Many Americans choose to use motorcycles as their primary method of transportation for a great deal of reasons. They can have better fuel economy than motor vehicles, they can be cheaper to maintain, and many individuals find them just plain fun to ride around on. Unfortunately, motorcycle riders are just as prone to getting into motor vehicle accidents on Tennessee’s roads as anyone else. However, motorcyclists involved in accidents usually end up with far worse injuries than people in cars because they are more exposed and less protected than people in cars or other motor vehicles. The result is that medical expenses from recovering from motorcycle accident-related injuries can be quite high due to possible surgery, pain medication, and long-term recovery regimens.
Luckily, if you were in a motorcycle accident in or around Kingsport, our lawyers can help. We have represented plaintiffs involved in motorcycle accidents in the past, and we are ready to lend our experience to help you get the compensation you deserve. We can interview witnesses and gather evidence, talk to insurance companies and opposing lawyers, and fight hard for you in court to get you the best outcome possible for your case.
For a free, no-obligation case review, call Howe Law’s motorcycle accident lawyers at (844) 876-4357.
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Kingsport, TN
Motorcycle accidents can happen for a lot of different reasons. In the context of a motorcycle accident lawsuit, it is very important to figure out what the causes of your particular accident are because that will form the bedrock of your argument in court. In short, you can only get damages from parties that caused your injuries, so you will need to prove that they caused your motorcycle accident in court. Below, our motorcycle accident lawyers have put together a list of some common causes of motorcycle accidents in Kingsport.
Speeding
Speeding is dangerous because it creates circumstances where drivers have a more difficult time controlling their vehicles and because they have less time to notice something they were not expecting while on the road. One of the reasons that speed limits exist is to set a maximum safe speed for any given stretch of road. A driver who is speeding may not notice a smaller vehicle – like a motorcycle – while trying to focus on maintaining control of their vehicle, and this could result in hitting the motorcyclist and causing an accident.
Ignoring Traffic Rules and Laws
Drivers can be negligent, or careless, in other ways besides speeding. There are many traffic laws that are in place to make sure that everyone on the road stays safe. So, if a driver hits you because they ran a red light, ignored a stop sign, failed to use a turn signal, or violated another road rule, you can sue them in court for your injuries.
Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving can also be considered negligent driving. Aggressive/dangerous driving encompasses conduct that is not necessarily prohibited by law. For example, tailgating, or driving too close to another vehicle, is not always illegal, but it can still be considered negligent and lead to an accident since the tailgating driver may not be able to safely stop their vehicle and prevent themselves from hitting a motorcycle they were driving behind. Similarly, abruptly switching lanes, speeding up, or slowing down is not necessarily against the law but can still create dangerous situations for every other motorist on the road.
Distracted Driving
need to be focused and aware of what is going on around them in order to keep themselves and the people they share the road with safe. Unfortunately, there are now more ways than ever for drivers to get distracted while behind the wheel. Texting while driving, being engrossed in a phone call, or becoming too enamored in a conversation with a passenger can all make a driver lose track of what is going on and hit an unsuspecting motorcyclist.
With the advent of self-driving and partially automated motor vehicles, there is a possibility that drivers inside those vehicles may feel that they do not need to pay attention as much as they otherwise would. The driver of a semi-autonomous vehicle may misjudge how much input they need to provide and consequently get in an accident. Self-driving cars are relatively new, so you should speak to our lawyers about your situation if you think this applies to you.
Defective Vehicles
Another reason that motorcycle accidents happen is because one of the vehicles involved is defective. While in common parlance, the word “defective” just means “it does not work,” the term has a specific meaning in a legal context. In law, something is defective when it injures the user when operated in the way it is intended to be used. Vehicle defects can happen in all sorts of different ways. For example, a motor vehicle can have improperly installed brakes that fail to work, faulty transmission systems, or use weak tires that may pop and make the vehicle spin out of control.
Defects can cause motorcycle accidents regardless of which vehicle is defective. For example, a brake failure on your motorcycle can cause the vehicle to crash into another car, just like a brake failure on a car can cause it to crash into you. In these types of cases, the party you want to take to court is the manufacturer or designer responsible for the defective vehicle. So, if you are suing because your motorcycle was defective and an accident happened as a result, you would sue the motorcycle manufacturer or designer.
Call Our Kingsport, TN Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Now
Howe Law’s motorcycle accident lawyers are ready to take your calls and give free case reviews when you call us at (844) 876-4357.
