Motorcycle Accidents

May 3, 2012

Tennessee Motorcycle Accident Information

The Law Offices of John Day, P.C. has recently updated its website to share information about claims arising from Tennessee motorcycle accidents.

Information is power, and our law firm has a long history of empowering consumers with knowledge of the legal system. Indeed, in the early 1980s, John Day taught basis consumer law on a volunteer basis in two different Nashville high schools and other classes for adults.

If you or a family member was involved in a motorcycle wrec and are attempting to understand your rights, the following links will be very helpful to you:

April 19, 2012

First Year of Motorcycle Riding is the Most Dangerous

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

The HIghway Data Loss Institute reports that motorcyclists are most at risk when they begin riding.

An analysis of claims data reveals that some 22% of claims studied occurred within the first 30 days after an insurance policy was issued. The rate of claims dropped 1/3rd in the second month and almost 2/3rds after six months. The first 30 days of riding is riskier than the entire second year.

Operating a motorcycle is a complex undertaking. Regardless of your experience, operating motorcycles require your full attention at all times.

February 19, 2012

Does A Motorcycle Passenger Have to Sue the Motorcycle Driver After a Crash?

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

My boyfriend had a wreck on his motorcycle a few weeks ago after a car illegally turned in front of him and he hit the side of it. I was a passenger on the motorcycle and received a badly broken arm and severe road rash as a result of the wreck. I talked to the insurance adjuster for the driver of the car and she told me it was my boyfriend’s fault and I need to sue him. I saw the whole thing – my boyfriend did nothing wrong and the car turned right in front of us when just as we entered the intersection. Do I have to sue my boyfriend to get my bills paid?

You have asked a complicated question, the answer to which can only be given after facts in addition to those stated in your question have been uncovered.

Generally speaking, the answer to your question is "no," you do not have to sue your boyfriend. If you believe that the driver of the car is at fault, then you need only sue the driver (and perhaps the owner) of the car.

October 25, 2011

I Was Hit By a Mail Truck! Can I File A Lawsuit?

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

I was in an automobile wreck with a truck driven by a mail truck. The wreck happened on the interstate in Robertson County, Tennessee. Can I sue the driver and the Post Office for my injuries?

You can sue the Post Office, but there is a special process that must be followed. The Post Office can only be sued in federal court after the failure of a special claims process.

The law that gives you the right to sue the Post Office is the Federal Tort Claims Act. The claim must be filed within two years of the date of the accident. A special claim form must be used to file the case with Post Office. If Post Office rejects the claim or does not act on it within six months you will have to file suit in federal court.

July 27, 2011

Car Accident Suit Against the State of Tennessee

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

I was involved in a wreck caused by the negligence of park ranger employed by the State of Tennessee. The park ranger was driving a state vehicle during business hours. I spent three days in the hospital and will have lots of physical therapy. What are my rights?

You have legal rights, but they are limited as compared with those you would have against a private citizen or company.

You cannot sue the park ranger, but you can file a claim against the State. You must first give notice to the State through the Attorney General’s office and, when the claim is denied (it almost certainly will be) you will need to file the claim with the Board of Claims. The Board of Claims follows many of the same rules as the court system, but damages for personal injury are limited to no more than $300,000, regardless of the amount of your lost wages, medical bills, or long-term disability.

May 23, 2011

Why Can the State of Tennessee Only Be Sued For $300,000 in A Car Wreck Case?

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

I was badly hurt in a car wreck. The wreck was caused by a State of Tennessee employee driving a state vehicle. The State employee was working at the time. I have heard that the State’s liability is limited to $300,000. Is that true?

Yes, in Tennessee the State is responsible for the negligence of its employees who cause car wrecks but the State’s responsibility is limited to $300,000. If the negligent state employee hurts a whole carload of people the recovery is up to $1,000,000 but no one person may recover more than $300,000.

This is true regardless of the size of the medical bills, the lost wages, or the nature of the injury. The restriction on recoverable damages is based on a law passed by the Legislature.

October 4, 2010

There Was No Guardrail and I Went Off the Mountain!

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

I was driving in East Tennessee. A big truck came over the center-line into my lane and I swerved to avoid it. I lost control and went off the mountain. My friend who was in the car behind me saw the whole thing. He told me that I went through a hole in the guardrail and that the hole had been caused by another wreck nine months earlier that the State of Tennessee had never repaired. What are my rights?

First, if you can identify the trucking company and truck driver you would have a claim against them for crossing the center-line and forcing you off the road.

Second, even if you can’t identify the trucking company, you may have a uninsured motorist claim that you can assert against your own insurance company. Tennessee law permits you to make a claim on your own insurance when an unknown driver (called a "John Doe" driver) negligently causes a wreck. The fact that your friend saw the wreck is critical to being able to prove this claim.

August 9, 2010

The Other Driver Doesn’t Have Enough Insurance!

by The Law Offices of John Day, P.C.

I was in a bad car wreck. I had $50,000 in medical bills and missed eight weeks of work (I make $800 per week as a mechanic). I am probably going to have to have another surgery. My doctor also says I will have arthritis for the rest of my life. I just found out that the person who hit me only has $100,000 of liability insurance. That is not enough for what he did to me. Can I force the person who caused the wreck to pay me out of his pocket?

A person or company is always liable for all of the harm they negligently cause. A person purchases insurance to reduce his or her own risk of coming out of pocket to pay for that harm, but if the harm caused exceeds the amount of insurance purchased he or she is liable for the rest.

The problem, of course, is collecting from a person who causes harm. To make a payment to the injured person over and above the amount of insurance the person who causes harm must have assets, income, or both. Many people have very few assets and insufficient income to make a payment to the person who they hurt. If pressed, these people will often just file bankruptcy and the bankruptcy court will discharge the obligation. (There are some exceptions to this. For example, the bankruptcy court will not discharge the lawsuit-related obligation of a drunk driver or a person who intentionally harms another.)