Post 12 of this series on changes in Tennessee statutory law of interest to tort lawyers addresses a new law that imposes lighting requirements on bicycles.
Here is the new code section, which replaces existing section (a) of T.C.A. Sec. 55-8-177:
(a) Every bicycle, when in use at nighttime, shall be equipped with a lamp on the
front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet (500′) to the front and either a red reflector or a lamp emitting a red light which shall be visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet (500′) to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle.
This has obvious implications for those representing bicyclists in nighttime crashes or defending motorists who have collided with bicyclists at night.
Clink on the link to read Public Acts 2009, Public Chapter 397. Click on the Legislation 2009 Category to see additional changes to Tennessee statutory law in 2009.