On Behalf of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa | July 2, 2024 | Motorcycle Accidents
While California has famously made lane-splitting legal, the jury is still out on its safety, and Florida isn’t buying in. It is illegal for motorcyclists in Florida to ride beside other vehicles as a means of sharing their lanes with them. When you’re on your bike, you’re extremely vulnerable to the negligence of the motorists all around you, and if you suffer an injury, your losses are likely to be extensive. If another driver leaves you injured in a motorcycle accident, don’t wait to consult with an experienced Port St. Lucie motorcycle accident attorney.
Lane Splitting
Lane splitting refers to when a motorcyclist drives between two vehicles – that may be stopped or moving slowly – in order to pass them. In the process, the motorcyclist shares a bit of each lane with both vehicles. Lane splitting can help move traffic along, but in the State of Florida, drivers aren’t expecting to share their lanes, which puts motorcyclists at even greater risk, and those who embrace the practice can also be hit with moving violations.
Trooper Steve Answers Burning Traffic Questions
A Florida news outlet has a segment in which a traffic safety expert – Trooper Steve – addresses questions about staying safe on our roads, and he has this to say about lane splitting: Motorcycles and vehicles are treated as equals in Florida, meaning there are no exceptions in any moving traffic laws that allow motorcycles to do things that a car would not. In other words, if the law doesn’t allow you to do it in a car, you’re not allowed to do it on your bike, and this includes lane splitting.
When You’re on Your Bike
Southern Florida is an undeniably beautiful area to explore on your bike, but when you ride, you’re more vulnerable to the negligence of other drivers, which makes prioritizing your safety critical. Keep in mind that lane splitting is against the law, and be on the lookout for driver negligence in all the following dangerous forms:
- Distraction – Distracted drivers are less likely to see motorcyclists in their midst, which increases the risk that motorcycle accidents will happen.
- Excess Speed – When a motorist exceeds the speed limit or drives too fast in relation to the road’s condition, they allow themselves less time to react safely to motorcyclists and increase their stopping distances, both of which are risk factors.
- Impairment – Drunk drivers frequently cause fatal motorcycle accidents, and they are out there on our roads.
- Exhaustion – Drowsy drivers experience impairments that are similar to those that drunk drivers suffer, and the results can prove deadly.
An Experienced Port St. Lucie Motorcycle Accident Attorney Is Standing By to Help
If you ride, staying safe out there is critical, and if you’re injured by another driver’s negligence, the formidable motorcycle accident attorneys at Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa – proudly serving Port St. Lucie – are committed to fiercely advocating for fair compensation that covers your complete losses and supports your fullest recovery. Learn more about what we can do to help you by contacting us online or calling 561-478-2500 today.
Gerald A. Rosenthal
Retired
Since opening the firm now known as Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa more than 40 years ago, Gerald A. Rosenthal has been a dedicated champion of the everyday hero – police officers, firefighters, teachers, nurses, construction workers, farm workers, and more. Passionate about preserving the civil rights of laborers, he has fought tirelessly against giant insurance companies who deny the injured workers their benefits. It’s not just the lawsuit Rosenthal fights to win – he is driven by the opportunity to restore his client’s quality of life.
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