Been in a Motorcycle Accident in Nashville?

Motorcycle accidents produce severe injuries at rates far higher than car crashes. Without the protection of a steel frame, airbags, and seatbelts, riders are exposed to road rash, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and internal organ injuries. Call 911 immediately, even if you think you can walk.

Nashville's warm climate means motorcycles are on the road nearly year-round, and the city's congested corridors — I-24, I-40, I-65, Briley Parkway, and heavily trafficked surface streets like Murfreesboro Pike, Gallatin Pike, and Charlotte Pike — create constant hazards for riders. Distracted drivers, sudden lane changes, and left-turn violations are the leading causes of motorcycle collisions in urban areas.

Don't try to move if you have any pain in your neck, back, or spine. Wait for paramedics. If you can safely get off the roadway, do so — a downed motorcycle on a Nashville highway creates extreme secondary crash risk.

If you're wearing a helmet, leave it on until paramedics arrive unless it's obstructing your breathing. Removing a helmet improperly after an impact can worsen a neck or spinal injury. Tennessee law requires all motorcycle riders and passengers to wear helmets (Tenn. Code § 55-9-302) — this is a universal helmet law with no age exceptions.

Wearing your helmet at the time of the crash is also important for your legal claim. If you weren't wearing one, the insurance company will argue that your head injuries were caused or worsened by your failure to comply with Tennessee's helmet law, potentially reducing your compensation under comparative negligence principles.

If your injuries allow it, photograph the accident scene, your motorcycle, the other vehicle(s), road conditions, skid marks, traffic signals, and your injuries — including road rash, gear damage, and helmet damage. Get the other driver's name, phone number, insurance information, driver's license number, and license plate.

If witnesses are present, get their contact information. In motorcycle accidents, witness testimony is especially valuable because drivers who hit motorcyclists often claim they "didn't see" the bike. A witness who saw the driver run a red light, change lanes without looking, or turn left in front of you can be the difference between winning and losing your claim.

Do not apologize or admit fault. Tennessee's modified comparative negligence law means even a partial fault finding against you reduces your compensation — and if you're found 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing.

If MNPD or THP responded to the scene, a crash report will be generated automatically. For motorcycle accidents involving injury, law enforcement should always be called. If officers didn't respond, call the MNPD non-emergency line at (615) 862-8600 to file a report.

Obtain your crash report through CrashDocs.org (free, available 5–7 business days after the crash) or from MNPD Central Records at 811 Anderson Lane, Suite 100, Madison, TN 37115 — phone (615) 862-7631. For THP-investigated interstate crashes, request through apps.tn.gov/purchasetncrash ($10 online) or the Nashville THP office at 1603 Murfreesboro Road ($4 in person).

Motorcycle accident injuries can be deceptive. Road rash may look superficial but can lead to serious infection. Adrenaline masks broken ribs, internal bleeding, and concussions. A full medical evaluation within 72 hours creates the documented connection between the accident and your injuries that your claim depends on.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville's Level I trauma center, handles the most severe motorcycle crash injuries. TriStar Skyline Medical Center (Level II trauma center), TriStar Centennial Medical Center, and Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital are additional options. For serious road rash, the Vanderbilt Burn Center provides specialized wound care.

Keep all medical documentation. Motorcycle accident injuries often require extensive treatment — surgeries, physical therapy, skin grafting for severe road rash, and ongoing orthopedic care. Your medical records are the foundation of your claim.

The other driver's insurance company will contact you quickly. They will try to get a recorded statement and may subtly push you toward admitting you were speeding, weaving, or not paying attention — common stereotypes that adjusters exploit against motorcyclists.

You are not legally required to provide a statement. Say: "I decline to give a statement at this time." Do not accept any early settlement offer. Insurance companies know that motorcycle injuries are expensive and try to close claims cheaply before you understand the full extent of your damages.

Tennessee is an at-fault state with no PIP or no-fault system. The at-fault driver's liability insurance pays for your damages. Minimum liability coverage in Tennessee is 25/50/25, which often falls far short of covering serious motorcycle injuries.

Under Tenn. Code § 28-3-104, you have one year from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This is one of the shortest deadlines in the country. Filing even one day late means permanent loss of your right to compensation.

Beyond the tight timeline, motorcyclists face a unique challenge: bias. Insurance companies — and sometimes juries — carry assumptions that motorcyclists are risk-takers or reckless drivers. This bias can affect how fault is assigned under Tennessee's modified comparative negligence rule (Tenn. Code § 29-11-103). If you're found 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing. Having an experienced motorcycle accident attorney who knows how to counter this bias is critical.

If you were injured in a motorcycle crash, talking to an attorney experienced in motorcycle accident cases is one of the most important steps you can take. Most work on contingency — no upfront cost, no fee unless they win.

A motorcycle accident attorney understands the unique dynamics of these crashes, knows how to counter anti-motorcycle bias, can preserve critical evidence like surveillance footage and vehicle data, and will fight to ensure you receive compensation for the full scope of your injuries — not just your immediate medical bills, but future surgeries, rehabilitation, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering.