Murfreesboro Bicycle Accident Lawyers
A person riding a bicycle has little protection when struck by a motor vehicle. There is no passenger compartment, seat belt, or airbag surrounding the cyclist. Even a collision that might cause relatively minor damage between two cars can throw a bicyclist onto the pavement and cause devastating injuries.
The Murfreesboro Bicycle Accident Lawyers at Weir & Kestner Injury Lawyers help injured cyclists pursue compensation when a driver’s negligence causes a crash. Whether you were struck at an intersection, hit from behind, sideswiped, or knocked from your bicycle by a turning vehicle, our focus is on securing compensation for the harm the accident caused.
Every client has a dedicated case manager and access to a lawyer from the beginning. We want you to have a legal team that is available when you need help and committed to obtaining the best possible result for you.
Bicyclists Have a Right to Use the Road
Drivers sometimes behave as though bicycles do not belong on the roadway. Tennessee law says otherwise. Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities applicable to vehicle drivers, subject to bicycle-specific rules. Motorists must respect a cyclist’s lawful presence rather than treating the bicycle as an obstacle that must immediately get out of the way. That becomes particularly important when vehicles pass cyclists, turn across their paths, or share narrow portions of the road. A driver who becomes impatient with a bicyclist is still required to operate safely.
Tennessee Requires Space When Passing a Bicycle
Passing too closely is especially dangerous because even minor contact can cause a cyclist to lose control. Tennessee law requires a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle traveling in the same direction to leave a safe distance between the vehicle and bicycle of at least three feet and to maintain that clearance until safely past. That space matters. A driver’s mirror or side of the vehicle can strike a cyclist. Even without direct contact, an extremely close pass can cause a bicyclist to react suddenly and lose control. Drivers should wait until they can pass safely rather than squeezing by simply because they do not want to slow down.
Intersections Create Serious Risks for Cyclists
Many bicycle accidents happen when a driver turns across the cyclist’s path. A motorist may make a right turn without recognizing that a bicyclist is traveling alongside the vehicle. A driver turning left may see approaching cars but fail to notice a bicycle. Someone entering the road may pull directly into a cyclist’s path. These collisions can occur because drivers are accustomed to looking primarily for other motor vehicles; a cyclist can be plainly visible and still be overlooked. When a motorist turns across a bicyclist’s path without allowing enough time or space, the cyclist may have almost no opportunity to avoid the collision.
Rear-End Bicycle Accidents Can Be Devastating
A bicyclist struck from behind might never see the collision coming. These crashes can happen when a driver is distracted, traveling too fast for the circumstances, or simply fails to recognize the bicycle ahead in time to slow or move over safely. The initial impact can throw the cyclist onto the hood or windshield and then onto the roadway. The cyclist may also be thrown into surrounding traffic or a fixed object. At higher vehicle speeds, the potential for catastrophic or fatal injuries increases dramatically.
Parked Cars Can Create a Dooring Hazard
Not every dangerous vehicle is moving. A driver or passenger who negligently opens a vehicle door into the path of an approaching bicyclist can cause a serious accident. The cyclist may strike the open door directly or swerve into traffic while trying to avoid it. These incidents can happen quickly and leave the bicyclist with no safe escape route. The resulting injuries can be severe even when the vehicle itself never moves.
Bicycle Crashes Can Cause Life-Changing Injuries
Cyclists frequently absorb the force of an accident with their bodies. Helmets provide important protection, but they cannot prevent every head injury and do little to protect the rest of the body from a collision with a vehicle or the roadway.
Serious bicycle accident injuries can include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Facial and dental injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Shoulder and collarbone fractures
- Broken arms, wrists, hips, and legs
- Internal injuries
- Severe road rash and scarring
- Permanent nerve or mobility problems
A serious fracture may require surgery and extensive rehabilitation. A brain injury can affect memory, concentration, personality, and the ability to work. Spinal injuries may create permanent physical limitations. The compensation pursued should reflect those consequences.
A Damaged Bicycle Is Often the Smallest Part of the Loss
After a bicycle crash, property damage may be obvious. The bicycle, helmet, clothing, electronics, and other equipment may need to be repaired or replaced. But in a serious accident, those losses can be minor compared with the human cost. Medical bills can accumulate quickly. An injured cyclist may miss weeks or months of work. Some people cannot return to the same occupation at all. Compensation may include medical expenses, future treatment, lost income, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent impairment, and other losses caused by the collision.
Weir & Kestner works to pursue a recovery based on what the accident has actually taken from our client, not simply the cost of replacing a bicycle.
Cyclists Can Be Unfairly Blamed After a Crash
An insurance company might argue that the bicyclist was difficult to see, should have been farther from traffic, or could have done something differently to avoid the accident. The mere fact that someone was riding a bicycle does not make that person responsible for being struck. At the same time, Tennessee’s comparative fault rules can make allegations against the cyclist financially significant. An insurer may try to assign a percentage of responsibility to the injured person in an effort to reduce what it must pay. Weir & Kestner can address those arguments and pursue the compensation our client deserves based on how the collision actually occurred.
Fatal Bicycle Accidents and Wrongful Death Claims
Without the physical protection of a vehicle, cyclists face a significant risk of fatal injuries in serious collisions. When a driver’s negligence causes the death of a bicyclist, the appropriate family members or representative may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim. The financial recovery cannot undo the loss. It can provide a means of holding the responsible party accountable and seeking compensation for the losses Tennessee law recognizes. We handle these cases with care for the family and an understanding of the significance of what they have lost.
Representation That Keeps the Injured Person at the Center
After a serious bicycle accident, the insurance claim is only one part of what you are dealing with. You may be attending medical appointments, unable to work, facing surgery, or wondering whether you will fully recover. Your legal representation should make that period easier.
Every Weir & Kestner client has a dedicated case manager and access to an attorney from the beginning. Both of our partners also began their careers representing insurance companies, giving us firsthand insight into how insurers evaluate accident claims.
We use that experience for one purpose now: helping injured people pursue the compensation they need to move forward.
Frequently Asked Questions About Murfreesboro Bicycle Accidents
Are bicyclists allowed to ride on the road in Tennessee?
Yes. Bicyclists generally have the rights and responsibilities applicable to drivers of vehicles, subject to laws specifically governing bicycles. Drivers must respect cyclists who are lawfully using the roadway.
How much room must a driver leave when passing a bicycle in Tennessee?
Tennessee law requires a motorist overtaking a bicycle traveling in the same direction to leave a safe distance of at least three feet and maintain that clearance until safely past the bicycle.
Can I recover compensation if a driver opened a car door into my path?
Potentially. A person who opens a vehicle door into the path of a bicyclist may be responsible when that action causes a collision or forces the cyclist into another dangerous situation.
Can I have a claim if a car forced me off the road but never hit my bicycle?
Potentially. Physical contact is not always necessary for another driver’s negligence to cause a bicycle accident. If an unsafe maneuver forced you to take evasive action and you were injured, the circumstances should be evaluated.
What if I suffered a head injury even though I was wearing a helmet?
Wearing a helmet does not prevent every traumatic brain injury. If another person’s negligence caused the accident, you should be able to seek compensation for the head injury and its effects on your health, work, and daily life.
Contact a Murfreesboro Bicycle Accident Lawyer
A cyclist has the same need for safe roads as everyone else, but far less physical protection when a driver makes a dangerous mistake.
If you were seriously injured while riding a bicycle, Weir & Kestner Injury Lawyers can pursue compensation for your medical needs, lost income, pain, permanent limitations, and other losses caused by the accident.
Contact Weir & Kestner Injury Lawyers for a free consultation with a Murfreesboro bicycle accident lawyer. You pay no attorney’s fee unless we secure a financial recovery for you.