Brett Surbey is a corporate paralegal and freelance writer based out of Alberta, Canada. His work has appeared in Publishers Weekly, Canadian Mortgage Trends, Industry West Magazine, and various academic journals. He lives with his wife and two children.
Brett Surbey
Brett Surbey is a corporate paralegal and freelance writer based out of Alberta, Canada. His work has appeared in Publishers Weekly, Canadian Mortgage Trends, Industry West Magazine, and various academic journals. He lives with his wife and two children.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Reviewed
Jeffrey Johnson, J.D.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Motorcycle accidents are some of the most traumatic for the rider, as they are often struck by a vehicle much larger. Between the damage to their body and bike, recovering from a motorcycle crash is an arduous process.
To ensure you get the help you need and deserve, you need an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer to fight for you. Here are the 10 best motorcycle accident lawyers in Nashville, Tennessee to help you get fair compensation.
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Best Motorcycle Attorneys in Nashville
Compare Top Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Other Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Filing a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Tennessee
Motorcycle accidents are some of the most deadly, as a rider may be colliding with a vehicle multiple times their own. The aftermath of these accidents can last for years, inhibiting you from things you used to enjoy. To help you understand the intricacies of motorcycle accident lawsuits and find the best lawyer for your case, we have compiled a short guide below.
Tennessee Statute of Limitations
Each state sets a time period that a lawsuit must be filed by. This time limit is called a statute of limitations. In Tennessee, the statute of limitations for a motorcycle accident is one year from the date of injury. This same limitation period also applies to medical malpractice and personal injury lawsuits.
Tennessee Laws for Motorcycle Drivers
- No lane-splitting. Though other states allow for motorcycles to drive in between lanes when traffic is slow or not moving, Tennessee is not one of them. Splitting lanes on the highway or city road could result in a hefty fine and make it harder to receive compensation after an accident.
- Mirrors required. All motorcyclists operating their bike on a public road or highway must have a rear-view mirror, and appropriate footrests for the operator and all passengers.
- Keep it quiet. Motorcyclists must have a standard muffler equipped on their bike—cutouts are not allowed whatsoever.
- Vision is critical. Tennessee requires all bikers to wear eyewear protection (e.g. a helmet with a visor) if their bike is not equipped with a windshield. The same rule applies to passengers as well.
Identifying Fault for a Motorcycle Crash
Tennessee uses an at-fault framework for lawsuits related to automobile and motorcycle accidents. This means that the individual that is at fault for the accident is held responsible for financial compensation of the injured party. But, things aren’t that cut-and-dry in the Volunteer State.
Tennessee applies a modified comparative negligence law to determine how much the injured party can claim in damages—if any. If the plaintiff is found more than 51% at fault for the accident, they cannot receive any damages whatsoever. Moreover, the damages that are awarded correspond with how much fault the plaintiff bore. If the plaintiff was found 30% responsible for an accident that set them back $10,000 in damages, they would only be able to claim 70% or $7,000 in damages.
How Can an Attorney Help You?
An experienced motorcycle attorney is able to handle all facets of your case from beginning to end, and if necessary, take it to court. Here is how a Nashville lawyer can help you:
- Collect any and all available evidence, such as police reports and accident photos, and organize it.
- Assess your case for strengths and weaknesses to come up with an airtight argument to present during mediation, arbitration or trial.
- Negotiate with insurance companies to ensure you receive fair compensation for your physical and emotional injuries.
- Take over the time-consuming details of your matter, such as filing paperwork or discussing your injuries with medical professionals.
How to Find the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Nashville, TN
Many attorneys in any type of law often promote themselves as the best in the business, making it hard to distinguish who’s actually a leader in their field. Here are a few things to look for to help narrow down your search for the ideal motorcycle accident lawyer in Nashville.
- Look for relevant experience. Though there are many personal injury attorneys in Nashville, the best attorney for your case will have experience specific to motorcycle lawsuits. Also make sure to watch for trial, mediation and negotiation experience. Having a lawyer on your side to take your case all the way to court is a major boon.
- Utilize free consultations. Many Tennessee lawyers offer free consultations to see if they are a good fit for your case—you should do the same. Treat a consultation just like an interview and ask critical questions that pinpoint qualities you want in an attorney. If they do not feel like a good fit, move on to the next complimentary meeting. Taking your time is not a bad move, unless you are nearing a limitation deadline.
- Nail down fees. One of the first steps you should take when choosing a lawyer is to examine their fee structure. Most personal injury lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if they win your case. After reaching a successful outcome, they take a portion of the verdict or settlement of approximately 30%-35%. Keep your eyes open for lawyers that do not follow this fee structure, or go with a much higher percentage, as they might not be worth your time.
- Dig into their reviews. When reviewing a potential attorney, do not just look at the reviews on their website, but also look at their social media accounts, legal ranking sites or ask friends and family that have worked with them. Looking at a wide variety of reviews from multiple sources will give you a well-rounded profile of an attorney.
Methodology
To come up with the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Nashville in 2024, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical module considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we take into account factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses & certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education & employment background
- Scholarly lectures & writings
- Awards & Honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds, but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where do most motorcycle accidents occur?
Though there are exceptions, around 60% of motorcycle accidents happen in urban areas as there is additional traffic and smaller streets—giving riders less room to avoid collisions. Additionally, over one third of motorcycle accidents (35%) occur at intersections.
Am I required to wear a motorcycle helmet in Tennessee?
Like many other states, Tennessee does require all motorcyclists (and passengers) to wear proper headgear when riding. There are only three states that do not require riders to wear helmets: Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire.
How long does it take to recover from a motorcycle crash?
Because every accident is different, and involving many facets of injury, there is no standard timeline for recovery. If a rider only sustained minor physical injuries, they could be back on the road within months assuming any therapy was not required—which is unlikely. Collisions that result in much severe physical and psychological trauma, such as brain injuries or PTSD, may leave the rider unable to fully recover.
