Johnson City Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Evidence that helps establish what happened

Motorcycle crashes can turn on questions of visibility, speed, and right of way. Useful evidence can include the crash report, photos of the scene and road surface, video from nearby businesses or other vehicles, statements from witnesses, and the damage to both vehicles. Your helmet, jacket, and other gear can also show how the crash happened, so keep them as they are.

Tennessee’s helmet law and injury claims

Tennessee generally requires motorcycle operators and passengers to wear a qualifying helmet (Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-302). Riders 21 and older may use helmets that meet the statute’s alternative specifications, but that is not a general exemption for adults, and the statute’s other exceptions are narrow, such as certain parades and funeral processions. A 2026 bill that would have limited the requirement to riders under 21 did not pass.

Not wearing a helmet does not automatically end a claim. The other side may argue that it made a head or neck injury worse, and how that argument plays out depends on the injuries, the medical evidence, and Tennessee’s comparative fault rules.

Partial fault and assumptions about riders

Tennessee divides fault among everyone involved. You can recover if your share is less than 50 percent, with your damages reduced by that share. Fault has to be shown with evidence. Riding a motorcycle, or a general idea about how riders behave, does not establish it.

Motorcycle insurance and uninsured-driver claims

If the driver who caused the crash has no insurance or not enough, uninsured motorist coverage on your motorcycle policy, or another policy that covers you, may apply. Tennessee generally sets that coverage equal to your liability limits unless it was rejected or lowered in writing (Tenn. Code Ann. § 56-7-1201). Who is insured, which vehicles are covered, exclusions, and Tennessee’s policy-priority rules all matter. A passenger may have a claim against the other driver, the motorcycle operator, or both, depending on fault and coverage.

Our car accident page covers these insurance rules in more detail.

Filing deadlines and recoverable damages

Most motorcycle injury lawsuits must be filed within one year of the crash (Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104). The period can be two years against a driver who is criminally prosecuted for the crash when the statute’s conditions are met. Do not wait for an insurance investigation to finish before checking your deadline. Deadlines depend on the facts, so talk with a Tennessee attorney promptly.

Noneconomic damages are generally capped at $750,000. The cap rises to $1,000,000 for catastrophic injuries defined in the statute, which include spinal cord injuries resulting in paraplegia or quadriplegia (§ 29-39-102).

If a commercial truck was involved, see our truck accident page. Families who lost a rider can read about wrongful death claims.

Questions about your situation? Request a free case review.