As a motorcyclist in Tennessee, you are expected to obey traffic signals and patterns, stay within posted speed limits, yield to other vehicles or pedestrians who have the right-of-way, and generally act responsibly and rationally at all times. Other drivers around you are expected to treat you and your bike like any other driver and their car or truck, specifically by giving you a safe amount of space in your traffic lane and not driving aggressively around you.
With all that said, though, there are a few unique ways in which Tennessee law specifically addresses motorcycle riders that are worth knowing about in advance—not just to avoid a ticket but also to protect your right to civil recovery if you get hurt in a crash caused by someone else’s misconduct. Below is a brief overview of these important Nashville motorcycle traffic laws, all of which a seasoned motorcycle wreck attorney at Ponce Law can go into more detail about during a private meeting.
Roadway legislation for motorcyclists in Tennessee is primarily meant to protect them and ensure their safety while riding on its roads. Therefore, riders are expected to familiarize themselves with these laws to reduce their risk of being in a motorcycle accident. A breakdown of Tennessee traffic regulations includes:
These motorcycle traffic laws apply to all Nashville riders and throughout the state. Bike riders who follow these regulations are more likely to stay safe while riding on the roads and reduce their odds of being involved in a crash.
A violation of these laws can result in penalties ranging from monetary fines to points on the motorcyclist’s license, and even a prison sentence.
In some states, motorcyclists are allowed to ride between traffic lanes to get past traffic jams on highways or advance to the front of a line of cars at a red light. However, if you’re wondering “Is lane splitting legal in Tennessee?”, please note that it is explicitly prohibited by law, and any motorcycle rider who ends up in a crash because they were violating this law may be found comparatively at fault for their accident, potentially limiting or preventing their ability to recover civil compensation.
One unique thing that traffic laws in Nashville do allow motorcycle riders to do is “lane sharing”—in other words, riding next to another motorcyclist within a single lane of traffic. However, it is illegal for three or more motorcyclists to ride abreast inside a single traffic lane, and it is also illegal for any motor vehicle driver to share a traffic lane with a motorcyclist in this way.
Another unique aspect of Nashville motorcycle traffic law is that, under certain circumstances, motorcyclists are allowed to advance through red lights. More specifically, if you are stopped at a stoplight that cycles based on pressure plates under the road or some other vehicle detection system, you can proceed through the red light if you have come to a complete stop and waited multiple light cycles without the traffic system detecting you and your motorcycle.
It is worth emphasizing, though, that this exception to the usual rule only applies in situations where the technology used to operate a traffic light has malfunctioned, not just when a light is taking a long time to change. Additionally, if you end up in a wreck while advancing through a red light, you will likely be presumed at fault for that accident, even if you suffer serious injuries.
While these traffic regulations are designed to keep riders safe on the road, they serve an additional purpose of protecting them in the event of a crash. Motorcyclists who follow roadway rules are more likely to successfully pursue compensation from the liable party if they sustain injuries after a motorcycle accident.
Injured victims can easily file injury claims against the person(s) responsible for their traffic wreck and get paid in the process. However, if they broke the rules or failed to follow the law, they could lose that claim, or their settlement may be significantly reduced at best.
For instance, if a motorcyclist suffers severe head injuries in a crash caused by someone else because they were not wearing a DOT-approved helmet, they may be able to recover limited compensation. The insurer is likely to claim that the rider’s catastrophic injuries were due to the absence of a motorcycle helmet – that had they worn the helmet, their injuries would not have been as grave.
Therefore, they are likely to only cover the cost of treatment to an extent, typically based on their estimations of the extent of injuries the rider would have sustained if they had a helmet on.
An experienced Nashville motorcycle accident lawyer can help injured riders explore their legal options and see if they have a case, even if they broke a few rules.
For the most part, Tennessee state law provides the same rights to and imposes the same responsibilities on motorcyclists as it does for people driving all other types of automobiles. Unfortunately, not every driver lives up to their responsibilities while driving near motorcyclists, and that sometimes leads to accidents with devastating consequences.
If you were seriously hurt in a traffic collision despite following Nashville motorcycle traffic laws, you may have grounds for legal action that an experienced biker injury lawyer can help you pursue. Call Ponce Law today to discuss your options.
