Bicycle Accident Lawyers

In Kentucky and Tennessee, a bicycle is a legal vehicle. You have the same right to be in the lane as a Ford F-150. But in reality, drivers rarely respect that right.

"Share the Road" is more than a bumper sticker—it is the law. Yet, every day on the winding backroads of Laurel County and the busy streets of Lexington, drivers aggressively pass cyclists, cut them off at intersections, or drift into bike lanes while texting.

At Freeman Childers, we understand the physics of a bike crash. We know that when a 4,000-pound car hits a 20-pound bike, the cyclist always loses. We fight to prove that you were visible, you were legal, and you deserve to be paid for your injuries.

The "Cyclist Bias"

Insurance adjusters love to blame the cyclist. They will argue:

• "He wasn't wearing high-vis gear."

• "She shouldn't have been on this busy road."

• "He swerved into traffic."

We shut these arguments down. We use accident reconstruction experts to prove the driver had ample time to see you and failed to yield. We cite the specific 3-Foot Passing Laws in both Kentucky and Tennessee to hold drivers accountable for "buzzing" you too closely.

KY vs. TN: Who Pays Your Medical Bills?

Crucially, your rights depend on which side of the state line you were riding on.

If You Were Hit in Kentucky:

• PIP Coverage Applies: Even if you were on a bike, the insurance of the car that hit you is responsible for the first $10,000 of your medical bills (Personal Injury Protection).

• This is automatic. Fault does not matter for this first $10k. We help you file this claim immediately so you can get treatment without using your own health insurance.

If You Were Hit in Tennessee:

• At-Fault System: There is no automatic PIP. The driver is liable, but their insurance won't pay a dime until the case is settled.

• Uninsured Motorist (UM): If the driver flees (Hit and Run) or has no insurance, we can often claim against your own car insurance policy's UM coverage, even though you were on a bike.

Common Bicycle Accidents We Handle

• The "Right Hook": A driver speeds past you and then immediately turns right, cutting across your path. This is the most common urban crash.

• "Dooring": A driver in a parked car on Main Street opens their door directly into you without looking.

• Rear-End Collisions: On rural roads like KY-92 or US-25, distracted drivers often plow into cyclists they "didn't see" until it was too late.

• Child Bicycle Accidents: Kids have a lower "standard of care" than adults. If a driver hits a child in a neighborhood, the law is heavily on the side of the child.

Where We Protect Riders

We represent cyclists injured on the region's most popular routes:

• The Horsey Hundred Route: The winding roads around Lexington and Georgetown.

• The TransAmerica Trail (US-76): Touring cyclists passing through Eastern Kentucky.

• Downtown Commuters: Riders in Louisville (NuLu), Lexington (UK Campus), and Knoxville.

• Rural Recreation: Weekend riders in Laurel and Whitley counties.

Hit While Riding?

Do not try to fix your bike yet. Keep the helmet as evidence. Call 606-528-1000 immediately.