While most acknowledged it was indeed legal, many car drivers expressed aggravation with the trend, with one going so far as to say that he wished he could “open his car door and knock the rider off his bike”…

With such hostility one has to wonder how many of the lane splitting accidents accidents are truly “accidents” at all.

Sadly, there are far too many people who do not respect the rights of motorcyclist  to be on the road with most adopting  preconceived ideas about the lawlessness of men and woman who ride bikes.  It would surprise them to learn that when it comes to car vs. motorcycle collisions, cars are more likely to be at fault than the motorcyclist for the wreck.

In regards to lane sharing itself, as stated before, it is certainly not illegal, especially in California which specifically acknowledges the trend.  According to California Law, if the cyclist is operating in a safe and prudent manner, he can split lanes with a car.  Although this may cause some consternation for automobile owners, they have to recognize the fact that the motorcyclist is not breaking the law in anyway if he is driving safely beside him in the lane.

What Statistics Say

The jury is still out in regards to the safety of lane splitting as the only real data we have on the subject is the Hurt Study which came out in the 1970’s.  According to this study, California was shown to have lower accident rates because of lane sharing.  That was of course, during a time period when California was less congested and cell phones weren’t even invented yet.  A new study would have to be made to see if this still rings true.

Benefits of lane sharing

Proponents of lane sharing say that it is a safe and advisable way to reduce congestion and keep traffic moving.  It is safer, they say, because the cyclist, instead of being stuck between two larger vehicles, is off to the side.  Lane splitting also clears up space that can be taken up by a full sized car.

Lane sharing also promotes the motorcycle as an alternative transportation source, a real boon since most bikes get terrific gas mileage and are easier to maintain than cars.

Despite all the benefits of lane sharing however, an occasional accident does occur in a situation where a motorcycle is occupying the same space as a passenger car.  In quite a few of these cases, the automobile driver will be at fault for failing to yield the right of way to the biker.

When You are Injured—Seek Legal Help

If you are a motorcycle rider who was injured in a lane sharing accident that was not your fault, don’t get discouraged. We can help you obtain the compensation you will need for your accident related injuries and medical costs. You can also acquire financial restitution for any income you lost during your recovery and rehabilitation period.

Lane splitting is legal and motorcyclists have rights in this regard.  Contact one of our expert motorcycle injury lawyers today and get the compensation you deserve when someone tramples over your rights and you are hurt in an accident.

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In California, it is required by law to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle.  It is still unclear to me how a motorcycle helmet would prevent a car from making an illegal u-turn or from getting struck by a drunk driver.  Many bikers who wear helmets are killed each year because the careless driver didn’t look or make an effort to pay attention.  1st5ive.com has an amazing video posted of a biker who was lane-splitting and was hit by a careless driver making an illegal lane change.

The other motorcycle topic mostly discussed in California is that of lane splitting.  This is when a biker shares a lane with other vehicles, or rides in between two lanes.  This is completely LEGAL!  For many reasons, California has correctly allowed bikers to lane split.  Some motorcycles have an air-cooling motor which requires the wind to keep the engines temperatures at reasonable settings.  In addition, one of the benefits of riding a motorcycle in California is to get out of traffic.

Check out this video. This is the exact reason why its important for all bikers to wear a helmet cam when they can. With the negative stigma that bikers have today, having video of what exactly happened will keep the at-fault party from lying!

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