At least three motorcyclists have died on Nashville roads since June, drawing attention to how fault is determined in crashes involving riders. The most recent death occurred on Sept. 1, when a 46-year-old Metro Parks employee crashed on an Interstate 440 exit ramp, according to WSMV. On July 30, a 19-year-old rider died on I-65 near Dickerson Pike after hitting the back of a tractor-trailer. On June 3, a 35-year-old rider died after colliding with a car on Hermitage Avenue, Fox 17 reported.
These deaths raise questions about who is truly at fault in motorcycle crashes. “When a motorcycle’s involved, people tend to assume the rider was speeding,” said Will Patterson, an attorney with Tennessee firm Patterson Bray PLLC. “Sometimes that’s true. But a lot of times another driver just didn’t look.” Patterson’s firm encourages injured riders and their families not to treat early police statements as the final word on fault. Their Nashville motorcycle accident lawyers can examine whether another driver or the road itself contributed to a crash.
Tennessee follows modified comparative fault, a rule the Tennessee Supreme Court adopted in McIntyre v. Balentine. Under that rule, each person involved in a crash is assigned a percentage of fault, either in settlement talks or by a jury. A rider whose share is less than 50 percent can still recover damages, reduced by that share. For example, a rider found 20 percent at fault for a $100,000 loss would recover $80,000. However, a rider found 50 percent or more at fault recovers nothing from the other parties.
Evidence and deadlines matter greatly. A police report reflects what officers learned at the scene, often before video is collected or every witness is interviewed. Footage from nearby businesses and traffic cameras may be recorded over or lost within days. Vehicle data, skid marks, and witness accounts gathered later can shift fault percentages considerably.
Tennessee also generally allows only one year to file an injury claim under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104, so families who wait may lose the chance to use that evidence. The firm handles personal injury cases across Tennessee and Mississippi, including motorcycle, car, and truck accidents, wrongful death, and medical malpractice claims.
For riders and families, the key implication is that fault is rarely as simple as it first appears. Collecting evidence early and understanding Tennessee’s fault rules can make a significant difference in whether a claim succeeds.
