If you were injured in a bicycle accident in Nashville and weren’t riding in the designated bike lane, you may be worried that you’ve lost your right to pursue compensation. It's a fair concern and a common one. But the truth is, not using the bike lane doesn’t automatically make you at fault, nor does it necessarily prevent you from filing a lawsuit against a negligent driver.
Tennessee law offers significant protections to cyclists, and while bike lanes are encouraged, they are not always legally required. What really matters in personal injury cases is whether a driver acted negligently and whether that negligence caused your injuries. Let’s break down what the law says and how these types of claims are evaluated in real-world cases.
In many parts of the country, there’s a misconception that bicyclists must always use bike lanes when they are available. However, Tennessee law does not mandate that cyclists use bike lanes. Under state law, cyclists have the right to ride on the roadway, just like motor vehicles.
While bike lanes are designed to improve safety and traffic flow, their use is generally considered optional unless a specific local ordinance says otherwise. In Nashville, the city encourages cyclists to use designated lanes when available, but there is no city-wide requirement that makes bike lane use mandatory.
That means if you were riding outside of a bike lane, perhaps to avoid debris, poor road conditions, or a parked vehicle, you were likely still operating within your legal rights.
There are many valid reasons a cyclist might choose to ride outside of a bike lane, especially in a busy city like Nashville. These include:
These situations often force cyclists to merge into the main flow of traffic, not because they’re careless, but because it’s the safest or only option available.
In any bicycle accident lawsuit, the core legal question is whether the driver acted with negligence. Negligence simply means that the driver failed to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances. For example, a driver may be found negligent for:
If a driver’s actions caused your injuries, even if you weren’t in the bike lane, you may still be entitled to full or partial compensation. Tennessee courts focus on the cause of the crash rather than simply where the cyclist was riding at the time.
Tennessee follows a legal rule known as modified comparative fault. This means that if you’re found to be partially responsible for the crash, your compensation can be reduced by your percentage of fault. However, as long as you are found to be less than 50% at fault, you can still recover damages.
Let’s say a court determines you were 20% at fault for riding outside the bike lane, but the driver who hit you was 80% at fault for speeding and not paying attention. If your total damages were $100,000, your compensation would be reduced by 20%, and you’d still receive $80,000.
The issue of fault is rarely black and white. Insurance companies may try to argue that your position on the road contributed to the accident, but an experienced attorney can challenge those claims and present evidence that supports your side of the story.
If you weren’t using the bike lane at the time of your accident, it’s especially important to build a strong case showing why you were riding where you were and how the driver’s negligence caused the crash. Helpful evidence might include:
These details help paint a clear picture of what happened and can counter any attempt to place undue blame on you as the cyclist.
Bicycle accident claims can be complex, especially when insurance companies try to shift blame or when you're unsure of your rights. At Glenn Injury Law, we’ve handled many cases where cyclists were injured while riding outside of a bike lane, sometimes due to unsafe conditions or driver negligence. In each case, our priority is to investigate thoroughly, protect our client’s rights, and pursue the full compensation they deserve.
From traumatic injuries and lost income to mounting medical bills and emotional distress, the impact of a bicycle crash can be significant. You shouldn’t be penalized for making a safe choice under difficult road conditions. Our team is here to stand by your side and fight for a result that reflects the full extent of what you’ve endured.
If you were injured in a Nashville bicycle accident, regardless of whether you were using a bike lane, contact us today. We’ll review your case, explain your options, and help you pursue the compensation you’re entitled to under Tennessee law.
