Nashville Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

After a motorcycle accident, your priority should be your health and recovery, not dealing with legal issues and insurance negotiations. At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, our Nashville motorcycle accident lawyers step in to handle the hard part so you can focus on healing. We’ve helped thousands of injury victims recover the compensation they deserve, and we’re ready to fight for you, too.

If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident in Nashville, we’re here to help you through this difficult time. Call us today at (615) 590-3106 for a free consultation or visit our office at: 3102 West End Ave, Suite 1050, Nashville, TN 37203.

Why Motorcycle Accidents in Nashville Are So Serious

In the United States, there are approximately 8.4 million motorcyclists, yet they account for 15% of all traffic-related deaths. According to the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, there were 305 motorcycle accidents in 2023, with 20 resulting in fatalities. Additionally, 68 involved serious injuries, and 148 resulted in injuries, reflecting the high injury rate among motorcycle crashes.

These crashes are also far more complex legally. Insurance companies often try to blame bikers to avoid paying full compensation. Tennessee’s strict motorcycle laws—such as mandatory helmet use, comparative fault rules, and the one-year statute of limitations—can all directly affect the outcome of your case. At the same time, motorcycle accidents frequently involve multiple liable parties, from negligent drivers to government entities responsible for unsafe road conditions.

Our team is here to push back against unfair blame, navigate the complicated laws, and make sure you don’t get left carrying that burden alone.

Tennessee Motorcycle Laws and Regulations

Tennessee enforces several key regulations designed to protect motorcyclists and minimize accident risks.

Tennessee’s Statute of Limitations for Motorcycle Accident Claims

Tennessee law imposes a one-year statute of limitations for filing an injury claim after a motorcycle accident. This means you have just one year from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit seeking compensation. Missing this deadline can mean forfeiting your right to seek legal action. Time is of the essence, so gathering evidence and contacting a lawyer as soon as possible is vital to building a strong case.

Comparative Fault Rule in Tennessee

Tennessee follows a modified comparative fault system, which can influence your compensation. Under this rule, if you’re partially at fault for the accident, you can still recover damages as long as you’re less than 50% responsible. However, your compensation will be reduced based on your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re found to be 30% at fault, your final settlement will be reduced by 30%. It’s critical to gather solid evidence, such as police reports and witness statements, to minimize any fault attributed to you.

Helmet Law

All riders and passengers must wear a helmet. If you weren’t wearing one, insurers may argue your injuries were worse because of it, potentially reducing your compensation.

Motorcycle Insurance Requirements and Coverage

Tennessee law mandates that all motorcycle drivers carry liability insurance. The minimum required coverage includes:

• $25,000 for bodily injury per person
• $50,000 for bodily injury per accident
• $15,000 for property damage.

While these amounts meet the state’s requirements, they often fall short after a serious accident, especially when medical bills and property damage costs are high. To better protect yourself, consider adding uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to your policy. This additional coverage can be invaluable if the at-fault driver lacks sufficient insurance, helping cover your expenses when their coverage falls short.

Additional Tennessee Motorcycle Regulations

Beyond safety and insurance requirements, motorcyclists must also comply with general traffic laws. Violations such as speeding, reckless driving, or failing to signal can not only result in fines but may also weaken your injury claim if they contributed to the accident. Staying compliant with all traffic laws strengthens your case and improves your chances of receiving full compensation after an accident.

By following these laws and regulations, you not only ensure your safety but also position yourself for a stronger legal case if you’re ever involved in a motorcycle crash. An experienced attorney can help you navigate these regulations and build a claim that reflects your rights under Tennessee law.

Typical Injuries and Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists, due to their lack of protective covering, are far more vulnerable in accidents, making them five times more likely to suffer injuries than individuals in cars. And these aren’t minor injuries: about 80% of motorcycle crashes result in serious harm. Head injuries are the leading cause of death, with traumatic brain injuries often leading to lifelong challenges like memory loss, difficulty walking, or even permanent disability. Other common injuries include spinal cord damage, broken bones, severe road rash, burns, and internal injuries—many of which require long-term treatment and can leave lasting scars or impairments.

Many factors contribute to motorcycle accidents, and understanding these causes is critical for both prevention and determining liability. According to the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, 305 motorcycle crashes occurred in 2023. Some key contributing factors include:

• 25.57% of accidents involved motorcycle riders under the age of 25
• 6.89% were caused by speeding
• 5.57% were linked to reckless or aggressive driving
• 76.72% of accidents involved a non-motorcycle vehicle.

These statistics help highlight some of the typical causes of motorcycle crashes. Additional causes include:

• Unsafe Lane Changes: Drivers may fail to signal or change lanes too quickly, cutting off motorcycle riders who are often less visible.
• Vehicle Doors: Parked cars can become hazards when doors are suddenly opened into a motorcyclist’s path, a common issue in urban settings.
• Drunk Driving: Intoxicated drivers have slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and poor coordination, making the roads dangerous for everyone, especially motorbike drivers.
• Speeding: Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to react to sudden obstacles or stop in time, increasing the likelihood of rear-end collisions with motorcycles.
• Dangerous Road Conditions: Poor weather, road construction, and special events can create hazards that are especially dangerous for drivers, who have less stability than cars.
• Right of Way Issues: Failure to yield, especially at intersections, often leads to severe motorbike accidents. When a vehicle misjudges the distance or fails to see the motorcycle, the results can be catastrophic.

Our experienced Nashville motorcycle accident attorneys have worked with victims of all types of crashes, whether they involve reckless driving, unsafe road conditions, or vehicle errors. Identifying the cause is critical because it shapes who is responsible and how much compensation you may recover. We are here to help you pursue the compensation you deserve, no matter the cause of your accident.

Types of Compensation You May Recover After Your Accident

There are two different types of compensation, also known as damages, that can be awarded in a motorcycle accident case. One is called special damages, commonly referred to as economic damages, and general damages, also called non-economic damages. 

Special damages are those expenses that can easily be assigned a value.

For example, medical bills, loss of income, cost of medical home care, medical transport, gas to and from doctor’s appointments, etc.  General damages are those that cannot be easily assigned a monetary amount or estimated.

The most common name for this category is “pain and suffering” awards. The amount of pain a victim suffers or their inability to participate in their favorite hobby is difficult to assign a price.  Pain and suffering can include many situations and events.

For example, the victim’s humiliation, embarrassment, loss of enjoyment, loss of companionship, inability to fulfill family obligations, inability to be an active parent, and many more instances that cause victims emotional anguish serve as claims under general damages. There are several factors that are considered when determining the value of general damages:

• The severity of the injury
• Duration of the pain and suffering experienced in the past and future
• Whether the injury is permanent or temporary
• Medical intervention needed, such as surgeries and medications
• Any pre-existing conditions that became exacerbated

Your Nashville motorcycle accident lawyer can answer your questions about what qualifies as a general damages item.

Steps to Take After Your Motorcycle Accident

The first moments after your accident are the most important. Unfortunately, this is also the time victims are in the most pain and experience the most confusion. The following list helps to break down the process into easy to follow steps and alternatives if you are unable to complete one of the steps

• Make sure you are safe. Check to make sure you are not in the middle of the road and you are in a safe area. Make sure you are not bleeding, vomiting, or dizzy.
• Do not move if you are in severe pain or if there has been a spinal injury. If you are unable to get the negligent driver’s information, your accident injury attorney can request the police report for you with all driver’s and witness information.
• Call 911. Documenting the accident is important. Police officers are regarded as unbiased third parties; the report from a police officer indicating the driver of the vehicle that hit you was negligent is excellent evidence for your case. When you call 911, make sure to give your name, the description, and license plate number of the vehicle that hit you and state you were hit while riding a motorcycle.
• Record the negligent driver’s information. The following information should be collected: a photo of the driver’s license and insurance card, the driver’s current address and phone number, the policy holders name, policy number, and insurance company name.
• Request an ambulance. As stated before, any motorcycle accident victim should be medically evaluated immediately following an accident.
• Take photographs. If you or a family member is able to take photographs of the scene, injuries, and damage to the vehicles, this can greatly bolster your case. Photos are one of the only pieces of evidence that can capture the scene of the accident as it happened on that day. Taking photos from various vantage points, as well as views several hundred feet away from the scene, can help your motorcycle accident lawyer, the insurance adjuster, and the court understand how the accident occurred. Photos are highly influential in personal injury cases.
• Call attorney. Let your attorney know right away that you have been injured. Starting on your case right away protects you from having to talk to the insurance company, protects your rights as a claimant, puts the insurance company on notice that you take this accident seriously, and helps give your Nashville motorcycle lawyer plenty of time to collect evidence.

This cannot be stressed enough, if you are unable to perform any of the steps above, that is completely understandable. But these steps matters, because any gaps or uncertainty can affect how fault is assigned in your claim.

How Does Shared Fault Affect a Claim?

In Tennessee, shared fault directly impacts the compensation you can recover after a motorcycle accident. Under the modified comparative fault rule, if you are partially responsible for the accident, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you. For instance, if you are found to be 30% at fault, your final award will be reduced by 30%. However, if you are more than 50% at fault, you will not be eligible to recover any damages.

This makes it crucial to gather strong evidence to minimize any fault attributed to you. The more evidence you have, such as witness statements, photos, or video footage, the stronger your case will be. Also, medical records play a key role in supporting your claim. They provide essential evidence of your injuries and the necessary treatments, helping to prove the extent of the harm caused by the accident.

An experienced motorcycle wreck lawyer can help you present the best case possible, ensuring that any shared fault is accurately assessed and that you receive the maximum compensation you deserve.

How Our Nashville Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Stand Up for You

Truck and car accident claims are complicated enough—but motorcycle cases add an extra layer of challenges, including bias against riders and stricter safety laws. At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, we:

• Investigate the cause of your accident and gather crucial evidence
• Work with medical experts to calculate the true value of your damages
• Handle all talks with the insurance company so you don’t have to
• Push back against unfair blame tactics insurers use against motorcyclists
• Go to court if needed to get you the compensation you deserve

We’ve recovered over $2 billion for injury victims across the Southeast. Let us fight for you.

Areas We Serve

Our Nashville motorcycle accident attorneys are proud to represent riders throughout Middle Tennessee. From our office at 3102 West End Ave, Suite 1050, Nashville, TN 37203, we help clients in:

• Hendersonville
• Franklin
• Smyrna
• La Vergne
• Murfreesboro
• Mt. Juliet
• Nolensville
• Goodlettsville
• Greenbrier
• And surrounding communities

No matter where your accident happened, whether on I-65, I-40, Briley Parkway, or a local road, we’re ready to fight for your rights and get you the compensation you deserve.

Get Help from a Nashville Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Motorcycle crashes often leave victims with devastating injuries, financial strain, and long recovery times. You don’t have to face this alone.

Call us today at (615) 590-3106 or visit our office at 3102 West End Ave, Suite 1050, Nashville, TN 37203 for a free, no-obligation consultation. We can also meet you at home, in the hospital, or virtually.

Motorcycle Accident FAQ