Mandatory Liability Insurance for Tennessee Motorcyclists
Tennessee requires motorcyclists to have liability coverage to legally ride on public roads. It’s a way to spread the costs of accidents and to try to prevent situations where innocent accident victims aren’t left holding the financial bag afterward. The motorcycle accident Hicks Law Firm represents those injured in accidents, and their compensation usually is paid by insurance. We will discuss what motorcycle insurance coverage you need and should have if you can afford it.
Aaron Hicks is the founder, and primary motorcycle accident attorney at Hicks Law Firm. He represents those injured by the negligence of others and has been working as an attorney for 20 years. We serve all of Tennessee, including the Nashville area. If you or a family member are seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, contact the motorcycle accident Hicks Law Firm by calling (615) 200-0084 to schedule a risk-free, no-obligation consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer.
Tennessee’s Mandatory Motorcycle Coverage
The state requires motorcyclists to carry liability insurance, but the minimum limits are pretty low considering how much harm a motorcycle accident can cause. Those limits are the following:
- $25,000 for each injury or death per accident
- $50,000 for total injuries or deaths per accident
- $15,000 for property damage per accident
You’re exempt from the state’s financial responsibility laws if you no longer own the motorcycle or if it’s stored or inoperable.
Why Should I Pay for More Insurance?
Tennessee doesn’t require you to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM), but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have it. Uninsured motorist coverage helps if someone without insurance strikes you or it’s a hit-and-run incident and you don’t know who the other driver is. Underinsured coverage helps if your losses are greater than the other party’s coverage.
Motorcyclists are often severely injured in accidents. They can suffer life-altering injuries that can may result in extensive medical care and long periods of rehabilitation. If the other party carried only minimal coverage, that will only scratch the surface of these costs. If they had no insurance, or the other driver left the scene, you’ll have to bear these costs yourself.
What are My Coverage Options?
They’re similar to what car owners have, according to Nerdwallet. In addition to liability and UM/UIM coverage, most insurers offer the following:
- Collision: This pays for repairing damage, less your deductible, the amount you choose to cover when a covered repair occurs. The higher your deductible, the lower your premium should be
- Comprehensive: You can file a claim when your bike is stolen or damaged by something other than a crash with another vehicle
- Medical payments (MedPay): This pays your medical bills if you and your passenger are injured in a collision. This can be especially helpful if you don’t have health insurance, or it’s not very good
- Personal injury protection: This generally pays for medical bills for your injuries and those of your passenger and pedestrians involved in an accident. You can these payments whether you’re at fault or not
- Trip interruption coverage: This can pay for transportation, lodging, and food if your motorcycle is disabled in a crash far from your home
- Roadside assistance: This can include towing if your bike breaks down or is involved in an accident
Talk to your agent about your options and get the best protection your budget can buy. Insurance is an investment. You may only see a return if an accident happens, but unfortunately, the chances of that are pretty good. In 2021, there were 2,875 reported motorcycle accidents in Tennessee, according to the state’s Department of Safety & Homeland Security.
Why Does Insurance Matter?
It’s more than a bill you must pay to legally drive your motorcycle in the state. It’s a financial safety net that, after an accident, may:
- Allow you to repair your motorcycle or replace it if it’s totaled
- Pay your medical bills
- Reimburse you for lost income
- Compensate you for the pain and suffering you endure
If a person without insurance causes your motorcycle accident, they may not have nearly enough resources to justify the expense and effort of a motorcycle accident lawyer filing a personal injury lawsuit against them. In nearly all cases, insurance pays lawsuit settlements and verdicts. Insurance and insurers aren’t perfect, but we’re better off with them than without them.
Act Before It’s Too Late
To legally ride in Tennessee, you must buy liability coverage, but you can get much better coverage if you can afford it. It may be the difference between a major financial loss after an accident and getting your life back together. You shouldn’t need to ask for donations to support your family after being in a motorcycle accident.
Tennessee’s short one year time limit or statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit after your motorcycle accident means you must act promptly after it happens. We need time to thoroughly investigate your case so we can present a well-documented demand to an insurance company.
Schedule a free consultation with the motorcycle accident Hicks Law Firm so we can discuss the accident, your best options, and how we can help you and your family. Call us today at (615) 200-0084 or fill out our confidential contact form, so you can talk to a motorcycle accident attorney.
Aaron Hicks is a civil trial attorney and founder of Hicks Law Firm, based in Orange County with offices in San Diego and Tennessee. His practice includes representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases including motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, dog bites and wrongful death. Mr. Hicks is and AV Rated attorney, Super Lawyer and is currently on the Board of Directors of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association where he serves as 1st Vice President.
