Is Lane Splitting Legal in Alabama?
Motorcycle riders should always follow the rules of the road as per Alabama law. Traffic laws help keep everyone safe. Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable types of motorists on the road since there’s little to protect them from potential impacts, so these laws are especially important for their safety.
You have enough danger as it’s trying to avoid a motorcycle accident with countless negligent drivers on the road. With so much traffic, you may split lanes as a way to navigate congestion, but is lane-splitting legal in Alabama?
Lane-splitting laws in Alabama make this practice illegal, and if a lane-splitting accident is the result of your maneuver, you need to understand your legal rights. Hedge Copeland, P.C., is committed to client advocacy with personal injury services to help injured motorcyclists recover the compensation they deserve.
What Is Lane-Splitting?
Lane-splitting is when a motorcyclist rides between two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction at a higher speed, such as on a freeway or highway. This maneuver is done to reduce travel time and keep traffic flowing.
Are Lane-Splitting and Lane-Filtering the Same Thing?
While the terms are often used interchangeably, lane-splitting and lane filtering aren’t the same. The difference is that lane filtering involves riding a motorcycle between lanes of slow-moving cars or completely stopped traffic.
Lane filtering is conducted typically at traffic lights or where there’s heavy traffic congestion. Motorcyclists may not realize the dangers that lane-splitting and lane filtering can pose.
Now that you know the difference between lane-splitting and filtering, you might be wondering, is lane filtering legal in Alabama? In short, it’s not legal either.
Risks and Benefits of Lane-Splitting
The issue of lane-splitting is divided. Those who are pro-lane-splitting insist that it’s a practical and beneficial way to reduce congestion on busy roads, especially during peak travel times. Lane filtering is seen as a great way for motorcyclists to get around slow-moving traffic and help ease the wait time at traffic lights.
However, there are others opposed to lane-splitting due to safety concerns. A car driver may not be able to react in time when motorcyclists engage in lane-splitting. This could lead to a motorcycle crash with severe injuries. Even in stopped traffic, the practice of filtering could lead to a motorcycle accident claim if a distracted driver doesn’t notice the motorcyclist in time or tries to change lanes.
Is Lane-Splitting Legal in Alabama?
Is motorcycle lane-splitting legal in Alabama? Alabama law prohibits motorcycle riding between traffic lanes or adjacent lines of vehicles. Any motorcyclist caught illegally lane-splitting or engaging in filtering will likely receive a citation for violating state traffic laws. The only exception with lane-splitting in this state is for police officers when they’re performing their official duties.
Motorcyclists have the right to control an entire lane, as well as engage in lane sharing with other motorcyclists. Lane sharing is when two motorcyclists ride side by side in the same lane.
Comparing Alabama Lane-Splitting Laws with Other States
While Alabama doesn’t allow for lane-splitting, it begs the question if other states do. Every state determines its own motorcycle laws as well as all traffic rules.
Only California allows lane-splitting. As for lane filtering, it’s only legal in Arizona, Utah, Montana, and Hawaii. Studies conducted in recent years can’t confirm whether lane-splitting helps keep people safe. At this point, they’re still inconclusive at best.
In Alabama, it doesn’t matter if you’re trying to escape traffic jams. You must engage in safe driving practices and follow all road safety rules.
Potential Consequences of Illegal Lane-Splitting for Motorcycle Riders
If you engage in lane-splitting in Alabama, you may face potential legal consequences. These may include:
Traffic Citations
Part of the terms for obtaining a motorcycle license is following the rules of the road. If a police officer sees you lane-splitting, they can issue you a ticket that can add points to your license and come with a costly fine.
Motorcycle Accidents
Rider safety is imperative to avoid motorcycle accidents, and the reason laws are in place is to protect you. While you can hold a distracted driver at fault for causing a rear-end collision, you may be the one who’s blamed by the insurance company if you cause a lane-splitting accident.
Contributory Negligence
Alabama is a contributory negligence state, and this rule may be critical in the outcome of your motorcycle accident case. Under this doctrine, you can’t even be 1% at fault for your own injuries, or you will be barred from recovering financial compensation in your personal injury claim.
A lane-splitting accident would most certainly mean that you’re assigned at least 1% of the fault, and insurance companies love to blame motorcyclists to block them from seeking financial compensation.
Another possibility exists in regards to being accused of causing a lane-splitting accident by the other driver. This would likely result in higher insurance premiums or having your insurance drop you as a policyholder. No matter how the accident happened, you should speak to a motorcycle accident attorney to learn more about your legal rights.
Safety Tips for Motorcyclists in Alabama
Remember, you can ride side by side in the same lane as another motorcyclist, though splitting lanes and filtering is prohibited. Knowing the laws is important for motorcyclist safety. The following tips can also help you keep safer while on the roads:
Wear the Right Gear
All motorcyclists and their passengers are required by state law to wear a DOT-approved helmet. Protective clothing can also help in the event of an accident.
Be More Visible
Additionally, to be more visible to road users in other vehicles, use your lights to be seen by other drivers.
Obey the Rules of the Road
Make sure that you’re obeying the speed limits and that you don’t engage in distracted driving. Avoid reckless driving as well, and maintain a safe following distance from other motor vehicles.
Stay Aware
If other road users are engaging in aggressive driving or there are road hazards, it helps to keep an eye out and be aware of your surroundings.
Maintain Your Motorcycle
Your brakes and tires should always be in top-notch condition. Additionally, make sure that your lights are operational to keep you visible to others on the road.
How an Alabama Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help
If you were involved in a motorcycle accident and suffered injuries, you will need a lawyer on your side. You may be blamed for your actions on the road and accused of lane-splitting even when you were following the laws.
An Alabama motorcycle accident lawyer can help you by:
Investigating and Gathering Evidence
There’s little to protect you when an accident occurs, and you will likely be transported directly to the hospital from the accident scene. A lawyer can investigate the cause of the crash and gather the evidence you were unable to get to build a strong case.
Negotiating with the Insurance Company
Insurers most often deny compensation in claims involving motorcycle accidents. Alabama makes it even easier for them to do so with the contributory negligence rule. All they need to do is assign 1% of the blame to you to bar you from seeking compensation. With an attorney on your side, you’ll have someone who can step in to take over these negotiations and have a better potential for a favorable outcome.
Representing You at Trial
Most of the time, these types of cases settle through negotiations, though when the scenario is more complex, such as with multiple parties, or involves a commercial or government entity, you may find yourself in court. A lawyer will fight to make sure your side is heard and present the evidence to show why you deserve compensation.
Illegal actions such as lane-splitting can result in fines, legal liabilities, and accidents that cause painful and debilitating injuries. If you didn’t cause the accident, you shouldn’t be blamed and denied the compensation that you deserve.
At Hedge Copeland, P.C., we can help you review your legal options and determine the next steps to take. Learn more about us and our services on our website, and contact us to schedule a free consultation.
