Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Knoxville, TN

Fighting to obtain rightful compensation for injured riders and passengers

A rider himself, attorney T. Scott Jones knows a lot about motorcycles. Often racing at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour, he knows the importance of focus and precision. At Banks & Jones, our lawyers bring the same attentiveness, fearlessness, and drive to defending the rights of motorcycle accident victims. Furthermore, we understand the joys and dangers of riding in a way that most injury law firms do not.

If you or your loved one has suffered an injury in a motorcycle crash, our attorneys are here to help. We review the circumstances of your accident, collect evidence, help you determine who is responsible for causing you harm, and take aggressive action to secure the compensation you deserve.

T.Scott Jones and his firm have been very professional and pleasant to work with. He is the best at what he does! Would highly recommend.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [Google Review]

How can we help?

  • How dangerous are motorcycle accidents?
  • What types of motorcycle accidents do you handle in East Tennessee?
  • Why do motorcycle accidents happen in Knoxville?
    • Accidents unique to motorcycle operators
  • What types of injuries do riders suffer when motorcycle accidents happen?
  • Commonly asked questions about Tennessee’s motorcycle laws
    • Is lane splitting legal?
    • Do I have to wear a motorcycle helmet in Tennessee?
    • What types of safety equipment do I need on my motorcycle?
  • How can a lawyer help you get compensation for your injuries?
  • Why do I need an attorney after a motorcycle accident?
    • Can I recover if I’m partially responsible?
    • Can I recover if the responsible driver can’t pay my damage claim?
  • What should I do after a motorcycle accident happens?
  • Do you have a Knoxville motorcycle accident lawyer near me?

How dangerous are motorcycle accidents?

Riding a motorcycle is certainly thrilling — but it can also be dangerous because motorcycles provide riders with little protection. There were 3,078 motorcycle crashes in Tennessee in 2024, and 182 were fatal. In 2024 (through August 17), there were 1,837 motorcycle accidents, causing 99 fatalities. In Knox County, there have been 120 motorcycle accidents through August 17, 2025, causing nine deaths.

Motorcycle accidents cause more deadly, catastrophic, permanent, and serious injuries than cars because motorcycles, unlike cars, do not have hoods, trunks, roofs, and doors to protect the riders.

What types of motorcycle accidents do you handle in East Tennessee?

At Banks & Jones, we handle all types of motorcycle accidents with cars, trucks, and other motorcycles. These accidents include:

  • Head-on crashes. If a car or truck strikes a motorcycle rider head-on, the motorcycle rider is likely to die or suffer catastrophic injuries.
  • Broadsides/T-bone accidents. When a car, truck, or another motorcycle strikes the side of a motorcycle, the operator and any passengers on the motorcycle will be lucky to survive.
  • Rear-end crashes. If a passenger car or truck rear-ends a motorcycle, the motorcyclist could be thrown from the bike and instantly killed or severely injured. Similar results could occur if a motorcyclist rear-ends another vehicle.
  • Blind spot accidents in turns. Turning is dangerous enough for riders when there are no cars involved, but even more dangerous when they’re sharing the road. You can easily fall into a driver’s blind spot when you’re coming around a corner – or when the driver is turning.
  • Car door (dooring) accidents. People sometimes open doors into traffic without checking. A motorcycle rider can easily crash into an open car door.

We also handle intersection accidents, single-vehicle motorcycle accidents, and multiple-vehicle accidents.

Why do motorcycle accidents happen in Knoxville?

The most common causes of motorcycle accidents involve:

  • Lack of respect. Drivers of cars and trucks often fail to respect the right of a motorcycle rider to be on the road. Even when they respect the rights of a motorcycle operator, drivers of larger vehicles may fail to understand how to react when a motorcycle is nearby.
  • Limited visibility. Since motorcycles are small and less noticeable than other vehicles on the road, they can sometimes be difficult to spot until it’s too late. If you ride at night, make certain that your headlights work so that you are visible to other motorists.
  • Drunk drivers. Even though people know driving after drinking is illegal and dangerous, they do it anyway. A drunk or otherwise intoxicated driver has slow reflexes and poor judgment, and motorcycle riders can pay the price. Many drunk drivers cross into other lanes of travel, drive through intersections, and drive in other reckless ways.
  • Distracted driving. Texting, playing with the radio, checking the GPS, personal grooming – people do a lot of things behind the wheel that don’t have anything to do with driving. When you’re on your bike, you don’t have nearly enough protection to keep you safe from a distracted driver barreling towards you.
  • Speeding and reckless driving. An aggressive driver is a dangerous driver – period. Cars that tailgate you, or chase after you, or swerve in and out of lanes are a menace, and they can cause catastrophic injuries to riders.

Accidents unique to motorcycle operators

Motorcycles are generally less stable than cars and trucks because they only have two wheels. Some of the types of accidents that are unique to motorcycle operators include those due to:

  • Roadway debris. Broken tree limbs, wet leaves, potholes, fallen truck cargo, and other road debris make a weekend drive the equivalent of an obstacle course. Under certain circumstances, you may be able to file a claim against the local or state government if the roadways are decrepit and/or dangerous, and there was no warning for riders or drivers.
  • Rider inexperience. Motorcycle riders can cause accidents that harm passengers and the occupants of other vehicles if they lack the experience and training to operate their motorcycles. Motorcycle operators may cause accidents if they fail to understand how to:
    • Ride in curves
    • Ride in groups
    • Ride in bad weather, such as rain, fog, or the glaring sun

What types of injuries do riders suffer when motorcycle accidents happen?

Any type of motorcycle accident, even single-vehicle accidents,  can cause broken bones and head injuries. A collision with a car – or, even worse, a commercial truck – can lead to catastrophic injuries like permanent brain damage, spinal cord damage, burn injuries, or disfigurement. Under the most tragic circumstances, someone could die.

Common motorcycle accident injuries, in addition to catastrophic or deadly injuries, include:

  • Broken bones
  • Internal bleeding and organ damage
  • Back, neck, and shoulder injuries
  • Nerve, tissue, muscle, tendon, and/or ligament damage
  • Loss of hearing or vision
  • Scarring and disfigurement

Road rash is a very common and painful type of motorcycle injury. Road rash occurs when a victim falls and slides along the hard asphalt, causing severe damage to any exposed skin. Victims often require skin grafts and plastic surgery. Many live with permanent scars.

Commonly asked questions about Tennessee’s motorcycle laws

We hear a lot of the same questions from our clients when it comes to Tennessee’s laws for riders. We thought it might be best to simply address them here, so you know before you ride.

Q: Is lane splitting legal?

A: Not in Tennessee, it’s not. Under TN Code § 55-8-182, “No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles.” Lane splitting is illegal for the public, but authorized emergency vehicle drivers responding to an emergency have certain statutory privileges which may allow deviations from ordinary rules, although the statute does not specifically authorize ‘lane splitting’ by name.

Q: Do I have to wear a motorcycle helmet in Tennessee?

A: Yes, you do – and so does your passenger, if you have one. If you’re under the age of 21, you have to wear a crash helmet meeting federal standards contained in 49 CFR 571.218. If you’re 21 years or older, your helmet must also meet “federal safety standard 218, but does not have to meet the helmet penetration standards, the continuous contour standard, and the labeling standard of 49 CFR571.218.”

Q: What types of safety equipment do I need on my motorcycle?

A: You’ll need a windshield (or else you must wear safety goggles when you ride). Your bike also must have at least one red stop light and one red tail light, rearview mirrors, footrests for you and the passenger, and a muffler (no “straight pipes” allowed in TN).

Why Do You Need an Attorney after a Motorcycle Accident?

How can a lawyer help you get compensation for your injuries?

Regardless of how carefully you observe the speed limits, how carefully you operate your bike, or how much protective gear you wear on every ride, you can’t prevent a careless driver from hitting you. Motorcyclists, due to their lack of protection, are more likely to suffer serious injuries in a crash with a passenger vehicle or a truck.

When you work with a motorcycle accident lawyer who is a rider himself, you benefit from the perspective of someone who knows what it feels like to ride on the open road and feel vulnerable to the dangers of road accidents with other drivers. At Banks & Jones, our Knoxville personal injury lawyers can help you recover compensation for injuries in motorcycle crashes for the following:

  • Medical expenses related to your accident injuries, including ER care, hospital stays, surgeries, doctor visits, rehabilitative therapy, assistive devices/technology, and medications
  • Lost wages and income when your injuries prevent you from working
  • Physical pain and emotional suffering
  • Property damage, such as damage to your motorcycle
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Loss of bodily function
  • The inability to enjoy life’s pleasures
  • Punitive damages in cases where they might be appropriate

We understand the complexities of motorcycle accident injury cases, where many assume that the rider must have some fault in the crash, even when they did not. Our team thoroughly investigates the crash, and we hold the negligent parties responsible for your losses.

  • Why do I need an attorney after a motorcycle accident?

    The laws regarding motorcycles are often extremely confusing, and they differ among the states. Without an attorney on their side to assist them, motorcycle crash victims often make the wrong moves and feel overpowered by the insurance providers and their attorneys. Insurance providers often employ tactics that force motorcyclists to agree to lower settlement payments than they deserve.

    Can I recover if I’m partially responsible?

    The insurance company and defense lawyer may argue that you are partially responsible for your motorcycle accident. Tennessee uses the comparative negligence doctrine. Under this doctrine,  motorcyclists may not recover damages if they are 50 percent or more responsible for causing the wreck. If they are less than 50 percent or less responsible, then any award is reduced by the percentage of the motorcycle operator’s fault.

    Can I recover if the responsible driver can’t pay my damage claim?

    If the driver who is responsible for your accident does not have liability insurance or doesn’t have enough coverage to pay your claim in full, our Knoxville motorcycle accident lawyers can seek to have your own uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) policy pay your damages.

    What should I do after a motorcycle accident happens?

    At Banks & Jones, we tell our clients that there are certain steps they can take to make their lives easier and their cases stronger. Some of the things you can do to help yourself after a motorcycle crash are:

    • Refrain from signing any documents the other party throws at you. Signing the documents without an attorney present could prevent you from obtaining damages for your injuries.
    • Disallow insurance providers from recording you, as your words could be taken out of context and used against you.
    • Summon the police at once to the accident scene, so the police can assist in making a record of the accident.
    • Preserve any physical evidence.

    Motorcyclists should gather plenty of information about the wreck as well, if they’re not too injured. Take pictures of the damage to your bike, of the scene, and of yourself – especially if you sustained an injury.

    You should also seek immediate medical treatment even if you don’t “feel” hurt; you could have injuries that you are unaware of.

    Do you have a Knoxville motorcycle accident lawyer near me?

    Yes. Our lawyers meet prospective clients at our office located at 2125 Middlebrook Pike in Knoxville, Tennessee. We also consult with motorcycle accident victims and families by phone and through Zoom and other online video platforms. If your motorcycle accidents make traveling too difficult, we can make alternate arrangements to see you.

    We’ve earned the respect of former clients, insurance companies, and the legal industry for our strong record of success.

    Ride tandem with a Knoxville motorcycle accident lawyer

    Rarely does anyone suffer only a minor injury in a motorcycle accident. If you have sustained a serious bodily injury in a motorcycle collision, our legal team at Banks & Jones is here to offer sound guidance at every turn. To find out more about how our experienced Knoxville motorcycle injury attorneys can help you, call us or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We handle motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis.

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