Navigating Back-to-School Traffic on Two Wheels in Johnson City

Our Johnson City motorcycle accident lawyers have seen how back-to-school traffic impacts riders year after year. The first bell rings, school-zone traffic increases, and bikers suddenly find themselves dodging large buses, new drivers, and sunrise glare all at once. These conditions can make navigating traffic in early fall a dangerous undertaking and leave victims of serious motorcycle accident injuries wondering where to turn for help.

With low visibility being one of the most common causes of motorcycle crashes, novice drivers pose a significant risk to riders. When combined with how common school zone accidents have become, many of those involving buses, the risks increase significantly. When you are injured or a loved one is killed in one of these crashes, you need a legal team on your side that understands Tennessee motorcycle injury law. With more than four decades of experience, The Haynes Firm is here to help.

Talk to a Johnson City Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for FREE

To schedule a FREE and confidential consultation with one of the motorcycle wreck attorneys at The Haynes Firm, call us at 423-928-0165 today. Located in Johnson City, our experienced lawyers fight for the rights of motorcyclists in Kingsport, Jonesborough, and throughout Tennessee.

What Makes Back-to-School Season Dangerous for Motorcycles?

Motorcycle riding always comes with some amount of risk. Riders have less external protection than drivers and are often more seriously injured in crashes. Back-to-school season, however, sees the risk of accidents amplified by a diverse range of factors, such as:

• Increased Bus Traffic. School buses can be very large, with some weighing as much as 13 tons. They also have substantial blind spots, which can decrease a bus driver’s ability to see smaller vehicles, especially motorcycles.
• Inexperienced Teen Drivers. New licensees can easily misjudge gaps, fail to merge properly, or forget to look twice when turning. Vehicles turning left already pose a higher risk to motorcyclists. This risk is increased when drivers are new and inexperienced.
• Road Debris and Construction. Slick tar strips, loose gravel, and other hazards of road construction are common throughout the fall season in Tennessee. Many projects, nearing completion, may appear safe to navigate while hiding road hazards that can injure or kill a motorcycle rider.
• Shifts in Light and Weather. Dawn fog on I-26, wet leaves on South Roan St., and sunsets that arrive a bit earlier can all increase the risk of motorcycle accidents. These risks are further increased when inexperienced drivers and increased bus traffic are involved.

School Zone and Campus Hot Spots

While any area of Johnson City can become more dangerous for bikers in late summer and early fall, areas around schools and campuses are often more treacherous to navigate. Making sure to follow school zone regulations, exercising caution around ETSU, and paying extra attention to bus routes can help you react in time to threats posed by larger vehicles. However, even the most cautious motorcyclists can be surprised and suffer an injury in a crash caused by another driver, which may include:

• Fractured wrists, collarbones, and lower extremities
• Road rash, lacerations, and disfigurement
• Traumatic brain injury
• Lumbar or cervical spine damage
• Death

Motorcyclists are more likely to sustain a serious or life-threatening injury when involved in a crash than the passengers and drivers of cars, trucks, and buses, even when safety gear and helmets are used.

If you have been injured or a loved one has died in a motorcycle wreck, in or out of a school zone, the Johnson City motorcycle crash lawyers at The Haynes Firm are here to help. We can assess the damage done, determine who is at fault, and take your case as far as needed to help you pursue the fair and full compensation you are due.

Motorcycle Accident Liability

When teen drivers, buses, and school zones are involved, determining who can be held liable for your motorcycle accident injuries might become very complex. Depending on who is involved and where the crash took place, issues involving Tennessee’s Family Purpose Doctrine may allow you to hold parents responsible for accidents caused by teen drivers, while Tennessee’s Government Tort Liability Act (GTLA) can limit your ability to hold a school district or bus driver accountable. To make matters more complicated, you typically only have one year to file a lawsuit after a motorcycle crash, making swift action important.

Timely action is important. So too is working with a legal team that understands how to investigate crash sites, identify all liable parties, and hold negligent, inattentive, and otherwise dangerous drivers to full account.

At The Haynes Firm, our lawyers have been helping injured bikers seek justice for more than 40 years. We have the resources and experience needed to fully investigate your accident, accurately calculate your damages, and fight for the compensation you’ll need to make the best recovery possible.

Trust The Haynes Firm for Your Motorcycle Accident Claim

At The Haynes Firm, we do things the right way, not the easy way. That’s not marketing fluff or a catchy tagline, it’s an absolute promise we make to each and every client. When you are the victim of serious injury in a motorcycle crash, we’ll do everything possible to help you secure the full compensation your injury demands.

Trusted by bikers across Tennessee, our firm offers:

• Personal, one-on-one attention. Our lawyers stay directly involved in your case, taking time to understand your needs, prioritize your recovery, and help you secure fair compensation.
• Award-winning, nationally recognized trial attorneys. Our lawyers have been recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, the National Trial Lawyers Association, and more for our work in and out of the courtroom.
• Proven history of securing substantial verdicts and settlements, including a recent $5,900,000 verdict for an injured motorcyclist.
• Contingency-fee payment structure. Your consultation is 100% free of both cost and obligation, and we only collect our fee after we have secured compensation on your behalf.

Our motorcycle crash lawyers have more than 80 years of combined experience fighting for the rights of injured riders. When you need help after an accident in a school zone or anywhere else, we are here to listen, provide straightforward advice, and assist you in getting the compensation you deserve.

Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Johnson City for FREE

To schedule your FREE case review with one of our Johnson City motorcycle wreck attorneys, use our online contact form or call our office today. We serve riders living in Elizabethton, Greenville, Bristol, and across Tennessee.