Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Murfreesboro

Tennessee's three-foot rule for passing a cyclist

Tennessee requires a driver to leave a cyclist at least three feet of space when passing, a rule set by the Jeff Roth and Brian Brown Bicycle Protection Act of 2007 at T.C.A. Section 55-8-175. The law carries the names of two riders killed by passing vehicles, and a driver who squeezes past a cyclist and causes a crash has broken it. Many collisions happen exactly that way, or when a driver turns across a rider's path or opens a door into the bike lane. We look at how the crash unfolded, including whether the driver allowed the space the law demands, to establish fault.

The one-year window to bring a bicycle claim

A cyclist injured in Tennessee has one year from the date of the crash to file suit under T.C.A. Section 28-3-104, one of the tightest deadlines anywhere. The physical proof is even more fragile than the clock: paint transfer on the car, the resting position of the bike, and marks on the pavement are cleared within days. We investigate immediately so that proof is captured while it still exists.

The helmet question and how insurers use it

In Tennessee only cyclists under sixteen are legally required to wear a helmet, under T.C.A. Section 55-52-105, and an adult rider is not. A driver's insurer cannot use an adult's decision to ride without a helmet to defeat the claim, though adjusters often try to imply it. When that argument surfaces, we bring the focus back to the driver who failed to share the road.

The fifty percent rule and the blame drivers shift to riders

The comparative fault rule announced in McIntyre v. Balentine cuts a rider's recovery by their share of fault and erases it entirely at fifty percent. Drivers routinely claim the cyclist swerved, ran a light, or appeared from nowhere in order to push the rider past that line. We use the physical evidence and any available video to show the driver was the one who failed to look.

Where Murfreesboro cyclists are most at risk

The greatest danger for local riders is on the wide, fast arterials that were built for cars, including Broad Street, Church Street, Memorial Boulevard, and Old Fort Parkway, where traffic moves quickly and turning drivers cross bike traffic. The most serious injuries are stabilized at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford, and the gravest are transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, the region's Level I trauma center. We build the case around where and how the crash actually happened.

Serving injured cyclists across Rutherford County

We represent riders hurt throughout Rutherford County and the surrounding communities, including Smyrna, La Vergne, Eagleville, and Christiana. A crash inside the city is investigated by the Murfreesboro Police Department, one in the county by the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, and one on a state highway by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and when a fair settlement is out of reach we file in Rutherford County Circuit Court.

Talk to a Murfreesboro bicycle accident lawyer

If a careless driver knocked you off your bike, call (615) 880-6327 for a free and confidential case review. We handle bicycle cases on a contingency fee, so there is no charge unless we recover compensation for you.

Speak with a Murfreesboro bicycle accident attorney

A bicycle gives its rider nothing to hide behind, so a driver who fails to share the road can change a life in a second. If you were struck while cycling around Murfreesboro, call (615) 880-6327 for a free and confidential case review. We work on a contingency fee, so there is no fee unless we recover for you.

Common questions

A driver squeezed past and clipped me. Does Tennessee law cover that?

Yes. Tennessee's three-foot law requires drivers to give cyclists a safe passing distance, and a driver who fails to do so and hits a rider has broken that duty. We rely on the point of impact, the vehicle damage, and any witnesses or footage to show the driver crowded you instead of leaving the space the law requires.

Does an adult rider's choice not to wear a helmet affect the claim?

No. Tennessee only requires helmets for riders under sixteen, so an adult's choice not to wear one cannot be used to defeat the claim. If an adjuster tries to blame your injuries on the missing helmet, we keep the case focused on the driver who caused the crash.

Can I recover for my damaged bicycle and gear?

Yes. The cost to replace your bicycle, along with a ruined helmet, cycling computer, and other gear destroyed in the crash, is part of your claim alongside your medical care and other losses.