On this page
- After a motorcycle crash
- Motorcyclist deaths in the four states
- Tennessee: the helmet law, as written
- Motorcyclists in Shelby County fatal crashes
- Alabama: Code of Alabama § 32-5A-242 and § 32-5A-245
- Oklahoma: 47 O.S. § 12-609 (formerly § 40-105)
- South Carolina: Title 56, Chapter 5, Article 29
- Record checklist
- Deadlines and fault
- Questions
- Sources
The short answer
After a motorcycle crash
Call 911 and get checked, even if you walked away. Then record the scene, the vehicles and plates, your gear including the helmet, the officer and report number, and witnesses. Helmet laws differ: Tennessee and Alabama cover every rider, [1] [4] Oklahoma covers riders under 18, [6] and South Carolina riders under 21 [7].
Deaths by state
Motorcyclist deaths in the four states
These count riders and passengers who died in fatal crashes in the federal file, not everyone hurt [3].
| Area | 2015 | 2019 | 2022 | 2024 | 2015-2024 | Share of all traffic deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 5,026 | 5,044 | 6,251 | 6,225 | 56,262 | 14% |
| Tennessee | 123 | 155 | 153 | 188 | 1,592 | 14% |
| Alabama | 67 | 93 | 97 | 127 | 908 | 9% |
| Oklahoma | 89 | 68 | 93 | 106 | 873 | 13% |
| South Carolina | 185 | 154 | 170 | 154 | 1,608 | 15% |
Source: NHTSA FARS person files (motorcycle body types, fatal injury), analysed by CrashFirst; download the yearly CSV. Counts say nothing about fault in any crash.
Tennessee and Memphis
Tennessee: the helmet law, as written
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-302 (as reproduced by FindLaw, current as of January 2, 2024; not yet re-read on the official code site):
| What the section says | |
|---|---|
| Who | The driver and any passenger on a motorcycle, motorized bicycle or motorscooter [1]. |
| What kind of helmet | One meeting federal standard 49 CFR 571.218 [1]. For riders 21 or older, a helmet meeting the section's alternative requirements (ventilation openings no wider than 1 1/2 inches, and a label from one of four named standards bodies) [1]. The Highway Safety Office lists DOT (FMVSS 218), CSPM, Snell and SIRC as approved [2]. |
| Exceptions | Riders in an enclosed cab; fully enclosed autocycles ("side panels, a roll bar or roof, and a windshield"); golf carts; a parade at 30 mph or less for riders 18 or older; and certain funeral processions, memorial rides and body escort details (30 mph or less, riders 21 or older, no more than 50 miles) [1] [2]. |
The Highway Safety Office also says riders should hold a current motorcycle license (Class M) and notes a Class M license is not required to operate an autocycle (§ 55-50-301(c)) [2] [2].
The page we read does not state a penalty, and we have not researched how helmet use plays into an injury claim. That is a question for an attorney.
Memphis data
Motorcyclists in Shelby County fatal crashes
| Measure (Shelby County, 2015-2024) | Value |
|---|---|
| Motorcyclists killed (rider or passenger) | 180 (9% of all deaths) |
| Per year | 6 to 24; 14 in 2024 |
| Fatal crashes involving a motorcycle | 181 |
| ...in the dark | 46% (83 of 181) |
| ...on arterial streets | 69% (125 of 181) |
| ...where a driver was flagged as drinking | 23% (42 of 181); the flag does not say which driver |
Source: NHTSA FARS, analysed by CrashFirst. The Memphis Crash Report has the method and the full data as CSV. These count deaths only, not everyone hurt, and say nothing about fault in any crash.
Alabama
Alabama: Code of Alabama § 32-5A-242 and § 32-5A-245
- Headgear (§ 32-5A-245). No person may operate or ride on a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle without protective headgear that complies with the standards in § 32-12-41, or without shoes [4]. Exceptions: riders in an enclosed cab and autocycle operators [4].
- Lanes (§ 32-5A-242). Motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane [5]. A motorcycle may not overtake and pass in the same lane, or operate between lanes or rows of vehicles, and no more than two may ride abreast [5].
Oklahoma
Oklahoma: 47 O.S. § 12-609 (formerly § 40-105)
- Helmets. No person under 18 may operate or ride on a motorcycle unless properly wearing a crash helmet that complies with 49 C.F.R. § 571.218 [6]. The statute we read does not set a helmet rule for adults.
- Equipment. Motorcycles need two rearview mirrors, a windshield or eye protection for the operator, a speedometer, fenders, a horn and a muffler [6].
South Carolina
South Carolina: Title 56, Chapter 5, Article 29
- Helmets (§ 56-5-3660). Unlawful for anyone under 21 to operate or ride on a two-wheeled motorized vehicle without a protective helmet of a type approved by the Department of Public Safety, with a neck or chin strap and reflectorized on both sides [7]. The section we read sets no helmet rule for riders 21 and older.
- Lanes (§ 56-5-3640). Motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane, may not pass in the same lane or operate between lanes or rows of vehicles, and may not ride more than two abreast [7].
Motorcycle insurance: the state minimum limits are on Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma and South Carolina insurance minimums pages; ask an agent what a motorcycle policy covers. We have not sourced motorcycle-specific insurance rules.
Record checklist
After a motorcycle crash
Next
Deadlines and fault
Fault rules differ by state (Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma, South Carolina). Court deadlines are on the Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma and South Carolina pages. We cannot tell you how either applies to your crash. If the driver left or had no insurance, see hit and run and uninsured drivers.
Want to talk it through? A person usually calls you back in about 15 minutes (8am to 8pm Central). You never pay CrashFirst. CrashFirst is not a law firm, does not evaluate your crash and does not give legal advice. General information as of November 8, 2026.
Sources
- Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-302, crash helmet required for driver and passenger (FindLaw mirror, current as of Jan. 2, 2024) (checked November 9, 2026)Code text via FindLaw (unofficial copy)“federal standards contained in 49 CFR 571.218”“The driver of a motorcycle, motorized bicycle”“no ventilation airway shall exceed one and one-half inches”“In a parade, at a speed not to exceed thirty (30) miles per hour”
- Tennessee Highway Safety Office, Motorcycles (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“Approved helmets include DOT (FMVSS 218 Certified), CSPM, SNELL, and SIRC”“The driver and passenger of an autocycle must wear helmets UNLESS the autocycle is completely surrounded”“Always ride with a current motorcycle license”“The Class M Motorcycle Operator License is not required for the operation of an autocycle”
- NHTSA, Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2015-2024 files (US, four states, Shelby County, TN) (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“FARS is a nationwide census providing NHTSA, Congress and the American public yearly data regarding fatal injuries suffered in motor vehicle traffic crashes”
- Ala. Code § 32-5A-245, headgear and shoes required for motorcycle riders (Alabama Legislature) (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“No person shall operate or ride upon a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle unless he or she is wearing protective headgear”“No person shall operate or ride upon a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle unless he or she is wearing shoes”“This section shall not apply to persons riding within an enclosed cab”“This section does not apply to the operator of an autocycle”“No person shall knowingly permit or allow any juvenile for whom he or she is a parent or guardian to operate or ride upon a motorcycle”
- Ala. Code § 32-5A-242, operating motorcycles on roadways laned for traffic (Alabama Legislature) (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane”“Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane”“No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles”
- 47 O.S. § 12-609, motorcycle equipment and helmets for riders under 18 (formerly § 40-105; Oklahoma State Courts Network) (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“No person under eighteen (18) years of age shall operate or ride upon any motorcycle unless such person is properly wearing a crash helmet”“properly wearing a crash helmet of a type which complies with standards established by 49 C.F.R., Section 571.218”“A windshield of sufficient quality, size and thickness to protect the operator from foreign objects”“Two rearview mirrors, containing a reflection surface of not less than three (3) inches in diameter”
- S.C. Code Ann. Title 56, Chapter 5, §§ 56-5-3640, 56-5-3660 (South Carolina Legislature) (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of twenty-one to operate or ride upon a two-wheeled motorized vehicle unless he wears a protective helmet”“Such a helmet must be equipped with either a neck or chin strap and be reflectorized on both sides thereof”“All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane and no motor vehicle shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of a lane”“No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic, or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles”
Unofficial copies come from a legal publisher, not the state. They can lag the current code, so check the official code before relying on a date or amount.
Page last updated November 9, 2026. Attorney review pending. General information, not legal advice. Fees, hours and rules change; confirm on the official page. How we source.
Questions
What should you do after a motorcycle accident?
Call 911 and get checked even if you walked away, then record what you can: the officer and report number, photos of the scene, road, vehicles and plates, your bike and gear including the helmet, and witness names. The checklist below has the full list. See also what to do after a car accident.
Is a helmet required on a motorcycle?
It depends on the state. Tennessee requires one for every driver and passenger, [1] and Alabama says no person shall operate or ride on a motorcycle without protective headgear [4]. In Oklahoma the statute we read applies to riders under 18, [6] and in South Carolina to riders under 21 [7].
In what states can you ride a motorcycle with no helmet?
We cover four states. Of those, the helmet statutes we read apply to every rider in Tennessee and Alabama, only to riders under 18 in Oklahoma, and only to riders under 21 in South Carolina. For other states see that state's code. Exceptions exist, such as enclosed cabs and autocycles; read the sections above.
What is the Alabama motorcycle helmet law?
Alabama law bars operating or riding a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle without protective headgear that meets the standards under § 32-12-41, with exceptions for enclosed cabs and autocycle operators [4]. Parents and guardians may not knowingly allow a juvenile to ride without a helmet [4].
Is lane splitting legal?
Alabama and South Carolina both prohibit operating a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles [5] [7]. Both also say motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane. We did not read Tennessee's or Oklahoma's lane statutes.
Is it legal to have only one mirror on a motorcycle in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma's § 12-609 requires motorcycles to be equipped with two rearview mirrors, one on each side, with a reflection surface of at least three inches in diameter [6]. Other states have their own equipment rules that we did not read.
How many motorcycle deaths per year are there?
NHTSA's FARS counts 56,262 motorcyclist deaths (riders and passengers) in the US from 2015 to 2024, between 5,026 (2015) and 6,251 (2022) a year, about 14% of all traffic deaths [3]. Counts are fatal crashes only; the table below gives Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma and South Carolina.
Is a helmet required in Tennessee?
Yes. Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-302 requires the driver and any passenger of a motorcycle, motorized bicycle or motorscooter to wear a helmet that meets federal standard 49 CFR 571.218, or, for riders 21 or older, one that meets the section's alternative requirements and carries a compliance label [1].
Who is exempt from the Tennessee helmet requirement?
The section lists people in an enclosed cab, fully enclosed autocycles, golf carts, riders in a parade at no more than 30 mph who are 18 or older, and certain funeral processions, memorial rides and body escort details with age, speed and distance limits [1].
How many motorcyclists die in Memphis-area crashes?
NHTSA's FARS counts 180 motorcyclist deaths (rider or passenger) in Shelby County from 2015 to 2024, about 9% of all traffic deaths, between 6 and 24 a year.
How long do you have to file after a motorcycle crash?
Each state sets its own deadline, with exceptions. Tennessee's usual deadline for a personal injury lawsuit is one year (Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104); see the Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma and South Carolina pages. General information, not legal advice.
CrashFirst is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. This checklist is general information. Every situation is different.
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