Tyler Bicycle Accident Lawyer

A bicycle offers almost no protection when a car or truck makes a mistake. Even a low-speed collision can throw a rider onto the pavement, and the result is often broken bones, a head injury or worse. If you were hit while riding in Tyler or anywhere in East Texas, Roberts & Roberts can help you hold the driver accountable and recover what you are owed.

For 45 years, our attorneys have represented injured people across East Texas, and several of our lawyers are board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. See what we have recovered for clients on our verdicts and settlements page.

Call (903) 597-6000 for a free consultation. You pay no attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you, and we will come to you at home or in the hospital.

100% Free Consultation

Bicycle Crashes Are Rising in East Texas

Bicyclist deaths in TxDOT’s Tyler District, which covers Smith, Gregg, Henderson, Rusk, Van Zandt, Wood, Anderson and Cherokee counties, rose from 1 in 2024 to 4 in 2025, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. In Smith County alone, TxDOT recorded 5,645 traffic crashes in 2025 that killed 57 people and injured 3,321 more.

Around Tyler, riders share the road with heavy traffic on Broadway Avenue, Loop 323, Old Jacksonville Highway and the busy commercial corridors in between, and many rural roads in Smith County have no shoulder at all. Even riders who stick to routes like the Rose Rudman Trail have to cross busy streets to get there.

Texas Law Protects Bicyclists

Under the Texas Transportation Code, a person riding a bicycle has the same rights and duties as the driver of a motor vehicle. That means drivers must yield, signal and pass safely around cyclists just as they would around another car.

Right to the Road

Cyclists may use the traffic lane. Texas law asks riders to stay as far right as practicable, but not when passing, preparing to turn left, avoiding hazards or riding in a lane too narrow to share safely.

Lighting Rules

At night, a bicycle must have a white front light visible from 500 feet and a red rear reflector or light. A missing light does not automatically mean the rider is at fault.

Helmets

Texas has no statewide helmet law for adults. Not wearing a helmet does not take away your right to recover, although an insurer may try to argue it made injuries worse.

Shared Fault

Texas uses proportionate responsibility. You can recover as long as you were not more than 50 percent at fault, and your recovery is reduced by your share of fault.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

Most bicycle crashes are caused by drivers who simply did not look for a rider:

Right hooks, where a driver passes a cyclist and then turns right across their path
Left turns in front of an oncoming cyclist
Passing too closely or sideswiping a rider
Opening a car door into a bike lane or traffic lane (“dooring”)
Distracted driving, including texting and phone use
Rolling through stop signs and failing to yield at intersections
Drunk or impaired driving
Potholes, debris and dangerous road conditions
Defective bicycle parts, such as brakes, frames or forks that fail

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident

Get Medical Care

Head and internal injuries are not always obvious at first. Get checked the same day. In Tyler, UT Health Tyler and CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler both treat serious trauma.

Call the Police

Call 911 and ask for an officer to write a crash report. In Tyler, the Tyler Police Department usually responds; elsewhere it may be the Smith County Sheriff’s Office or a DPS trooper.

Keep the Evidence

Do not repair or throw away your bike, helmet or clothing. Photograph the scene, the vehicle, your bike and your injuries, and get witnesses’ names and phone numbers.

Be Careful With Insurers

The driver’s insurance company may call quickly. You do not have to give a recorded statement, and you should not sign anything before talking with a lawyer.

Insurance That May Cover a Bicycle Crash

Several insurance policies may apply after a bicycle accident, and an experienced lawyer will look at all of them:

The driver’s liability insurance, which pays when the driver caused the crash
Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, which may apply even though you were on a bicycle when the at-fault driver has little or no insurance
Personal injury protection (PIP) on your own auto policy, which may help pay medical bills and lost wages regardless of fault
Health insurance, which can cover treatment while the claim is pending

Compensation for Injured Cyclists

Depending on your injuries, you may be able to recover:

Past and future medical expenses
Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
Physical pain and mental anguish
Physical impairment and disfigurement
The cost of repairing or replacing your bicycle and gear

If a loved one was killed, your family may have a wrongful death claim. Serious head and spinal injuries are discussed on our catastrophic injury page. Most claims must be filed within two years of the crash.

Bicycle Accident Questions

Do I need a lawyer if the driver admitted fault?

Admissions at the scene often change once an insurer is involved. A lawyer makes sure the evidence is preserved and that you are not pressured into a quick, low settlement before the full cost of your injuries is known.

What if I was not wearing a helmet?

You can still bring a claim. Texas has no statewide helmet requirement for adults, and the driver’s carelessness is still the cause of the crash.

What if the driver drove away?

Report the hit-and-run to the police right away. Your own uninsured motorist coverage may pay for your injuries even if the driver is never found.

How long do I have to file a claim?

In most cases, two years from the date of the crash. Claims involving a government vehicle or a dangerous road condition can require written notice within six months or less.

Talk to a Tyler Bicycle Accident Lawyer

If you or someone you love was hit while riding a bicycle in Tyler or anywhere in East Texas, call Roberts & Roberts at (903) 597-6000 or contact us online. The consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win.