Knoxville Hit and Run Motorcycle Accidents

After any motor vehicle accident in the State of Tennessee involving personal injury or death, drivers involved are required by law to stop at the scene or as close to the scene as possible. Failure to do so could result in criminal charges for leaving the scene of the wreck, such as following a fatal motorcycle accident. Despite rules to prevent hit and run accidents from occurring, they do happen. As with any wreck in Knoxville, it is important to contact the authorities immediately after the accident occurs. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office can be reached at (865) 212-2444. It is the largest law enforcement agency in East Tennessee, with over 1,000 employees and 475 officers. Responding officers can call for an ambulance to render medical aid and begin attempting to locate the hit and run vehicle.

To recover damages for injuries suffered after a hit and run motorcycle accident, it must be established that someone acted negligently in causing the wreck. To establish negligence against a hit and run driver, certain elements must be proven under Tennessee law. First, you must show that the defendant owed you a duty to drive safely. It is common knowledge that anyone driving on the road must drive safely, and many times there are statutes or ordinances creating a duty to do so. Second, you must show that the at-fault party breached that duty owed to you. For example, if the driver failed to yield, followed too closely, or swerved into your lane, it could be proven the driver breached the duty to drive safely. Third, it must be proven that the breach of duty caused the accident (direct and proximate cause). And last, you must establish damages, which generally revolve around economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages normally include medical bills and lost wages, while non-economic damages can consist of pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium.

In many hit and run motorcycle accident cases, the defendant driver is not located. In this situation, the injured motorcyclist may be able to assert an uninsured motorist claim. However, if the hit and run driver ends up being found, that driver’s liability insurance will take priority in compensating you for your injuries. Per Tennessee law, drivers are required to carry minimum liability insurance of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per occurrence. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in the Knoxville area can take steps to investigate and locate the at-fault party.