Motorcycle Accident Information & Motorcycle Accident Lawyers In Tennessee

Effective July 1, 2005, safety helmets were made mandatory for all riders in Tennessee. 1,658 lives were saved in 2006 by helmets. It is estimated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that another 752 lives could have been saved if they had been wearing head protection. Even though the law went into effect in 2005, there were still 129 motorcycle accidents that ended in fatality. This made up 10.2 percent of the total number of vehicle related fatalities. In 2006 this number increased to 140 or 10.9 percent of the total. These statistics are fairly in line with averages for the nation.

Motorcycle accidents have increased in number every year for the past nine years. The number of bikers on the roads has increased, as well. Americans have been searching for a way to cut gas costs, especially for the past few years. Motorcycles are lighter and get many more miles per gallon than most four wheeled automobiles. While this is great for fuel efficiency, it is not so great for safety. It is impossible to add many extra safety features to a motorcycle or scooter. There is no place to pack an air bag, seat belts would probably be a big hazard to the rider and putting some sort of cage around the rider would be, well, ridiculous.

96 percent of the riders that are involved in single vehicle accidents are injured. 92 percent of these riders have no formal training and very little experience on their bike. The largest part of these accidents happen when a rider enters a corner going too fast. An under steer will occur and the rider may leave the roadway if he or she does not lean the bike far enough to navigate the corner. The biker may also enter the path of oncoming traffic. If the rider tries to lean far enough to get around the curve, the tires may slip out from under the bike and dump the rider to the pavement. The rider may slide for some way and sustain some injury. Depending on the speed of the motorcycle at the time of the accident and where the rider ends up, injuries could be multiple and severe.

98 percent of riders involved in multi vehicle accidents are injured. Three out of four motorcycle accidents involve at least one other vehicle. In most cases the other car is a passenger vehicle and violates the rider’s right-of-way. The drivers of these autos claim not to have seen the rider at all, or, at least, seen them too late to avoid them. A motorcycle is very small and can be very hard to see when it is coming straight at you. Motorcycles must have their headlights on at all times, day and night. A headlight that changes intensity four times every second, called a modulating headlight, can be used. It is believed that the constantly changing light is much more noticeable than a static light.

There are a number of other possible factors involved in an accident. About three percent are caused by improper or poor motorcycle maintenance. Vehicle failure, like a flat tire or stalled engine, can be the result. Another three percent involve road imperfections and hazards such as potholes and animals. The use of alcohol by the rider is attributed to over fifty percent of the accidents that occur.

You can begin the process to get your motorcycle endorsement at any local driver’s license station. If you have a valid driver’s license to get an endorsement, you must pass a vision screening, a written knowledge test and a real world road skills test. It is recommended, though, that new riders attend a state approved motorcycle rider safety course. There are courses for both beginner and experienced riders. The course involves both classroom time and time to be on the bike. Items such as road rules, motorcycle maintenance and basic motorcycle components are reviewed while sitting at a desk. When you get on the motorcycle, you will learn things such as starting and stopping, cornering shifting and, perhaps most importantly, accident avoidance maneuvers. Completing and passing this course will allow you to waive both the knowledge and road skills test required by the state. It may also make you eligible for a ten percent discount off of your motorcycle insurance.

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