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Riding on two or three wheels astride a motorcycle or autocycle is a very different experience from traveling in an enclosed motor vehicle. However, there are many similarities in the traffic laws that apply to motorcyclists and drivers of commuter cars, commercial trucks, and other larger vehicles in the Volunteer State.
Understanding and complying with Knoxville motorcycle traffic laws can be key not just to keeping yourself out of legal trouble but also to preventing high-speed collisions that may result in life-altering injuries. Here are the most important details you need to know before heading out on your next ride, from our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at Dennis Injury Law.
State law makes no distinction between people operating standard motor vehicles and people operating two-wheeled or three-wheeled motorcycles in Knoxville. In fact, Tennessee Code § 55-8-181 explicitly grants all motorcycle and autocycle riders the same rights as all other drivers operating motor vehicles on public roads. This means that you can sue a motorist who negligently causes you harm in a motorcycle crash.
It is worth emphasizing that this statute also expressly imposes all the same duties on motorcyclists as those imposed on other motor vehicle operators. In other words, motorcyclists must follow all the same basic rules of the road by staying within posted speed limits, obeying street signs and traffic signals, and paying attention to their surroundings to avoid collisions with other vehicles or pedestrians nearby.
TN Code § 55-8-182 covers more details about how motorcyclists in Knoxville should conduct themselves while riding in traffic lanes alongside other drivers and riders. As mentioned, the rules are broadly the same for motorcyclists as they are for all other drivers: Motorcyclists have the right to the full use of the traffic lane they are riding in, but they must also move entirely into an adjacent lane before passing and overtaking any other vehicle.
Notably, Tennessee is one of many states that expressly prohibits lane splitting by motorcyclists, meaning that you must not ride your motorcycle on the painted lines between traffic lanes in order to filter through slow traffic or for any other reason. However, motorcyclists can legally ride two abreast within a single lane of traffic, provided both motorcyclists consent to the action and do not allow a third motorcyclist to ride next to them within that same lane.
Even the most responsible and law-abiding motorcyclists cannot completely eliminate the risk of becoming seriously hurt in an accident caused by another motorist’s negligence. However, if you were following the Knoxville motorcycle traffic laws and can prove that someone else was directly to blame for injuring you in a collision, you may have strong grounds to file suit against them and demand civil restitution for your damages.
A member of our team could discuss your potential claim and offer preliminary guidance about your next steps during a private initial consultation. Schedule yours by contacting us today.