself Easier to See

Motorcyclists cannot control whether every driver notices them, but riders can take steps to improve their visibility.

Using headlights, wearing visible or reflective riding gear, signaling intentions early, and positioning the motorcycle where it is more likely to be seen can help.

Riders should also be cautious about assuming that eye contact means a driver has actually recognized the motorcycle or intends to yield.

7. Wear Appropriate Protective Gear

Preventing a crash should always be the priority, but riders should also prepare for the possibility that an accident could occur.

A properly fitted motorcycle helmet and appropriate protective equipment can provide an important additional layer of protection. Riders should consider protective jackets, pants, gloves, boots, and eye protection designed specifically for motorcycle use.

Protective gear cannot prevent every injury, but it can help reduce a rider’s exposure when something goes wrong.

8. Ride Defensively

Having the right-of-way does not guarantee that another driver will yield it.

Motorcyclists should continually scan the roadway for potential hazards and anticipate what surrounding drivers might do next. Pay particular attention to vehicles waiting at intersections, vehicles entering from driveways and parking lots, sudden lane changes, and cars traveling alongside the motorcycle.

Maintaining an escape route and sufficient space around the motorcycle can provide valuable reaction time when another road user makes a mistake.

Motorcycle Safety Is Everyone’s Responsibility

The increase in Texas motorcycle deaths shows why drivers and riders alike need to take motorcycle safety seriously.

For motorists, that means looking twice, checking blind spots, allowing adequate following distance, avoiding distractions, and exercising particular caution at intersections.

For riders, it means staying alert, riding defensively, increasing visibility, wearing appropriate protective equipment, and anticipating situations in which another driver may fail to see the motorcycle.

A few extra seconds of attention can make the difference between a routine trip and a life-changing collision.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident

Even the safest motorcyclist cannot control the actions of every driver on the road. If a motorcycle accident occurs, safety and medical care should come first.

When possible, move out of immediate danger, contact emergency services, obtain medical attention, and document the scene. Photographs, witness information, vehicle information, and the police crash report may become important later.

Someone seriously injured in a motorcycle crash may also want to speak with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney about their legal rights and potential options for recovering compensation.

FAQs

1. What is one of the most common dangers motorcyclists face in Texas?
   Intersections are particularly dangerous for motorcyclists. According to TxDOT, more than one-third of motorcycle fatalities occur at roadway intersections. Drivers turning left should look carefully for approaching motorcycles, while riders should anticipate that a driver may fail to see them.
2. How can drivers help prevent motorcycle accidents?
   Drivers can reduce the risk of motorcycle crashes by checking blind spots before changing lanes, looking twice before turning or entering an intersection, maintaining a safe following distance, avoiding distracted driving, and giving motorcycles a full lane.
3. What should I do if I am injured in a motorcycle accident in Texas?
   Seek medical attention first, even if your injuries initially appear minor. If possible, document the accident scene, obtain contact and insurance information from the other driver, identify witnesses, and preserve photographs and other evidence. You may also want to speak with a Texas motorcycle accident attorney about your rights and whether you may be entitled to compensation.

Hire an Accident Attorney Near Texas, CA

If you or a loved one has been injured in an bike collision, Accident Lawyer strongly encourages you to call our Texas motorcycle accident lawyers. Your experienced motorcycle Accident Lawyer will provide you with the best legal representation and guidance that you need. Our offices are conveniently located throughout California and we conduct regular travels in the region to meet with clients. Contact motorcycle Accident Lawyer today.