Motorcycles can be one of the best ways to travel Texas roads—but they also come with higher risk. When a crash happens, riders are far more likely to suffer severe injuries because there’s no steel frame, airbags, or seatbelts protecting them. That reality makes motorcycle insurance more than a legal checkbox—it’s financial protection for your health, your future, and your family.
At Herrman & Herrman Motorcycle Accident Lawyers, we help injured riders across Texas pursue compensation after serious crashes. One of the hardest situations we see is when a rider is hit by a driver who has no insurance or not enough insurance to cover the damage they caused. Unfortunately, that’s not rare in Texas.
Texas Motorcycle Insurance Requirements: What the Law Actually Requires
In Texas, motorcycles are treated similarly to cars for financial responsibility rules. If you ride, you generally need to be able to show you can cover damages if you cause a crash. The Texas Department of Insurance explains the minimum liability coverage as: 30/60/25—meaning:
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$30,000 bodily injury liability per person
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$60,000 bodily injury liability per accident (total for all injured people)
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$25,000 property damage liability per accident
This is the legal baseline many riders carry because it’s the cheapest option. But minimum coverage is designed to satisfy the law—not to fully protect you from the cost of a serious motorcycle collision.
Why Minimum Liability Coverage Often Isn’t Enough for Motorcycle Crashes
Motorcycle injuries can become expensive fast—especially when emergency care, surgery, and rehab are involved. In Texas, the scale of motorcycle crashes is significant. TxDOT reports that in 2024 there were 9,016 motorcycle crashes, resulting in 585 fatalities and over 2,500 serious injuries.
Now think about what that looks like financially:
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A single ER visit + imaging can be thousands
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Orthopedic surgery can be tens of thousands (or more)
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Head injury treatment and rehab can be extensive
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Lost wages can compound the damage for months
And remember: liability coverage pays other people if you cause the crash. It does not automatically pay your injuries or your bike damage.
That’s why smart motorcycle coverage usually includes more than liability—especially in a state where uninsured drivers are a real risk.
How Many Uninsured Drivers Are on Texas Roads?
Here’s the key Texas statistic riders should know:
Texas had an estimated 14.5% uninsured motorist rate in 2023 (about 1 in 7 drivers), according to the Insurance Research Council data summarized by the Insurance Information Institute.
That means when you’re riding anywhere in Texas—Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, the Valley, West Texas—you’re sharing the road with a significant number of drivers who may have no ability to pay for the harm they cause.
What Is Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage in Texas?
Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage is designed to help protect you if you’re hit by a driver who:
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has no insurance, or
reveals they have no active policy.
The Texas Department of Insurance describes UM/UIM as an added layer of protection when the at-fault driver can’t pay.
UM coverage commonly comes in two forms:
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UM Bodily Injury (UMBI): helps cover medical bills, lost wages, and injury damages
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UM Property Damage (UMPD): may help cover vehicle damage in certain situations (policy details vary)
For motorcyclists, UM bodily injury is often the most critical.
What Is Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage in Texas?
Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage helps when the at-fault driver does have insurance—but their policy limits are too low to cover your losses.
This matters because many Texas drivers carry only minimum liability. If a driver has 30/60/25 and causes a serious crash, those limits can be used up immediately—especially if multiple people are hurt.
And underinsurance is not rare. Texas’s estimated underinsured motorist rate was 14.7% in 2023, per Insurance Research Council data.
So even if the at-fault driver “has insurance,” there’s a meaningful chance it won’t be enough.
Why UM/UIM Coverage Is Especially Important for Motorcyclists
Motorcyclists are vulnerable in ways car drivers aren’t:
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Higher likelihood of serious injury
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Greater medical costs when injuries occur
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More time off work and longer seeing specialists
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Greater risk of permanent disability
Texas already experiences a high burden of serious motorcycle injuries—2,532 suspected serious injuries in 2024 alone.
That’s why UM/UIM isn’t just a “nice-to-have” for riders—it can be the difference between getting needed medical treatment and being left with unpaid bills and limited options.
Common Motorcycle Crash Scenarios Where UM/UIM Helps
1) Hit-and-run motorcycle accidents
If a driver hits you and takes off, UM coverage may apply depending on the facts and policy language.
2) The at-fault driver has no insurance
With an estimated 14.5% uninsured motorist rate in Texas, this is a real risk.
3) The at-fault driver has minimum limits only
If your damages are higher than their limits, UIM may help fill the gap.
4) Multiple victims in one crash
Even “decent” policy limits can be split among several injured people, leaving you undercompensated.
Texas Motorcycle Insurance Tips: What Riders Should Consider Carrying
Every rider’s situation is different, but in general, many motorcyclists in Texas consider:
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Higher liability limits than 30/60/25
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UM/UIM bodily injury coverage
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Medical payments coverage (MedPay) (if available and helpful for immediate bills)
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Collision and comprehensive (especially for newer bikes or financed motorcycles)
The key point: minimum coverage is a starting point, not a safety net. With motorcycles, the downside risk is simply too high.
Does Texas Require UM/UIM Coverage?
Texas insurers must generally offer UM/UIM, but you may be able to reject it in writing depending on the policy. (Rules and forms vary by insurer and policy type.) The Texas Department of Insurance explains UM/UIM and emphasizes its value when the at-fault driver can’t pay.
If you ride regularly—especially in higher-traffic areas—it’s worth reviewing whether you have UM/UIM and what your limits are.
After a Motorcycle Accident: Why Insurance Choices Matter for Your Legal Claim
When a rider is seriously injured, the insurance process often involves multiple layers:
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The at-fault driver’s liability coverage
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Your own UM/UIM coverage (if applicable)
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Medical billing issues and liens
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Disputes about fault and damages
Insurance companies may also try to minimize motorcycle claims by arguing:
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the rider was “hard to see”
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the rider “must have been speeding”
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injuries are “pre-existing” or “overstated”
Having the right coverage (especially UM/UIM) can give you more options—but you still need to protect your claim.
Injured in a Motorcycle Accident in Texas? Talk to Herrman & Herrman
Texas roads see thousands of motorcycle crashes each year, including 585 fatalities and over 2,500 serious injuries in 2024. And with an estimated 14.5% uninsured motorist rate, riders face the added risk of being hit by someone who can’t pay for the harm they caused.
If you were injured while riding anywhere in Texas—whether the driver was uninsured, underinsured, or the insurance company is giving you the runaround—Herrman & Herrman Motorcycle Accident Lawyers can help you understand your options and fight for fair compensation.
We serve all of Texas. If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle crash, contact Herrman & Herrman to discuss your case.
CONTACT HERRMAN & HERRMAN IF YOU HAVE BEEN INJURED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ACCIDENTS:
We can help you if you have been harmed by the following:
- Car accidents – Our lawyers have extensive experience handling car accident cases. We will work to identify the party or parties at fault for the crash and build a case to demonstrate persuasively how the parties caused the accident and your injuries. We will seek fair and full compensation through a negotiated settlement or at trial if necessary.
- Truck accidents – Thousands of large commercial trucks travel the roads of Texas every single day. Unfortunately, careless truck drivers and trucking companies disregarding safety put innocent people at risk of serious injuries. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, let our experienced Texas personal injury lawyers stand up to the trucking companies and insurers on your behalf.
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycle riders often suffer grievous injuries in crashes caused by other motorists. Too many motorcycle accidents in Corpus Christi are caused by careless drivers who don’t look for motorcycle riders or violate their right of way. Our personal injury lawyers will work to cut through the bias and stigma against motorcycle riders. Our goal is to seek the financial compensation that you’ll need to recover from a serious motorcycle accident and injuries such as bone fractures, road rash, or traumatic brain injury.
- Product liability – Product manufacturers have a legal obligation to make products that are safe for their intended uses and to warn consumers of any risks that may come with the product. When products have design or manufacturing defects or undisclosed dangers, the product manufacturer may be legally responsible for injuries suffered by consumers. Our attorneys can help you evaluate whether you have a valid product liability claim.
- Brain injury – Brain injuries can leave accident victims with disabilities that leave them unable to work or perform many tasks of daily living. Seeking compensation for a brain injury in an accident often proves incredibly complex. The brain injury survivor may seek compensation for anticipated future medical care and the medical care already provided. Our personal injury lawyers can help you through the difficult recovery process following a brain injury and will fight to make sure you have the resources you need.
- Spinal injury – Spinal cord injuries could cost millions of dollars of care over the course of the victim’s lifetime, especially when those injuries result in partial or complete paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. If you or your loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you deserve compassionate legal representation. Our attorney can help you determine whether you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injury and expenses related to living with the disability, such as making a home more accessible.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party, your family deserves to seek accountability and compensation from those at fault for the wrongful death. Our caring and dedicated attorneys can help guide you and your family through this difficult and painful time and seek justice for your loved one.
