If you or someone you care about is injured in a motorcycle accident, contact Anastopoulo Law Firm right away. This also may occur if the bike gets laid down and their leg is pinned underneath it as skids. For more than 35 years, our motorcycle accident lawyers in Lexington, SC have faithfully served the injured throughout South Carolina, including victims of motorcycle collisions. Is lane splitting safe? He will also discuss your strategy for getting the settlement you deserve. In 2013, approximately 4, 400 motorcyclists were killed in accidents across the United States, while over 88, 000 motorcyclists were injured. Lane splitting also means fewer vehicles are clogging up the road. During your free consultation, we will discuss the details of your potential case, the legal process and answer any questions you may have. If you're a motorcyclist in South Carolina, here's what you need to know about lane splitting, its risks, and how a lane-splitting accident may affect your right to recovery. It's important to know what steps to take should a motorcycle accident occur. Mobility devices like wheelchairs, scooters and crutches. Utah and Hawaii have also introduced laws that grant motorcycle riders special privileges during high traffic situations allowing them to filter between lanes or pass on the shoulder to get around the backups. Motorcycle Lane Splitting: Is It Legal in Your State. Not allowing a motorcyclist full use of their lane. All of these scenarios involve risks, and if a rider is injured due to another person's unsafe or inattentive driving, then the rider deserves to be compensated for injuries.
E., lane splitting) on multiple-lane roads (such as interstate highways) slightly reduces crash frequency compared with staying within the lane and moving with other traffic. Mental health injuries. As such, you would benefit greatly by consulting with knowledgeable legal counsel. 51) that authorized the state Highway Patrol to develop guidelines for legal lane splitting. In the meantime, do not say anything that might be used against you. Is lane splitting legal in ga. By definition, lane splitting is the operation of a motorcycle between marked traffic lanes traveling in the same direction —essentially, lane splitting is driving along the dotted lines that mark where the lane ends. Although lane splitting offers a safer alternative for riders during heavy traffic, it can also spell trouble when vehicle drivers don't look properly before switching lanes.
Motorcycles do not have nearly as many safety protections as cars and trucks do, such as airbags or seat belts. Charleston Motorcycle Accident Lawyers. Lane-splitting safety tips. Attorney Brian Steed Tatum has years of experience in helping North Carolina's and South Carolina's injured motorcycle riders and their families with the devastating consequences of motorcycle accidents. Spinal cord injuries: If a motorcycle accident spinal cord injury occurs, it can lead to paralysis. In fact, 66% of motorcycle accident victims involved in a fatal crash were not wearing a helmet, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (2017).
Both Oregon and Washington are considering bills that would legalize lane splitting. Bob rides a 2006 Heritage Softail and Sean rides a 2019 Sport Glide. Contact Kassel McVey Today. Motorcyclists may lane-split providing that the motorcyclist does not exceed a maximum speed of 45 miles per hour and no more than 15 miles-per-hour more than the surrounding traffic. Trust our team to handle your motorcycle accident claim and communicate with the insurance company. Drive defensively, always keeping an eye out for distracted drivers. The sooner you act, the sooner we can recover damages such as medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and more. Most riders split lanes on the highway when traffic slows, but some riders also split lanes in order to filter to the front of traffic at a stoplight. Category 5: Usually enforced by citation – These are states and cities where, for a variety of reasons usually related to local customs, outlooks and lack of practice, lane-filtering will usually result in a citation being issued to the rider. A manufacturer, designer, or distributor can be liable for damages if a motorcycle defect or faulty part, like broken brakes, caused the accident and injuries. Is lane splitting legal in nc. Motorcycle crashes can result in a wide range of injuries, spanning the spectrum from mild to severe. For more safety tips, contact the motorcycle accident lawyers at your trusted Charleston law firm!
Unsafe road conditions: Potholes and debris are particularly hazardous to motorcycle riders. Motorcycles are treated like any other motor vehicle in that they are entitled to the full use of a lane. Understanding how motorcycles operate on the road and how the law applies to motorcycles is necessary to properly protect and defend motorcycle accident victims. Laws that Apply to Motorcycle Accident Claims. For instance, driving the speed limit in a heavy storm or on icy roads could still result in a deadly accident. Myrtle Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer. The client suffered severe neck injury due to a rear-end collision.
Avoid splitting next to large vehicles (18-wheelers, motorhomes, etc. Bill AB 51 was enacted to officially make lane splitting legal and sanctioned in California. Is lane splitting legal in sc.gc.ca. Unlike closed vehicles, motorcyclists are exposed to far greater risk on the road due to distracted drivers, and to help mitigate some of that risk, you'll want to. When you contact a motorcycle accident attorney at Tippens & Zurosky, they will advocate for you in all dealings with your insurance company. After any motorcycle accident, you should always take steps to preserve evidence that can help your claim against the insurance company and the other driver, here are a few things you need to document: Take photos of all of the involved motor vehicles, using your cell phone.
Emotional pain and suffering. All rights reserved. Riders are required to ride only on the permanent and regular seat attached to the bike and may not carry another person. Driving too fast for conditions.
You don't have to settle for their lowball offers. If a motorcyclist is rear-ended, even at a low speed, the motorcyclist will likely be seriously injured or even killed. In these jurisdictions, you can filter without worry and generally filter past LEOs without anything happening. They can travel the same roadways, but must also obey the same traffic laws. Whiplash: Whiplash occurs due to the back-and-forth movement of the neck during impact. This petition is an attempt to change this law.
69 percent of lane-splitting motorcyclists were exceeding the traffic speed by 15 mph or less speed differentials up to 15 mph were not associated with changes in the frequency of injury. Get Important Legal Help After a Charleston Motorcycle or Moped Accident. If you were injured in an accident caused by a negligent driver or some other party, you may be eligible to seek financial compensation to tend to your wounds and other damages. Source: SC Code Article 29 – Motorcyclists; Rights and Duties Thereof). North Carolina Motorcycle Laws. Motorcycles must have a working rearview mirror. You also need to have the skills and experience to properly asses and fight for the true value and extent of your damages. 5 Issued by the California Highway Patrol, California Motorcycle Safety Program in 2013, the guidelines were rescinded in 2014 for administrative reasons. This can include potholes, puddles, oil slicks, and other similar issues. Statistics show that in South Carolina, nearly five motorcycle accidents occur on a daily basis. This is regarded by many countries to be the smartest method of motorcycle riding in traffic.