White Plains Lane Splitting Accident Lawyers
Lane Splitting Injury Attorneys in White Plains Advocate for Motorcycle Riders Injured in Accidents Throughout New York, Including Westchester County, Bronx County, Rockland County, and NYC
Some motorcycle riders choose to engage in lane splitting to avoid heavy traffic or avoid being stuck between two cars in slow or stopped traffic. However, lane splitting can put a motorcyclist at risk of getting into an accident with a motorist who may not expect a motorcycle in between lanes of traffic. If you have had a motorcycle accident while lane splitting, you may face serious obstacles to recovering compensation from another driver whose negligence caused the accident. Turn to the White Plains lane splitting accident lawyers of Marvin A. Cooper, P.C., to advocate for your rights and interests.
Since 1960, our firm has fought to protect the financial security of injured accident victims across New York. We work hard to relate to our clients no matter their backgrounds, offering a caring, compassionate approach to our legal representation and taking the time to listen to our client’s needs and concerns. Our legal team will not rest until we’ve secured the best possible result for you in your case.
Reach out to the lane splitting injury attorneys in White Plains, NY, from Marvin A. Cooper, P.C., to discuss your legal options if you were injured in a motorcycle crash while lane splitting. Let our firm fight to help you secure the maximum compensation possible for your injuries and losses so that you have the resources you need for your recovery.
What Is Lane Splitting?
Lane splitting refers to the practice of riding a motorcycle on top of a traffic line or in between rows of vehicles. Lane splitting may also include another practice known as shoulder surfing, in which a motorcycle rides along the shoulder to pass stopped traffic.
In New York, a motorcyclist is entitled to the full width of a traffic lane. This means no part of any other vehicle can occupy the same lane next to a motorcycle, except that two motorcycles may ride side by side in the same traffic lane. But this also means that a motorcycle cannot ride past another vehicle in the same lane.
Motorcyclists may choose to engage in lane splitting because it allows the biker to get through slow or stopped traffic. Some argue that lane splitting protects motorcyclists because the practice allows bikers to avoid being stuck in traffic where they may face the risk of being rear-ended. However, many states either have not authorized motorcycles to lane split or have expressly made the practice illegal, since opponents of lane splitting argue that it puts bikers at risk of a collision with a driver who may not expect a motorcycle in between rows of traffic.
Is Lane Splitting Legal in New York?
Under New York Vehicle & Traffic Law Sec. 1252, motorcycles may not be operated between lanes of traffic or between adjacent rows of vehicles. This means that motorcyclists may not lane split in New York State.
Causes of Lane Splitting Accidents
Even if a motorcyclist chooses to engage in lane splitting, they may still get into an accident with another vehicle due to a driver’s negligence, including:
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Reckless driving
- Turning or changing lanes without first signaling or checking mirrors
- Making illegal turns or lane changes
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy/fatigued driving
- Drunk or drugged driving
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Lane Splitting Accident?
If you were involved in a motorcycle accident due to another driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to obtain financial compensation for your expenses and losses from the accident, including for your:
- Motorcycle repairs, or reimbursement of your motorcycle’s value if it was totaled in the accident
- Medical treatment and rehabilitation of your injuries
- Lost wages/income from taking time off work during your recovery
- Lost future earning capacity and job benefits if you become permanently disabled from working
- Pain and suffering
- Lost enjoyment and quality of life because of disabilities or visible scarring/disfigurement that interferes with your daily life
Contact Our Firm for a Free, Confidential Consultation to Speak with Experienced White Plains Lane Splitting Accident Lawyers About Your Legal Options
Contact Marvin A. Cooper, P.C., today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation to discuss your rights and the next steps for pursuing financial recovery with our lane splitting injury attorneys in White Plains, NY. Don’t leave compensation on the table by trying to handle your insurance and legal claims on your own. Turn to our firm for experienced legal advocacy that can help you secure the best possible outcome for your claim.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lane Splitting Accidents in White Plains and Throughout New York
New York State follows a law known as the “pure” comparative negligence rule. Under this rule, an injured accident victim is not prohibited from pursuing a compensation claim, even if the victim is found to have been 99 percent at fault for the accident. Therefore, even if you are deemed partially at fault for a motorcycle accident because you were lane-splitting at the time of the crash, you may still have the right to recover compensation. However, under the pure comparative negligence rule, your financial recovery may be reduced in proportion to your share of fault. The lane splitting injury attorneys in White Plains, NY, of Marvin A. Cooper, P.C., will thoroughly investigate your case to prepare a strong claim to argue the other driver’s or party’s fault and maximize your financial recovery.
No one can predict exactly how long it may take for you to secure a financial recovery from your motorcycle accident claim. Different factors can affect the timeline of your legal case, such as:
– The severity of your injuries
– Whether you suffer any permanent disability
– The duration of your medical recovery
– Whether anyone else was injured in the accident
– The number of liable parties
– Whether you bear any share of fault for the accident
– The availability of insurance coverage and any other financial resources of liable parties
– The amount and complexity of evidence in your case
– Whether you need to go to court or to trial to pursue a resolution to your legal claims
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Very knowledgeable and responsive!
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"Thank you for making the dream of recovery a possibility for me. I appreciate you being so kind and helpful, even when I felt like giving up. I am so grateful for all that you've done.”
"Thank you for making the dream of recovery a possibility for me. I appreciate you being so kind and helpful, even when I felt like giving up. I am so grateful for all that you've done.”
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