Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Franklin
While motorcycles offer an amazing sense of freedom, motorcycle accidents are tragic, often leaving victims with catastrophic injuries—or even resulting in death.
A skilled motorcycle accident lawyer from our firm can ensure that negligent drivers are held accountable and that you receive the financial compensation necessary to recover in comfort.
Franklin Motorcycle Accident Statistics
The motorcycle crash statistics for Williamson County, TN, paint a sobering picture for motorcycle riders. From 2016 to 2021, there were 284 motorcycle accident cases in the county, with 2016 being the deadliest year. This is a rate of 3.8 crashes per 1000 registered vehicles.
As the number of registered motorcycles in the county rose by 16% over this period, motorcycle accidents may sadly become even more frequent in Franklin, TN. [1]
Steps to Take Immediately After a Motorcycle Accident
Your actions directly after motorcycle collisions can make a major difference in your ability to receive compensation.
Strong evidence and decisive action can assist your lawyer in making a strong case for you. Follow these steps after a Franklin, Tennessee, motorcycle accident to secure your legal rights and physical safety.
Check for Injuries and Call 911
Always stay at the accident scene and wait for first responders to arrive. If necessary, move out of the way of oncoming traffic and put your bike’s hazards on. Check yourself for injuries and get the other driver’s contact information. Also, get photos of the motorcycle collision that your Franklin law firm can use to follow up.
Seek Medical Attention
Once you have spoken to the responding officer, it is crucial that you get medical care, even if you do not feel injured. Though emergency room visits can be expensive even with good health insurance, a serious injury like spinal cord damage needs to be treated immediately to avoid permanent disability.
Getting medical attention also proves that you suffered injuries at the time of the accident and provides a record of your attempts to get treatment.
Gather Evidence
When you are stabilized, it is time to seek evidence that will bolster your motorcycle accident claim. Pictures and videos from when the accident happened, as well as your medical records and the police report, can all assist in proving fault.
Call a Franklin Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Finally, you need an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer on your side to help guide you through every challenging aspect of the legal process and protect your interests. You can call us at 615-255-9999 to schedule a no-obligation consultation regarding your motorcycle accident injury.
Most Common Injuries in a Motorcycle Accident
A motorcycle rider is at a higher risk of more severe injuries than other motorists because they lack the protection of a passenger vehicle. Common injuries seen after a motorcycle crash include the following:
- Contusions and Lacerations – Soft tissue damage is a common occurrence, even in a minor motorcycle accident.
- Road Rash – Far from being a minor annoyance, road rash can lead to major scarring and disfigurement.
- Burns – Fuel leaks, as well as contact with the hot engine of a motorcycle, can cause serious burns.
- Sprains and Strains – Landing badly can easily lead to a sprain.
- Broken Bones – Motorcycle riders often attempt to brace themselves as they fall, leading to fractures.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – Falling or being pinned between your bike and the car may lead to spinal cord injury, which can also cause paralysis.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries – Even riders wearing motorcycle helmets may be vulnerable to head injuries because of the extreme forces involved.
- Neck and Back Injuries – Landing on one’s neck or back can lead to slipped discs or fractures.
- Amputations – Crush injuries may require amputation, including of the feet or hands.
Common Causes of Franklin Motorcycle Accidents
In many cases, a motorcycle accident is due to someone else’s negligence. Some causes that our Franklin motorcycle accident attorneys encounter include the following:
- Reckless Driving – Road rage, speeding, and tailgating are all negligent actions that can lead to serious harm.
- Unsafe Lane Changes – In many cases, drivers fail to check their blind spots before changing lanes, hitting a motorcyclist.
- Disregarding Traffic Laws – Ignoring stop signs, running red lights, and failing to lead can result in a motorcycle accident.
- Distracted Driving – Drivers who are texting or otherwise preoccupied may cause a motorcycle crash.
- Drunk Driving – Motorcycle accident victims hit by an intoxicated driver may be left with life-changing injuries due to the fact that drunk drivers often speed or ignore traffic signals.
- Weather – A motorcycle accident may occur because of fog, slick roads, or inadequate road lighting.
Motorcycle Helmet Laws in Franklin, TN
The Tennessee motorcycle manual notes that every motorcycle rider, regardless of age, must wear a Department of Transportation-approved helmet. Failure to do so is a Class C misdemeanor that can even result in jail time.
Other Franklin, TN Motorcycle Laws
Motorcycles must have their headlights on at all times, regardless of light conditions, and they must have at least one red stop light. Your motorcycle must also have a rearview mirror on the left handlebar, and it must be equipped with footrests for every passenger.
How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident in Franklin?
Tennessee’s personal injury statute of limitations, which includes motorcycle accidents, is only one year. It is crucial that you speak with a Franklin motorcycle accident lawyer right away so as to ensure that we can file a lawsuit within this deadline.
Hiring Franklin Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
A motorcycle accident attorney can assist you with every step of the process. Firstly, we’ll help you document all the evidence, such as medical bills and lost wages.
When evaluating the case, we will identify all monetary damages, including property damage, lost income, medical expenses, and loss of earning capacity, so that we can seek compensation that considers all losses.
A Tennessee motorcycle accident lawyer will be highly skilled at negotiating with the insurance company of the responsible party, countering their manipulative tactics meant to diminish their responsibility for your expenses.
While many times, our motorcycle accident lawyers are able to settle out of court, we are more than willing to present the case to a judge and jury, utilizing our vast trial experience in your favor.
How Franklin, TN Motorcycle Accident Victims Can File a Lawsuit
When you speak to a Franklin motorcycle accident attorney, we will discuss the civil litigation procedure with you, including filing a complaint, ensuring that a summons is issued, exchanging documents in discovery, and filing motions.
A key element is establishing liability by proving negligence. There are four factors to proving negligence: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages.
Duty of care means that the liable party had an obligation to act with due caution when operating a motor vehicle. If they fail to do so, that is a breach of duty. Causation means that the motorcycle accident would not have happened if they had upheld their duty of care, and damages refers to the fact that you were injured and suffered financial losses as a result.
These elements must be proved with evidence, such as the police report and expert testimony, and we will develop a strong narrative that shows a clear correlation between the driver’s negligence and the accident.
Mitch Grissim & Associates – Your #1 Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Franklin
Our Tennessee motorcycle accident lawyers are here to assist those injured due to a driver’s careless actions in Williamson County, TN. We’ll ensure you receive fair compensation to help you recover from a motorcycle accident in comfort, working to reduce your stress by handling all aspects of the personal injury suit on your behalf.
Having served Franklin, Tennessee, and surrounding towns for decades, we have years of experience in holding insurance companies accountable and never settling for less than what our clients deserve. Our attorneys are also skilled trial lawyers who use every possible legal avenue in compliance with Tennessee law.
Contact us at 615-255-9999 or online for a free consultation and learn how we help motorcycle riders get justice for their injuries.
Resources: [1] TN.GOV
