If you get this wrong, your family can burn months dealing with insurers and still end up shocked when the check is far smaller than the headline settlement.

The common wrong answer is: "No, it's not worth pursuing because the hospital, health insurance, and the lawyer take everything." That is not how most Texas injury claims work.

The correct answer is: it may be worth it, but only after you compare the likely insurance money to the bills, liens, and fee deductions. In Fort Worth motorcycle crashes, that starts with available coverage, not just how bad the injuries are.

Texas drivers only have to carry $30,000 per injured person and $60,000 per crash in liability coverage. Texas also has one of the country's highest uninsured-driver rates, at about 14%. So a strong injury case can still have a limited payout if the driver who hit the rider has no insurance, minimum limits, or both.

What usually comes out before your family sees the net amount:

• Medical bills not covered by health insurance
• Health insurer, Medicare, or Medicaid reimbursement claims
• Case expenses like records and expert reviews
• Attorney's fee, often a percentage of the recovery
• Possible repayment from PIP or MedPay issues depending on the policy

Texas policies must offer PIP coverage, and many riders do not realize it may help with early bills and lost income unless it was rejected in writing.

A rough cost-benefit test is simple: if the rider has serious injuries, time off work, and either decent liability coverage or UM/UIM coverage, the claim is often worth pursuing. If the at-fault driver only has $30,000 and there is no UM/UIM, the net recovery can be modest after deductions.

Do not wait too long while deciding. Texas generally gives 2 years to file most injury lawsuits, and key crash evidence around Fort Worth roads like I-35W, Loop 820, or Camp Bowie can disappear fast.