Memphis Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Were you injured in a bicycle accident in Memphis, TN?

At Patterson Bray PLLC, we offer a free consultation with a Memphis bicycle accident lawyer.

If a driver struck you while you were cycling in Memphis, a lawyer can pursue compensation from that driver’s insurer and from any other policy that applies to the crash. Cyclists absorb the full force of a collision, causing catastrophic harm. Adjusters often try to shift part of the blame onto the rider.

Patterson Bray PLLC has represented injured plaintiffs in Tennessee for more than 20 years. Our Memphis, TN bicycle accident lawyer can investigate how the crash happened, identify each source of coverage, and explain what your claim may be worth. Reach out today to arrange a free consultation.

Bicycle Accident Lawyer Memphis, TN

A bicycle accident case is a personal injury claim brought by a cyclist, or by a cyclist’s family, against a driver or other party whose negligence caused a crash. Most involve a motor vehicle, though some arise from dangerous road conditions or defective bicycle parts. The claim seeks payment for medical care, lost income, and the physical and emotional harm the rider has suffered.

Tennessee recorded 13 bicyclist deaths in traffic crashes in 2025, up from 9 in 2024, according to state crash data. Even a low-speed impact can throw a rider onto the pavement or into traffic. A bicycle accident attorney in Memphis looks beyond the police report to establish what the driver did wrong and which insurance policies cover the loss.

Types of Bicycle Accident Cases We Handle in Memphis

Memphis cyclists share busy corridors like Poplar Avenue and Union Avenue with heavy traffic, and riders heading to the Shelby Farms Greenline cross several major streets along the way. How a crash happens shapes who is liable and which insurance policies apply. As bicycle accident lawyers in Memphis, we handle the following types of claims.

• Right hook collisions. A driver passes a cyclist and then turns right across the rider’s path at an intersection or driveway. These crashes usually trace back to a driver who failed to check mirrors and yield to the rider. The rider often has little room to swerve and no time to brake.

• Left cross collisions. An oncoming driver turns left in front of a rider who has the right of way. Drivers often say they never saw the bicycle, which makes witness statements and video especially important. The impact frequently throws the rider onto the hood or the pavement.

• Dooring accidents. A parked motorist opens a car door into a passing rider with no time to stop. The person who opened the door, and in some cases the vehicle’s owner, may be responsible. Dooring is most common on streets where parallel parking sits beside the bike lane.

• Rear-end bicycle crashes. A driver who follows too closely strikes the rider from behind, often at speed. These collisions frequently cause spinal injuries and head trauma, and the risk rises at dusk and after dark, when riders are harder to see.

• Hit and run accidents. When a driver flees, identifying the vehicle becomes the first priority. Paint transfer, debris, and nearby camera footage can help locate the driver. If the driver is never found, your own uninsured motorist coverage may still pay for your losses.

• Distracted driving accidents. Phone use causes drivers to drift into bike lanes and overlook riders at crosswalks. Phone records can show whether a driver was using a device at the moment of impact.

• Truck accidents. Delivery trucks and tractor-trailers make wide turns and have large blind spots. Commercial carriers typically hold larger policies, and their records can reveal driver training and hours on duty.

• Electric bike accidents. E-bikes travel faster than many drivers expect, which leads to misjudged turns at intersections. We represent riders of pedal-assist and throttle e-bikes alike, and they have the same right to compensation as any other cyclist.

Memphis Bicycle Accident Infographic

Why Choose Patterson Bray PLLC as my Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Memphis, TN?

Pursuing Every Available Policy

Chris Patterson has spent more than 20 years representing plaintiffs in catastrophic injury and death cases, alongside business and general litigation. He holds two degrees from UT Knoxville and a law degree from the University of Memphis, and he is recognized by Best Lawyers. He is also a member of the Tennessee Bar Association.

Many drivers carry only minimum liability limits. Before we negotiate, we review the at-fault driver’s policy, any employer or commercial coverage, and your own uninsured and underinsured motorist benefits.

Results in Serious Vehicle Crashes

Our record includes millions of dollars recovered for injured clients. Motor vehicle results from our verdicts and settlements include:

• Maximum policy limits for a client paralyzed when another driver ran off the roadway

• Full coverage limits for a passenger with severe spinal injuries, with her health insurer’s lien reduced to $0

• A policy-limits settlement for three sisters hurt in a car crash, partly structured to fund future college tuition

• A substantial confidential settlement for clients whose parents were killed in a head-on crash with a tractor-trailer

That attention to every source of recovery is what you should expect from a personal injury lawyer in Memphis, TN. The first consultation with our Memphis bicycle accident lawyers is free.

Understanding Bicycle Accident Cases

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Bicycle Accident Cases

Tennessee drivers owe a duty of reasonable care to everyone on the road, including cyclists. A driver who turns across a rider, follows too closely, or looks at a phone breaches that duty. Our Memphis bicycle accident attorneys then prove that the breach caused your injuries, using the crash report, witnesses, and medical records.

Insurers routinely blame riders for riding at night, wearing dark clothing, or leaving the bike lane. Under Tennessee’s comparative fault rule, a cyclist less than 50 percent at fault can still recover, but the award is reduced by that percentage. At 50 percent or higher, recovery is barred.

Compensation may include:

• Medical expenses. Emergency care, surgery, therapy, and treatment you’ll need later.

• Lost income. Missed wages, plus reduced earning capacity if you can’t return to the same work.

• Pain and suffering. Physical pain, emotional distress, and scarring from road rash that may require skin grafts.

• Property damage. The bicycle, helmet, and other gear destroyed in the crash.

Economic losses such as medical bills are not capped. Noneconomic losses generally face a $750,000 ceiling, or $1,000,000 for catastrophic injuries, under Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-39-102. Nearly 1,000 bicyclists die nationwide each year in crashes with motor vehicles, according to CDC bicycle safety data, and survivors with catastrophic injuries such as paralysis often face lifetime care costs.

What Are Important Aspects of a Bicycle Accident Case?

A bicycle accident lawyer in Memphis evaluates two issues early in every claim: the available insurance and the evidence gathered in the first few days.

• Every applicable policy, including your own uninsured motorist coverage if the driver is uninsured or underinsured

• The crash report, available through the Memphis Police Department, which records the officer’s observations and any citations

• Video from traffic, business, and helmet cameras

• Accident reconstruction that examines impact points, vehicle damage, and the condition of the bicycle

What Is The Bicycle Accident Case Timeline?

Timing depends on your recovery and the number of insurers.

1. Medical care and a police report right after the crash.

2. Notice to every insurer and requests for video.

3. Treatment until your doctors can state a long-term prognosis. Your own health insurance can cover medical bills in the meantime.

4. A settlement demand and negotiation with each insurer.

5. A lawsuit, if needed. The deadline is generally one year under Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104, or two years if the driver is criminally prosecuted for the crash and the prosecution begins within one year.

What Should You Bring to Your Bicycle Accident Consultation?

Our initial review of fault and insurance coverage relies on the following records:

• The crash report number (Highway Patrol reports are available through the state crash report portal)

• Photos of the scene, your bicycle, and your injuries

• The declarations page from your own auto policy

• Medical records, bills, and names of any witnesses

At the meeting, our bicycle accident attorney in Memphis will review the crash, identify each insurer that may owe coverage, and tell you candidly how strong the claim appears.

Most Dangerous Locations for Bicycle Accidents in Memphis

The Memphis Metropolitan Planning Organization’s 2024 safety report ranks corridors by crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists, and several are in Memphis.

Dangerous streets:

• Union Avenue, Pauline Street to South Watkins Street. The region’s highest crash count, including three deaths.

• Jackson Avenue, Kruger Road to Cape Henry Drive. Six crashes, one fatal.

• Danny Thomas Boulevard, Poplar Avenue to Adams Avenue. Three crashes, two with serious injuries.

Dangerous highways:

• US-51, Whitney Avenue to Marsh Avenue. Five such crashes in 2024.

Reach Out to Patterson Bray PLLC to Schedule a Consultation

Recovering from a bicycle crash is difficult enough without negotiating with several insurance companies on your own. Patterson Bray PLLC offers a free consultation to cyclists injured in Memphis, and a Memphis bicycle accident attorney will explain your options in plain terms. Contact us to schedule a meeting at our Memphis office.