Can Motorcycles Drive Between Lanes?

The practice of lane splitting, or driving between lanes of cars on a motorcycle, is illegal in Indiana but not specifically mentioned in Kentucky motorcycle laws. However, although it is not explicitly against the law, you can still get pulled over for lane splitting in Kentucky if a highway patrol officer thinks you are driving in an unsafe manner.

Riding a motorcycle is inherently more dangerous than driving a car, and motorcycle crash injuries are often catastrophic, so we strongly encourage all motorcyclists to drive safely and with caution. If you plan to drive between lanes in Kentucky, make sure that you are visible to all surrounding cars, and do not exceed the speed limit.

If, despite all your precautions, you are injured in a motorcycle accident, please call personal injury lawyer Karl Truman today at 502-222-2222 for a free legal consultation.

Pros and Cons of Lane Splitting

California recently became the only state in the nation to explicitly legalize the practice of lane splitting. Their reasoning was based primarily on traffic concerns and a study done by UC Berkeley that showed lane splitting is not significantly more dangerous than riding within a lane unless there is a speed differential of more than 15 mph between the motorcyclist and the cars they are passing.

Riding between lanes has obvious attractions for a motorcyclist, including being able to bypass traffic congestion and have fuller use of the road. However, there are also dangers that come with lane splitting, including:

• Merging or turning cars
• Opening doors, if riding between a lane of moving traffic and of parked cars
• Invisibility to drivers of large trucks

If you are going to ride between lanes, you will need to take extra care to be aware of what the cars around you are doing. Car drivers are generally not expecting a motorcyclist to be right next to them, and may merge or turn directly into you because they did not notice you there.

In addition, you should never ride between a lane of moving traffic and parked cars. You never know when someone is going to open a door, which could easily lead to an accident. Plus, if you are on the freeway and ride next to a large semi truck, chances are very high that they can’t see you. A collision between a large truck and a motorcyclist could easily lead to catastrophic injury or death.

What Should You Do If You’ve Been Injured in a Motorcycle Accident?

Many motorcycle accidents are not the fault of the motorcyclist. If you’ve been injured while riding a motorcycle, even if you were lane splitting at the time, you should call Karl Truman for a free legal consultation. We can help evaluate and investigate your case, and find who is liable for your accident. If we find that you are not at fault, we may be able to help you obtain compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Motorcycle injuries can be devastating, and may lead to long-term disability or affect your ability to do your job properly. You may need surgery, and you may need to take a significant amount of time off of work, which may or may not be paid. We can help you obtain fair compensation to help you now and into the future.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

Call Karl Truman today at 502-222-2222 to schedule your free, no-obligation motorcycle accident consultation. We welcome clients from Louisville, Kentucky and Jeffersonville, Indiana, as well as surrounding areas.