Tennessee’s roads and highways can be great places to ride, and the scenery is hard to beat. However, sometimes motorcyclists end up with a more thrilling ride than they signed up for. Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents are common through the state, especially in warm-weather months, and many riders are hurt or killed each year as a result. While sometimes riders have taken undue risks or made poor choices, accidents are often caused by reckless or negligent drivers in passenger vehicles. When a driver pulls out in front of a rider or makes a reckless decision behind the wheel, the motorcycle has nowhere to go, and its rider has little protection from the impact. And, while bikers often get a bad reputation for being unsafe, the truth is that reckless drivers can’t escape responsibility for the injuries and deaths they have caused by simply turning the blame around on the victim.
If you or a family member has been seriously hurt in a motorcycle accident with another vehicle, you should know that you may have rights to recover financial compensation for what happened. However, to be successful, you need to take steps to understand why the accident happened, what the legal process entails, and how to protect your rights. To get started, you can read through the information here, or just give our Nashville motorcycle accident lawyers a call directly at 615-807-7900 for a free case review.
Why Serious Motorcycle Accidents Happen on Tennessee Roadways
Each accident that happens on our Tennessee roadways is different, so it’s not always easy to determine why it happened, what factors contributed to it, or who was at fault. However, in our experience, motorcyclists are commonly injured or killed by drivers because:
- They were distracted.
- They ignored the rules of the road.
- They weren’t watching for motorcycles.
- They don’t understand how traffic laws apply to motorcyclists.
In some cases, accidents can even be caused by debris in the road, faulty motorcycle or safety equipment, or dangerous road conditions that should have been addressed. No matter how the accident happened, though, victims involved in motorcycle wrecks often experience similar challenges in the aftermath.
The Rights of Tennessee Motorcycle Accident Victims
The good news is that the law in Tennessee does allow injured victims of unsafe drivers or negligent companies to seek financial compensation for their losses. Depending on the details of the motorcycle accident in question, this might include compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Mental health treatment
- Future medical and care needs
- Loss of wages and earning capacity
- Disability and disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional losses and changes in quality of life
If a family member is ultimately killed in a motorcycle accident caused by an unsafe driver, then the surviving family members may also have rights to pursue compensation for their tragic loss. If you have any questions about the potential worth of your case or what losses may be covered, talk to us in person by calling our Franklin motorcycle accident attorneys at 615-807-7900.
It’s important to understand that victims aren’t automatically granted compensation, even when it seems clear that the driver who hit them was at fault. This means that, in order to preserve their rights after a motorcycle wreck, victims need to take proactive steps, such as:
- Get medical attention as soon as possible.
- Collect information at the scene of the accident.
- Don’t make repairs to your bike.
- Avoid speaking with the insurance adjuster or signing anything.
- Speak with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer.
While these steps may seem fairly simple, they can actually do a lot to help protect victims after an accident. In fact, by just speaking with an attorney as soon as possible after a wreck, motorcycle accident victims can get all the information they need, as well as access to focused legal support while they focus on their recovery.
Why Victims Should Talk to Our Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Franklin
At GriffithLaw, we understand how much a single accident can change a family’s future, and we want to “even the playing field” between individuals and huge, national insurance companies. As former insurance adjusters ourselves, we know that motorcycle accident victims are often treated poorly by the driver’s insurance, and they may face:
- Denials and delays
- Settlement offers that are too low or don’t account for future needs and non-medical losses
- Pressure to give unnecessary statements or sign away their rights
- Accusations of fault in the accident
- Attempts to minimize the severity of injuries and losses
- Surprising time limits and other complications
The best way to fight back—or to avoid these kinds of problems in the first place—is to work with a highly experienced motorcycle accient attorney in Tennessee and take steps to understand your rights.
For more information, or to start investigating your rights in a free case review, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Franklin law firm at 615-807-7900. The experienced motorcycle accident attorneys with Griffithlaw have a history of securing real results for injured clients of all kinds, and we believe in going the extra mile to make sure that our clients are able to recover as fully as possible from an accident. In a no-pressure, no-obligation initial meeting, we would be happy to answer your questions, discuss your concerns, and talk about how we can help you recover financially and start making it right for your family.
