Is Lane Splitting Legal In Alabama? | Huntsville, AL

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Lane Splitting Accidents

Is Lane Splitting Legal in Alabama?

You may be tempted to use your vehicle’s size to your advantage and cut through traffic by riding alongside or between two rows of vehicles in the same lane. This could be dangerous. Some states permit this maneuver, also known as white lining or lane splitting. But if you are a Huntsville resident, you may wonder, “Is lane splitting legal in Alabama?” 

Nobody desires to be involved in a motorcycle lane-splitting collision. However, a negligent driver may leave you with no choice. You may be eligible for compensation if you have been injured in an accident caused by lane splitting. Call Petro Accident and Injury Attorney immediately, and we’ll evaluate your case and recommend the most effective route to obtain fair compensation.

Our lane-splitting accidents attorney in Hunstville will work on your behalf to make sense of the facts and build a solid motorcycle accident case. Act now before it’s too late. Speak to our personal injury law firm today!

Why do I need a Lane-Splitting Accident Attorney in Alabama?

Motorcycle rides can become fatal in an instant. Particularly, lane splitting puts motorcycle riders at risk for an accident. If you were involved in a motorcycle crash, you need competent legal representation to help you recover damages. Our Huntsville personal injury attorney can represent you.

At Petro Accident and Injury Attorney, we have the resources to pursue the best possible outcome for your lane-splitting accident claim and give you the individualized attention you require during difficult times. When you hire our law firm, you can expect us to:

  • Investigate and determine who was at fault for your motorcycle accident 
  • Collect and store evidence demonstrating that the other driver caused the collision
  • Compile a list of your losses and determine the maximum value of your injury claim
  • Consult leading specialists in Huntsville, Alabama, for assistance.
  • File insurance company claims and monitor lawsuit filing deadlines
  • Negotiate the maximum available compensation for your personal injury claim
  • When other parties act in bad faith, you must prepare and file a lawsuit to argue your motorcycle accident case in court

For more information about how our lane-splitting accident lawyer in Hunstville can assist you, please contact us by phone or online for an immediate case evaluation.

What is Lane Splitting?

 Is Lane Splitting Legal In Alabama?
Lane splitting occurs when a vehicle travels between car lanes on a multi-lane highway. Those who ride bicycles, motorized bikes, or motorcycles are typically the ones who can engage in this practice because their cycles are small enough to fit between cars in multi-lane traffic.

In Alabama, lane splitting is strictly prohibited. A motorcyclist may be issued a traffic citation for doing so. 

If you or a loved one were injured in lane-splitting accidents in Huntsville, it is always advisable to consult with an attorney to review your motorcycle accident case and determine your legal rights and options.

Lane Splitting for Motorcycles

According to the American Motorcyclist Association, the practice of splitting lanes by motorcyclists helps them avoid both accidents and stop-and-go traffic. The state of Alabama, on the other hand, believes that lane splitting is unsafe, even though motorcyclists all over the country want to take advantage of the practice during rush hour.

According to the Alabama Motorcycle Manual, riding between rows of stopped or moving cars in the same lane can expose you to the unexpected. Someone’s hand could reach through the window, a door could unexpectedly open, or a car could take an unexpected turn.

Alabama Law and Lane Splitting

The laws of Alabama prohibit lane splitting. The same laws apply to motorcycles and passenger vehicles. Motorcycles may occupy an entire lane without being impeded by other vehicles. They may pass slower-moving vehicles by utilizing the adjacent lane, but they are not permitted to ride or pass in the same lane as a motor vehicle or to lane share. However, motorcyclists may share a lane with other motorcyclists.

Section 32-5A-242(c) of the Alabama Motorcycle Law prohibits operating a motorcycle between traffic lanes or between two adjacent lines of vehicles. The only exception is if the rider is a police officer performing official duties while riding between lanes.

In Alabama, a motorcyclist who causes an accident while illegally lane splitting may be liable for damages. Whether the motorcyclist was lane splitting safely or obeying the speed limit is irrelevant. If they were riding between lanes, they violated the law.

Common Injuries in Huntsville Lane Splitting Accidents

Lane splitting can catch motorists off guard and puts motorcyclists at risk of being struck by a lane-changing vehicle. Accidents caused by lane splitting can result in severe injuries, including

  • Broken bones
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Organ damage
  • Head injuries
  • Disfigurement
  • Road rash
  • Catastrophic injury 
  • Traumatic brain injury 
  • Brain injury 
  • Paralysis 
  • Burns 
  • Wrongful death 

In a personal injury lawsuit resulting from a lane-splitting accident, you may be able to recover compensation with the help of a lane-splitting accident lawyer in Hunstville, AL.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident

An accident involving a motorcycle can be fatal regardless of whether or not the rider was lane splitting or sharing the lane with another motorcyclist. If you are involved in a crash, there are a few crucial steps that you need to take, including the following:

  1. Make sure to check on the condition of everyone involved.
  2. Call 911. Even if you don’t require medical attention, you still need to file a report with the local authorities.
  3. Get the other driver’s contact information, insurance company information, and license plate number as soon as possible after an accident.
  4. Obtain a complete checkup from your doctor as soon as you can.
  5. Inform your insurance company of the situation.
  6. Seek legal advice from Huntsville lane splitting accidents lawyer at Petro Accident and Injury Attorney 

Who Is At Fault For a Lane Splitting Accident?

Due to the proximity of motorcyclists to cars when they split lanes, the limited space the vehicles have for maneuvering, and the fact that drivers do not always anticipate a motorcyclist passing them in slowed or stopped traffic, lane splitting is viewed as dangerous by several individuals.

If an accident occurs while a motorcyclist is lane splitting, investigators and insurance adjusters will likely determine that the motorcyclist is at fault. If a motorcyclist’s negligence leads to an accident, the rider is typically unable to receive compensation for damages.

However, if a motorcyclist can demonstrate that another driver contributed to the accident, they may be compensated in part or full for injuries and property damage sustained in the crash. 

If you are confused about the laws that apply to your motorcycle accident case and wonder who may be at fault, it is highly recommended to seek legal advice from a Huntsville lane-splitting accident attorney.

Limitations on Huntsville Lane Splitting Accident Claims

After a motorcycle collision, you have only two years to file a motorcycle accident claim for personal injuries. Also, Alabama is a contributory negligence state. This means that even if you were partially at fault for the accident, you could not recover damages from the negligent driver.

With such strict fault laws, a motorcycle accident victim of a motorcycle lane-splitting accident faces a difficult legal battle. And they should not engage in this conflict without the assistance of a lane splitting accidents attorney in Hunstville, AL.

Compensation Claims for Huntsville Lane Splitting Accidents

If you were involved in a motorcycle crash in Huntsville, Alabama, our lane-splitting lawyer could assist you in pursuing the compensation you require and deserve.

You may be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages, which may include

  • Property damages
  • Medical bills 
  • Future medical expenses 
  • Lost wages
  • Pain & suffering
  • Wrongful death
  • Punitive damages from reckless driving 
  • Any out-of-pocket expenses 

Call our Huntsville Lane Splitting Accidents Attorney in Hunstville AL, Now!

There are numerous reasons why you could be involved in a lane-splitting collision. It could be because you were driving next to a motorcycle rider who collided with you while riding within the white lines. Or, you may have been injured while riding a motorcycle because the car next to you was obstructing your lane. 

Whether you are the car driver or the motorcyclist, you should contact the Huntsville personal injury law firm Petro Accident and Injury Attorney and allow us to assist you in determining who was at fault for the accident and the amount of compensation to which you are entitled. 

Don’t delay reaching out to us. It is essential to initiate the case as soon as possible to preserve the evidence and collect all the necessary documents for your defense. Contact us now!

Helping Injured Alabamians