Nashville Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

After a motorcycle accident, the most important action you should do is to take care of your health and recovery. Handling evidence collection, insurance negotiation, and learning Tennessee law is the last thing your family and friends would want for you. That’s where an experienced Nashville motorcycle accident lawyer can help. 

Our firm is founded on justice for those who have been injured due to negligence. We want you to focus on taking care of yourself and let us take care of the insurance claim and lawsuit. 

At Steinger, Green, & Feiner, we are experts in Nashville motorcycle accidents. We understand our clients that have experienced a motorcycle accident because we have helped many clients already in your situation. We help to facilitate appropriate medical care and a fair settlement to help you recuperate. 

If you have suffered a motorcycle accident in Nashville, we are sorry for what you and your family are experiencing, and we would love to help you through the process. Call us today at (615) 590-3106 for a free consultation with one of our motorcycle accident lawyers! You can also visit our offices: 3102 West End Ave, Suite 1050, Nashville, TN 37203.

Common Injuries After a Motorcycle Accident

Every year, 80% of motorcycle injuries result in serious injuries. If you are involved in a motorcycle accident, you must be transported to a hospital or have a family member drive you in order to be evaluated by a doctor.

No matter how minor an injury may seem, injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents should always be reviewed by a medical professional. The most common injury and cause of death in motorcycle accidents is head injuries due to being ejected from the motorcycle during the crash.

Traumatic brain injuries can result in comas, inability to walk, processing disorders, decreased quality of life, and inability to live an independent live.

Make sure to inspect your helmet prior to using and replace your helmet following the proper requirements of helmet maintenance. The second most common injury sustained during a motorcycle accident that does not result in death is road rash. Road rash is not a simple scrap or cut on the skin, it can be much more serious.

Several layers of skin can be shaved off and create an open wound vulnerable to bacteria. If your damaged skin is not properly treated right away you can develop permanent skin damage and irritations, infections, and nerve damage to the surface of your skin.

Additional injuries include bone fractures, broken bones, and burns (the tailpipe is extremely hot). If these injuries do not immediately receive medical care, it can lead to disfigurement, permanent nerve damage, and permanent disability.

It is imperative that medical attention is administered after a motorcycle accident; this is discussed in a later section as well.

Types of Compensation 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 Bicycle 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 there has been a spinal injury. If you are unable to get the negligent driver’s information, your Nashville motorcycle accident 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 are 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. If you can call a family member for help, or 911 at the very least, they can help gather the most basic necessary information that is needed at that time.

Typical Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Because motorcyclists do not have a protective cover to their vehicle, they are five times more likely to be injured in an accident than an individual in an automobile.

Below, we have outlined the ten most common causes of motorcycle accidents.  Unsafe Lane Changes: Drivers fail to signal when changing lanes or change lanes too fast. Vehicle Doors. Doors opening from a parked vehicle have the potential to cause an accident if the driver failed to see the motorcyclist prior to opening their car door.

Speeding: Speeding, in general, creates unsafe road conditions for other drivers. When a driver is speeding, the time required to break is increased and impact with a sudden object is possible. Many motorcyclists are rear ended due to speeding and following too close behind.

Drunk Driving: Intoxicated drivers make the road unsafe for other drivers as well, just like speeding. Drunk drivers have slow reaction times, poor judgment and eye sight, and compromised balance. Dangerous Road Conditions: This includes poor weather, such as rain or fog, road construction, or special events.

Distracted drivers, due to the road conditions, are more likely to create an accident. Right of Way Issues: As previously mentioned, because a motorcycle does not have a protective covering, when a vehicle makes an error in turning, distance, and who has the right of way, serious injuries can occur. It is important to maintain all protective equipment and replace gear that is broken or worn out in order to mitigate an injury as much as possible.

How Common are Motorcycle Accidents in Nashville?

In the United States, there are approximately 8.4 million motorcyclists, however, they account for fifteen percent of all traffic-related deaths. According to the Tennessee Traffic Crash Rate Data: Motorcycle Crashes (2018), Davidson County was the third most dangerous county in the state, reporting 309 motorcycle crashes that year; for every 1,000 motorcyclists, twenty-five will experience a crash. 

Just two months ago a motorcyclist was critically injured crossing Vine Street while traveling on Broad Street. An SUV approached the intersection driving on Vine Street but failed to yield to the motorcyclist causing the motorcyclist to crash into the driver’s side door of the SUV.

Due to the severity of the injuries, the motorcyclist had to be airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.  One year ago, a thirty-six-year-old woman was killed and her male companion injured when a vehicle pulled out in front of them while they were traveling on Gallitin Pike.

It was approximately 11 P.M. at night, similar to the previous accident that occurred slightly before midnight.  Motorcyclist accidents are not uncommon in Nashville. If you own a motorcycle, it is imperative that you keep up to date on your protective gear and have contact information for advocates on your side, should anything happen while out riding. We hope to start enforcing these traffic laws, make negligent drivers responsible for their actions, and make Nashville a safer city for motorcyclists.

Why You Should Hire a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Right Away

A Nashville pedestrian accident lawyer specializes in pedestrian issues in the city and surrounding area. They know local and state law as well as procedures in local courts. A top expert on representing pedestrian accident victims, our firm helps you when you need it most.

Our firm can take care of contacting the car insurance provider, recommending health care professionals, keeping the insurance company up to date on your prognosis, complete necessary forms, and steps to preserve your right to a trial, organize and compile discovery, and advocate on your behalf in order to get you the best settlement possible.

Contact us today at (615) 590-3106 for a complimentary consultation with a caring and professional Nashville pedestrian accident lawyer to learn more about your legal options.