If you have driven down Arizona’s roads and freeways, you have likely witnessed a motorcyclist lane splitting. While driving between lanes can help motorcyclists better maneuver through traffic, it can be dangerous and is most often illegal. Motorcyclists are left largely exposed to elements, road surface problems, other traffic and are more vulnerable to accidents. Motorcycle collisions can cause severe and sometimes fatal injuries. If you are injured due to a lane splitting collision in Arizona, it is critical to understand the laws surrounding lane splitting and filtering, as well as how they may impact your accident claim.
After a motorcycle accident, do not hesitate to contact a skilled injury attorney. At Jensen Phelan Law Firm, our specialist injury attorneys are work quickly to preserve the important evidence and meet all deadlines while pursuing the compensation you deserve. We help you comply with Arizona’s statute of limitations deadline while we build a strongly supported claim on your behalf. When you retain one of our specialist motorcycle accident attorneys, you can rest assured that your case is in knowledgeable, capable and caring hands.
According to ARS § 29-903, a motorcyclist cannot overtake a vehicle within the same lane or maneuver between lanes of traffic or rows of adjacent vehicles. Put simply, lane splitting is illegal in Arizona. The only exception to this rule is when police officers must lane split to carry out their official duties.
However, lane filtering is legal in Arizona. When traffic is stopped, motorcyclists may maneuver between lanes under specific circumstances, including the following:
Tragic accidents and severe injuries can occur when a motorcyclist lane splits or fails to lane filter safely.
If you lane split in Arizona and cause an accident, you will be found negligent. In other words, you breached the duty of care owed to other drivers to follow Arizona’s lane splitting and filtering laws. However, it is essential to note that you can likely still pursue some compensation for your injuries even if you bear most of the fault for your accident. Arizona is a comparative fault state. In other words, compensation for your losses is determined based on the percentage of fault each party contributed to the accident.
For example, if you were 60% at fault for the accident and another driver was 40% responsible, you could still obtain 40% of the total possible damages for your losses. A highly-qualified motorcycle accident attorney can analyze every aspect of your case to determine your likely percentage of fault as well as the estimated amount of compensation you may be eligible to recover.
If you are injured due to a lane splitting accident in Arizona, you do not have to fight for your right to compensation alone. The trusted and experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at Jensen Phelan Law Firm are dedicated to providing top-notch legal services to our clients and securing favorable results for their claims. We have over 65 years of combined experience and are ready to apply our extensive knowledge and skills to your unique case. To schedule a free consultation and to learn more about how we can protect your rights, call us at (928) 778-2660 or complete our online contact form today.