Motorcycles can be a great way to get around town or just to go out and enjoy summer weather. Unfortunately for motorcyclists, they have to share Tennessee roads with all kinds of other drivers and all sizes of vehicles. Any collision between a motorcycle and these other vehicle carries the risk of serious injury or death.
A Tennessee man was injured recently in a motorcycle accident with an 18-wheeler. According to police, the motorcyclist was turning at an intersection in Lebanon when the oncoming semitrailer hit him. The motorcyclist was transported by ambulance to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. News media did not report the extent of his injuries. The driver of the 18-wheeler was uninjured.
Studies show that car drivers are to blame for a significant number of the accidents that injure motorcyclists. About 70 percent of these accidents occur at intersections, where car or truck drivers have trouble seeing the motorcyclist. When they are involved in a crash, motorcyclists are at a much greater risk for death or serious injury than occupants of other vehicles. Indeed, motorcyclists are five times more likely to be injured in a crash than passengers in a car, and 26 times more likely to be killed.
When they are injured, motorcyclists may face crushing medical expenses, lost wages and perhaps even permanent disability. When these damages are caused by another driver's negligence, victims may seek to be compensated for their losses through a personal injury lawsuit. Tennessee motorcyclists who have been injured by a negligent driver may wish to get help understanding their legal options from a legal professional.
Source: The Wilson Post, "Motorcycle wreck sends Gordonsville man to Vanderbilt," Sabrina Garrett, Aug. 14, 2013