Motorcycling is growing in popularity in the United States. Millions of motorcycles are registered nationwide and more and more people are choosing to ride motorcycles due to rising gas prices. However thrilling the lure of the open road or desire to save on fuel costs, motorcycling carries serious risks for riders involved in accidents in Tennessee. In fact, 140 motorcyclists in Tennessee were fatally injured in 2006 according to the NHTSA.

Tennessee Motorcycle Helmet Laws

Tennessee helmet laws require anyone operating or riding on a motorcycle to wear a helmet. Though this law has been hotly contested within the state, helmets save lives, reducing fatal head injury risks by over 40 percent. In fact, Tennessee's Vanderbilt University, which treats a large number of head injuries after motorcycle accidents, estimates that these injuries cost nearly $70,000 on average-not counting permanent disability and its effects on productivity.

Licensing and Insurance Requirements

In addition to helmet laws, Tennessee requires motorcycle drivers to carry motorcycle insurance. The state requires $25,000 in coverage for property damage and at least $25,000 in coverage for bodily injury per person per accident and $50,000 bodily injury total per accident. (Note: The limits will increase on January 1, 2011, to $30,000 for each injured person, up to a total of $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Drivers will be required to comply with the new limits as their policies are issued or renewed on or after the effective dates.) A ten percent insurance discount can be applied for three years after a driver completes Tennessee's motorcycle safety program, a rider education program designed to reduce motorcycle accidents in the state. In addition, those who seek licensure in Tennessee get their fees waived if they have completed the safety course.

Who Is At Fault?

Despite these incentives to ride safely, Tennessee motorcycle accidents can and do occur. Liability in a Tennessee motorcycle accident is essential to identify since Tennessee is an "at-fault" state, meaning that the party determined to have caused the accident takes on responsibility for all damages. However, fault can rest on various factors: time of day, road conditions and weather, driver intoxication and traffic conditions.

If You Are In an Accident

Make sure never to admit fault at the scene of an accident. Unfortunately, insurance companies as a rule do not want to pay out damages and it can be frustrating to deal with them and an accident's aftermath first-hand. For this reason, it is a good idea to retain an experienced Tennessee motorcycle accident attorney to help litigate your accident and seek monetary compensation for your injuries and property damage. Your Tennessee motorcycle accident lawyer will help assess and file your claim within the applicable statute of limitations and can negotiate with insurance companies to make sure you get the money you deserve to help deal with damaged property and injuries. Having a competent attorney can greatly reduce the stress and hassle of dealing with a motorcycle claim. To have your case evaluated by an experienced Tennessee motorcycle accident lawyer, fill out our case evaluation form. There is no cost and no obligation.