A bike ride in Seabrook is supposed to be peaceful. You might be cruising near the water, riding down Todville, or cutting through your neighborhood. Then a car cuts you off, turns in front of you, or hits you from behind – and suddenly you are on the pavement, hurt and scared.
If you were injured while cycling in Seabrook, you are probably dealing with:
- Pain and doctor visits
- A wrecked bike and damaged gear
- Calls from insurance adjusters
- Worries about missing work and paying bills
You may also be asking yourself:
- Do I need a Seabrook bicycle accident lawyer?
- When should I call one?
Let’s walk through what to do after a crash, how Texas law protects you as a cyclist, and when it makes sense to reach out for legal help.
What You Should Do Right After a Bike Crash in Seabrook
You do not have to handle everything perfectly. But a few smart steps can protect both your health and your legal rights.
1. Get medical care right away
Go to the ER, urgent care, or your doctor as soon as you can. Even if you feel “okay,” you might have:
- A concussion
- Internal injuries
- Fractures or soft‑tissue damage
Getting checked does two important things:
- Protects your health
- Creates a medical record that links your injuries to the crash
2. Call the police
Ask for an officer to come to the scene and make an official crash report. That report often becomes a key piece of evidence when you file a claim.
3. Gather information if you can
If you are able—or a friend can help—try to:
- Take photos of:
- Your bike
- The vehicle and license plate
- The road, intersection, skid marks, and any debris
- Your visible injuries
- Get the driver’s:
- Name
- Phone number
- Address
- Insurance information
- Collect witness names and contact details
This evidence can make a huge difference later.
4. Be careful what you say
After a crash, many people say “I’m sorry” out of habit. That comment can be twisted into an admission of fault.
Avoid:
- Apologizing
- Guessing what happened
- Saying you’re “not hurt” if you are unsure
Stick to the facts when you talk to the police and the other driver.
5. Follow up with your doctors
Go to all follow‑up appointments and follow your treatment plan. If you skip care, insurance adjusters often argue that:
- You were not really hurt, or
- Something else caused your problems
Consistent treatment shows that you take your health seriously and that your injuries are real and ongoing.
6. Talk to a lawyer before the insurance company
Insurance adjusters work for the insurance company, not for you. Their goal is to pay as little as possible.
A Seabrook bicycle accident lawyer can:
- Deal with the adjuster for you
- Help you avoid mistakes that hurt your claim
- Explain your options in plain English
How Texas Law Protects You as a Cyclist
You have rights on the road
Under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 551, a person riding a bicycle generally has the same rights and duties as the driver of a car when using the roadway. That means you:
- Have a legal right to be on most roads
- Must obey traffic lights and stop signs
- Deserve the same basic duty of care from drivers
In most cases, if you are moving slower than traffic, Texas law expects you to ride as near as practicable to the right. But you can move left to:
- Avoid hazards
- Pass another vehicle
- Prepare for a left turn
When a driver:
- Fails to keep a safe lookout
- Speeds or drives distracted
- Turns across your path
- Crowds you or passes too closely
they often breach their duty of care, and that is the foundation of a negligence claim.
If you want a deeper explanation of this concept, you can also read our article on understanding duty of care in Texas personal injury cases.
The Texas statute of limitations: your deadline to act
In most bicycle accident cases, Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit.
This deadline is called the statute of limitations. If you file too late, the court can dismiss your case, and you lose your right to seek compensation—even if the driver clearly caused the crash.
Some situations can affect this deadline, so it is smart to get legal advice as early as possible.
Comparative negligence and the 51% rule
Texas uses a modified comparative negligence system. Under this rule:
- If you are more than 50% at fault, you recover nothing.
- If you are 50% or less at fault, you can still recover compensation, but it is reduced by your percentage of fault.
For example:
- Your total damages: $100,000
- You are found 20% at fault for not using proper lighting at night
- You can still recover $80,000
Because of this rule, insurance companies often try to blame the cyclist. A good lawyer pushes back with:
- Photos and videos
- Witness statements
- Expert opinions
- Your medical records
Why Bicycle Crashes Are So Serious in Seabrook and Across Texas
You do not have a steel frame or airbags to protect you on a bike. That is why bicycle crashes often lead to serious injuries.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), recent data show thousands of crashes involving bicyclists in Texas each year, with many serious injuries and fatalities. Common causes include:
- Driver inattention
- Failure to yield
- Speeding
In a place like Seabrook, common crash patterns include:
- A driver turning right across a bike lane without checking mirrors
- A car pulling out of a side street or driveway and hitting a cyclist
- A distracted driver rear‑ending a rider on a straight road
- A close pass in a narrow lane that forces the cyclist off the road
These crashes can cause:
- Broken bones
- Head and brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Deep cuts, road rash, and scarring
- Internal damage and long‑term pain
These are not “minor” injuries. They affect your work, your family, and your daily life.
When You Should Call a Seabrook Bicycle Accident Lawyer
You do not have to call a lawyer for every small fall. But you should talk to a Seabrook bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible if:
- You suffered serious injuries
- You missed work or your doctor expects long‑term limits
- The driver or their insurer says you were at fault
- The police report is missing, incomplete, or wrong
- A commercial vehicle, delivery truck, rideshare, or company car was involved
- The insurance company offers a quick, low settlement
- A loved one died in a bicycle crash in or around Seabrook
In these cases, a lawyer can:
- Investigate the crash and preserve evidence
- Work with doctors and accident experts
- Handle all talks with the insurance company
- Put a real number on your past and future losses
- File a lawsuit and take your case to trial if needed
Trying to handle a serious claim alone usually leads to more stress and less money than you deserve.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Bicycle Crash?
If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be able to recover:
Economic damages like:
- Medical bills (ER, hospital, surgery, therapy, medications)
- Future medical care and rehab
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity if you cannot return to the same kind of work
- Property damage (bike, helmet, electronics, and other gear)
Non‑economic damages like:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
In fatal cases, the family may have a wrongful death claim for funeral costs, loss of support, and loss of companionship.
If you are unsure what your case might be worth, you can request a free review through our case evaluation page.
