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Could lane splitting lead to an accident?

On Behalf of | Mar 10, 2021 | Motor Vehicle Accidents, Personal Injury |

Commuting on a motorcycle comes with many benefits for owners. Parking a motorcycle might not be too difficult on many Georgia streets, and riding a bike could be enjoyable. Some motorcyclists appreciate the ability to speed up their trips with “lane splitting,” a dangerous practice. A rider may get away with lane splitting for a time, but the day may come when the action causes an accident. A lawsuit might follow.

Lane splitting and its troubles

Unlike some other states, lane splitting remains illegal in Georgia. Any motorcyclist who chooses to split or share lanes with a car could commit a moving violation. Passing or overtaking a vehicle via lane splitting might lead to more than a citation. The action may even factor into a negligence claim if an accident occurs.

Lane splitting could result in a motorcycle traveling through a narrow path, which is a path not intended for sharing space with a bike. A bike could come too close to a car and end up causing damage on contact. A motorcyclist could even suffer self-inflicted injuries from such a move.

A motorcycle might place itself in a blind spot and suffer a collision with a vehicle when a driver doesn’t see the bike. Both the motorcyclist and the driver could be at fault.

Injuries to motorcyclists and other issues

Even when a motorcyclist chooses to split lanes, the biker might not be the one entirely responsible for an accident. A driver in an SUV next to the bike might become angry and, in a road rage incident, step on the gas and hit the motorcycle. The aggressive action may lead to an injury claim against the driver.

What happens if the SUV hits the motorcycle, and then the motorcycle hits another vehicle? The third vehicle may make a claim against both the motorcyclist and the SUV. Frequently, an attorney would perform the required evidence-gathering to determine who may be at fault.

Anyone injured due to lane splitting could consult with a personal injury lawyer. The attorney might take steps to negotiate with an insurance company or to file a lawsuit.

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