Lane splitting on a motorcycle – riding alongside other vehicles between lanes of traffic – is a controversial practice. Some say it increases the likelihood of an accident, while others say a motorcyclist avoids certain accidents and injuries by lane splitting.
What’s important for motorcyclists in Kentucky to know is that lane splitting is not illegal in Kentucky. If you are injured during an accident while lane splitting, it should have no bearing on an insurance claim.
If you were lane splitting when you got into a motorcycle accident in Kentucky, the motorcycle accident lawyers at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer will stand up for your right to compensation. Our experienced legal team provides the Kentucky Courage you need to fight for all of the compensation you deserve after a motorcycle accident caused by another motorist.
Contact us today for a free consultation about your motorcycle accident claim.
What Is Lane Splitting on a Motorcycle?
A motorcycle rider is lane-splitting when he or she rides between two vehicles or lines of traffic headed in the same direction. Riders may split lanes to get ahead of slow-moving or stalled traffic. The maneuver is sometimes called lane filtering when traffic is stopped.
Splitting lanes on a motorcycle might mean riding along the dotted line separating two lanes on a multilane highway, for example. This provides two more terms for the practice: white-lining or stripe-riding.
Is It Legal for Motorcycles to Split Lanes in Kentucky?
There is no state law in Kentucky that expressly bars lane splitting. But the Kentucky Motorcycle Operators Manual published by the Kentucky State Police refers to lane sharing and says it is usually prohibited:
Cars and motorcycles need a full lane to operate safely. Lane sharing is usually prohibited. Riding between rows of stopped or moving cars in the same lane can leave you vulnerable to the unexpected. A hand could come out of a window; a door could open; a car could turn suddenly. Discourage lane sharing by others.
A police officer may pull over a motorcyclist over for lane splitting in some situations. If an officer thinks a motorcyclist is operating their bike in an unsafe manner, the officer has the legal authority to issue a citation.
Only California and Utah expressly permit motorcycle lane splitting. California adopted lane splitting in 2016. Utah’s law addressing “lane filtering” went into effect in 2019.
Motorcycle safety organizations and academics continue to debate lane splitting. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), which is a part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), supports lane splitting. A study by the Safe Transportation Research & Education Center at the University of California Berkeley also supports lane splitting.
A report by the Pew Charitable Trusts cites arguments on both sides of the issue.
Advantages a motorcyclist may achieve by lane splitting include:
- Allowing the rider to position themselves for maximum visibility to other motorists while maintaining safety and control of the traffic situation
- Avoiding being rear-ended by distracted drivers in stop-and-go traffic
- Avoiding road surface hazards, other vehicles, or other mobile hazards
- Maximizing the motorcyclist’s view of the road and traffic ahead
- Maintaining an escape route for motorcyclists who could otherwise be trapped in traffic or struck from behind
According to the Pew report, the AAA auto club opposes lane splitting and has helped defeat legislation to allow it in Georgia, Hawaii, and Texas. “Motorists who don’t expect to be passed by a vehicle traveling between lanes can side-swipe a motorcycle or turn into its path,” Richard Romer, AAA’s state relations manager, told Pew.
The Governors Highway Safety Association, which represents state highway safety departments, has not taken a formal position on lane-splitting. But Richard Retting, a traffic safety consultant to the GHSA, told Pew it is “a very risky activity.”
Injuries in Motorcycle Lane-Splitting Accidents
Because motorcyclists have little protection from the impact of a collision, injuries can be severe and their severity increases with the speed of the motorcycle. A motorcyclist is also subjected to multiple impacts in an accident, as the biker hits the pavement or the motorcycle falls onto the rider.
Some of the common injuries seen in lane-splitting accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Fractured arms, legs, wrists, and ankles
- Broken ribs
- Blunt force trauma, including internal organ injury
- Deep road rash scrapes and bruising
If a collision does occur while lane splitting, the motorcycle is likely to be moving slowly. “They (motorcyclists) were considerably less likely to suffer a head injury, torso injury, extremity injury, and fatal injury than riders who were not lane-splitting,” the UC-Berkeley study says.
Liability and Motorcycle Lane Splitting
Because there is no law, an insurance company has substantial room to blame the injured rider for the accident or try to get out of paying a claim if a motorcyclist was lane-splitting at the time of an accident.
You can protect your right to compensation after a motorcycle accident that was someone else’s fault by engaging an experienced motorcycle accident attorney. At Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, we would investigate and analyze the facts on your behalf. The accident report filed by police is just the starting point for evidence we would collect to demonstrate that another driver was at fault for your injuries.
In cases in which another driver acted illegally or irresponsibly, such as by not properly checking blind spots before changing lanes, they may be held liable.
Each motorcycle accident case is different. But if your claim has been denied or you have been offered an inadequate settlement, you should consult with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney who has the Kentucky Courage to stand up to big insurers.
Talk To A Kentucky Motorcycle Accident Attorney Now
If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident that occurred while you were lane splitting, you need an attorney who will protect your rights. Because Kentucky has no specific law about lane splitting, some insurers will declare an injured lane-splitting motorcyclist at fault simply to save money. At Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, we’ll get the facts and argue the true merit of your claim.
Our Kentucky motorcycle accident lawyers understand how complicated motorcycle accidents can be. We also know how to present the proper evidence that will prove another party’s negligence in a motorcycle accident. Contact us now at (877) 809-5352 or online for your free legal consultation about moving forward with your motorcycle accident claim.
