Close

Injured Motorcycle Passengers

Experienced Motor Vehicle Collision Lawyer Assisting Residents of Maryville and East Tennessee

Even passengers who wear helmets may be seriously injured while riding a motorcycle in East Tennessee. When traveling at high speeds, there is little to protect a passenger from injuries, and they may need to rely entirely on the judgment of the person operating the motorcycle. Unfortunately, many drivers are not wary about the possibility of a motorcyclist on the road and drive unsafely, and some motorcyclists exaggerate their riding experience. As a passenger, you may suffer devastating injuries and incur massive medical bills through no fault of your own. If you are in this situation, Maryville motorcycle accident attorney Mark Hartsoe is ready to help you seek compensation for your injuries.

Asserting the Rights of Injured Motorcycle Passengers

Often, motorcycle accidents are the fault of both the motorcyclist operating the vehicle and another driver. To recover damages from either party, you will need to establish liability. It is advisable at the outset to evaluate the fault of all parties to the wreck. You will need to establish by a preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not) that the defendant's unsafe driving was a cause of the accident.

Unsafe driving by a motorcyclist may include speeding, taking turns too fast, driving under the influence of prescription drugs, or running a red light. Unsafe driving by another driver may include drunk driving, fatigued driving, failing to yield the right of way, and many other actions.

After the evidence about fault and damages is presented, the jury will assign percentages of fault to each party that may be responsible. In Tennessee, a defendant will be responsible for paying an amount equal to their share of responsibility for the motorcycle crash that caused your injuries. For example, a jury may decide that the motorcyclist on whose bike you were riding was 50% responsible, and another driver was 50% responsible. If your total damages are $150,000, you may recover $75,000 from the motorcyclist and $75,000 from the other driver.

In some cases, a defective part in a motorcycle is to blame for an accident. You may be able to hold a manufacturer liable for your injuries arising out of a defective part under theories of strict liability, negligence, or breach of warranty. Defects that may be actionable in motorcycle accident cases include defects in design and manufacturing. For example, if the brakes in the motorcycle were not made according to specifications and failed to work at the time of the wreck, you may be able to sue the manufacturer for a manufacturing defect.

Call Maryville Attorney Mark Hartsoe After a Motorcycle Accident

As an injured motorcycle passenger, you may experience significant stress after a crash. You may need to take time off work and pay for expensive medical care. If you were hurt as a motorcycle passenger, Maryville motorcycle accident lawyer Mark Hartsoe can evaluate whether you have a case and provide skillful representation. Call the Hartsoe Law Firm at 865-804-1011 or contact us via our online form to set up a free appointment. Hartsoe represents victims who are seeking a motor vehicle collision attorney in many areas of East Tennessee, such as Blount, Knox, Monroe, Loudon, Jefferson, Grainger, Cocke, Campbell, Hamblen, Greene, Anderson, Cumberland, and Fentress Counties.


Client Reviews
★★★★★
Mark: We would like to thank you for all the hard work you put in winning our medical malpractice lawsuit. The money we were awarded will certainly change our lives. The fact that you never treated us like clients but instead like friends meant so much to us. Again from our hearts we say thank you. Client
★★★★★
The Peroulas family and I deeply appreciate your help and expertise. Although I am certain that it would have been most enjoyable to work with you on the trial, my clients are happy with what they and I believe to be a very favorable settlement, thanks in large part to your guidance. James S. Tipton, Jr.
★★★★★
We appreciate the great job that you did on our case. You watched out for our interest even before you took our case. Mark Hartsoe did a wonderful job. He showed great expertise as he went up against a multi-national corporation with multiple lawyers. He had a thorough understanding of the many details and events that occurred. We were especially impressed with his skill during mediation. Mark’s PowerPoint presentation was excellent, overwhelming the opposition. It was refreshing to work with someone who does what he says he will and truly had our best interest in mind. Thank you for everything. Dennis and Julie Greene
★★★★★
Just a short note to let you know we appreciate all of your hard work! Rhonda and Mike Cherrin
★★★★★
We would very much appreciate it if you would be so kind as to e-mail to our office the Powerpoint presentation that you made at the commencement of the mediation. Our General Manger was very impressed and would like to show it to the CEO and may in turn show it to other corporate personnel as an example of what can happen to the same or similar case when placed in the hands of an excellent lawyer such as Mark Hartsoe. William T. Wray
Contact Us