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What should I know about lane splitting?

Motorcycle Accidents

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Lane splitting is when you drive between other vehicles on the road. This is in contrast to following other vehicles.

You can do it when the other traffic is moving or sitting still. It is legal in California.

Other states

Be aware that not every state allows lane splitting. If you are driving out of California, it is your responsibility to know the law in the state in which you are traveling. If you lane split in a state where it is illegal, you will subject yourself to fines and penalties.

Legal but rules

While lane splitting is legal in California, there are still rules concerning the practice. Be aware that the practice in general can be risky. If other drivers do not know you are there, it puts you at risk for an accident. In addition, you have to be more alert when doing it. You cannot break other laws when lane splitting. For example, you still must obey speed limits. In fact, speeding could increase your chances of a crash and lead to more serious injuries if you do wreck.

Make sure also that the roadway is conducive to doing it. If it is narrow, it may not be smart to try to do it. Also, stick to the safest paths when lane splitting. This will usually be the far left lanes on the road. Just remember that lane splitting is not driving on the shoulder. This is still an illegal practice.

While you cannot completely protect yourself against other drivers, you can make sure that you pay attention and practice lane splitting as safely as possible.

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Getting into a car accident is always upsetting. It becomes even less pleasant when the impact causes injury.

Insurance covers medical bills under such circumstances. While the law demands Californians carry auto insurance, some drivers do not. Acquiring money to pay medical bills triggered by these scofflaws requires particular attention.

How to handle getting hit by an uninsured driver in California

Immediately report the accident to the police and your insurance provider. Mention to both that the other individual is on the road illegally. Repair the vehicle if it remains salvageable.

Seek medical care, even if you do not immediately feel pain or discomfort. It may be a matter of time before the symptoms of injury surface. Be mindful of how you treat your physical condition after the medical consult.

Save all paperwork generated throughout the process.

Directly after impact, you might experience an inclination to admit fault. Refrain from statements suggesting guilt, even benign ones. Such words may create complications if you choose to sue.

When to file suit against an uninsured driver in California

The state of California may impose penalties against the responsible driver. Unfortunately, these punishments never include the hurt party receiving compensation. For that, the injured party must file a lawsuit within two years of the accident. Weigh whether taking your grievance to a judge remains practical. If the driver lacks funds, suing may cost more than is possible to gain.

It should not matter whether the person responsible for your situation carries insurance. You deserve restitution either way. Nonetheless, your response depends heavily on this variable.

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The California Highway Patrol partners with a private contractor to bring the public the Motorcycle Training Course. The MTC is a mandatory requirement for anyone under the age of 21 who wishes to get a motorcycle endorsement on his or her license.

But those over 21 can also take the course, and according to the CHP, taking the course is a recommendation for everyone seeking to secure an endorsement.

The course

The MTC provides 10 hours of riding instruction and five hours of classroom instruction. It covers a range of skills and important information that can make anyone a better and safer rider.

The recommendation

The CHP recommends everyone take the course even if they are not required by the law to do so. Officials have been running the program since 1987, and they believe it is highly beneficial. They also say it saves lives and will help make you a better rider.

The CHP mentions that taking the course could help you to lower your insurance rates, and it will allow you to skip the riding skills test when you go to get your endorsement at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

The agency also suggests that completing this education and skills training can give you and those who love you peace of mind that you will be safer when you hit the road.

Taking the course is completely up to you if you are over the age of 21. However, it is a good idea to at least consider taking it because you can learn many skills and tips that can keep you safer on the road and enable you to learn how to avoid common situations that could lead to serious accidents.

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While on your motorcycle, you may feel free and full of energy. When a truck pulls up close behind you, that feeling could turn to dread.

Sharing the road with large vehicles like trucks can seem intimidating, especially when they drive recklessly and put you in danger of an accident.

Sudden turns or swerves

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, one way that truckers may use the size of their vehicle to their advantage is by turning or entering a road suddenly.

Since your motorcycle will likely not endanger their physical safety if you crash into them, they do not worry as much about smaller vehicles around them. They may also forget to signal with their blinkers or show that they want to change lanes.

Increase in speed

Since trucks have more wheels and can reach a greater top speed, it is often easier to travel faster in one. However, when a trucker wants to speed, this means that they could accidentally sideswipe vehicles around them or make people fall off their motorcycles by hitting them.

The faster a vehicle goes, the harder it is to react in time to a sudden threat. Speeding can limit how much reaction time a trucker has to stop before hitting someone else.

Forgetting to check blind spots

Reckless driving can often happen when a trucker forgets to check the sides and back of their vehicle. They may assume everyone should get out of their path no matter what, instead of trying to avoid a collision by being a defensive driver.

Dealing with the effects of a truck accident can feel overwhelming, especially when you are on a motorcycle.

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When you want to feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your face, you may choose to take your motorcycle out for a ride. One aspect you may not immediately think about while riding is how a helmet can impact the results of a motorcycle accident.

Learning about the importance of helmets and how larger vehicles can harm you is important if you are in a crash.

Avoiding brain injuries

According to BMC Public Health, other vehicles with drivers who sit further up may not be aware of you as you both travel on the road. Since motorcycles are smaller and easier to miss, a driver may open their parked car door into your vehicle as you drive along the road.

A truck can also leave you struggling to stay upright because of wind gusts coming off the main body of it on busy highways. Wearing a helmet means that even if someone knocks you off your motorcycle, you can still protect your head and neck.

Staying vigilant

Trying to avoid minor injuries by wearing reflective gear and close-fitting pants can help you as you drive along. Part of this attention to safety includes wearing a helmet. Staying aware of the possible dangers of riding a motorcycle with drivers who may drive recklessly around you can help you understand what to do in an emergency.

Remembering to wear your helmet and choosing one that fits your head shape and size is important. The more securely it fits on your head, the more protection it gives you in the event of a motorcycle crash.

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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a nonprofit group that gathers statistics about injuries and fatalities among motorcycle riders.

The IIHS found that in 1975, riders aged 29 and younger represented 80 % of all motorcycle fatalities. Is this still the case?

A little background

Several groups compile national statistics about motorcycle crashes, especially those that result in fatalities. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of motorcycle fatalities is rising. In 2016, there were 5,286 such deaths, which represented 14% of all highway fatalities, an increase of 5% over 2015, and more than double the number of motorcycle-related deaths from 1995.

A different day

Although younger riders represented the group with the highest number of motorcycle-related fatalities in 1975, motorcyclists aged 50 and older suffer the most fatalities today. This group is a large part of the population; 76 million people were born between 1946 and 1964 in the United States. Older riders loved motorcycles when they were young. Then they married, raised families and focused on their careers. Now many are in retirement. Many have disposable income, and at this point in their lives are able to renew their love affair with motorcycles.

A more vulnerable age

All motorcycle riders are prone to becoming dehydrated and overheated, but older riders are more vulnerable to such issues. Their balance has changed over the years and their grip strength is less than it once was. Other physiological changes include worsening vision and slower reflexes. Motorcycle crashes can result in catastrophic injuries. However, along with a good helmet and other protective gear, taking classes to brush up on their skills helps to keep older riders from becoming a statistic.

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Riding your motorcycle under a blue sky on an open highway may be one of your favorite hobbies. You may not know all the ways that trucks or other large vehicles typically influence crashes.

Learning about the most common influences on motorcycle accidents can help you if you are in one.

Improper turns

According to the United States Department of Transportation, vehicles that make a left turn without looking can ram into a motorcycle going straight and cause serious bodily harm. Even if the motorcyclist had on a helmet and other protective gear, the accident can cause far more damage to the motorcyclist than to the driver in the vehicle.

Many truckers may make these turns while rushing to make it to their next stop on time. Since these large vehicles cannot stop quickly if there is an obstacle in the road, it puts motorcyclists at greater risk.

Lack of awareness

Drivers need to be more vigilant about checking their mirrors for approaching motorcycles, due to the motorcycle’s smaller size. If a driver is texting or looking somewhere other than the road, then he or she may sideswipe a motorcycle without warning.

People may also drive too closely to a motorcycle, which can cause a crash if you need to stop suddenly.

Speeding

While tailgating is one form of aggressive driving larger vehicles may do, speeding can also make motorcyclists nervous. Since most vehicles with four wheels can travel faster than motorcycles, cars must be careful to not cut you off in the middle of a lane or swerve wildly in front of you.

Taking into account all of these factors and actions can help motorcyclists while on the road.

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California has a mandatory duty of care law for all drivers on the road. Every motorist is responsible for driving with care and caution for other motorists on the road – including performing safe U-turns. The driver making a U-turn does not hold the legal right of way. So if he or she fails to yield as required, a serious accident can occur. If you’ve been a victim of a U-turn accident, contact an auto accident lawyer in Sacramento immediately for help. You are entitled to compensation due to someone else’s negligence.

California U-Turn Laws

Law’s regarding U-turns depend if the turn was done in a residential district, a business district or neither.

In a business district, no one is allowed to make a U-turn except at an intersection or on a divided highway where an opening has been provided. U-turn’s are permitted in a residential district whenever no other cars are approaching yours within 200 feet. This rule does not apply at an intersection controlled by a stop sign or stop light. A residential district is one in which there are at least 16 homes or businesses within a quarter mile. If you are neither in a business district or residential district, the law says you may make a U-turn as long as you have an unobstructed view of the road for 200 feet. This is true even if you cross over double yellow lines as long as those lines are not two or more feet across. U-turn laws can get tricky, especially knowing which district you are in. Contact an attorney immediately for advice, as every case is different.

What to Do After a U-Turn Accident

Those who make illegal or unsafe U-turn’s not only put their lives at risk but also others on the road. If someone fails to yield for oncoming traffic, a side-impact collision can occur, resulting in spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, broken bones and other internal injuries that could have other repercussions like high medical bills and lost wages. If you’ve been involved in a car accident because of someone else’s negligent u-turn, seek medical attention first and then contact an experienced auto accident lawyer in Sacramento immediately. You or your loved one may be entitled to seek compensation for all damages incurred in such an accident.

U-Turns and Motorcycles

If you a motorcyclist, getting struck by a vehicle in a U-turn accident can cause severe injuries. Motorcyclists are already putting their lives at higher risk of catastrophic accidents, but u-turns increase the likelihood of devastating accidents. Motorcycle u-turn accidents sometimes occur because a rider tries to take a turn too fast and winds up crossing another lane of traffic or driving off the road. A rider could also lose control by braking too hard. If a motorcyclist has been negligent in making a U-turn, accidents can occur. Contact an auto accident lawyer in Sacramento immediately.

Wrong Way Car Accident

Wrong-way accidents happen if a car travels into a lane of oncoming traffic or drives the wrong way down a one-way street. On average, about 360 lives are lost each year in about 260 fatal wrong-way collisions. Often, these collisions are head-on or front-end collision and can be extremely deadly. If you or a loved one has been injured in a wrong-way accident, contact an auto accident lawyer in Sacramento immediately for legal representation.

These types of accidents are usually a result of negligent behavior. Sometimes a driver could be lost, tired or drunk. In most cases, wrong-way accidents have the following causes:

  • Drunk driving or influence of other drugs. We hear it over and over again how dangerous drunk driving is. Drugs and alcohol can cause confusion and result in a driver blacking out or misinterpreting signs.
  • Elderly drivers suffering from mental illnesses. It is important all drivers on the road are mentally stable. However, some drivers who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, for instance, can lose the cognitive function to understand or obey signs.
  • Suicidal drivers. Although these may be rare, a person who decides to end his or her life on the road doesn’t usually care for others on the road can, therefore, cause devastating collisions.
  • Medical emergencies. Sometimes, patients who haven’t been treated properly from traumatic brain injuries or untreated injuries can be confused by road signs.
  • Poorly constructed road signs. A missing sign or a poorly placed sign can cause confusion for perfectly stable and mentally sound drivers but can also have severe repercussions on ongoing traffic. In these instances, it’s possible the government entity is responsible for the crash.
  • These accidents, for the most part, could have been prevented. It’s important that if you’ve been a victim of a wrong-way accident, you contact an attorney who can help with your case specifically and get you the compensation you deserve.

Call a Car Accident Lawyer in Sacramento Immediately If You’ve Suffered Injuries from a Car Accident

With over 20 years of experience helping victims get the justice they deserve, we have the resources, dedication, and compassion to get you the compensation you deserve during this difficult time in your life.

Call (916) 357-6767 today for a free consultation with our auto accident lawyer in Sacramento regarding your auto accident injury case.

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A fatal crash between a motorcyclist and another vehicle has reopened the debate on lane splitting, and how the controversial act by motorcyclists can be dangerous.

Lane splitting is the act of driving in between two lanes by a motorcyclist. It allows them to coast through traffic easily, but it is obviously dangerous. In this particular accident, the motorcyclist was lane splitting near a slower lane of traffic when the motorcyclist collided with the rear of another vehicle. The motorcyclist suffered fatal injuries in the crash on US 101 in Palo Alto, California.

Little else is known about the crash, though the investigation into the accident is ongoing. Drugs and alcohol don’t appear to be a factor in the wreck, though if negligence was a part of the crash, it will soon be established by the police.

The investigation into any motor vehicle accident carries a lot of weight when it comes to determining liability. If you have been in an accident, be patient with the police as they work through all of the details to make a decision. Also, remember that new evidence that is revealed after the investigation is complete can lead to an alteration of the final report on the crash.

Ultimately though, the unfortunate lesson in this story is that when motorcyclists are involved in a crash, they often suffer serious or fatal injuries. Their vehicles inherently offer less protection than any other vehicle out there. So if you are near a motorcyclist on the road, be as careful as you can be.

Source: KRON, “Lane splitting leads to fatal motorcycle crash on US 101,” Emily Kirschenheuter, Sept. 23, 2015