Phenix City Motorcycle Traffic Laws

Alabama state law treats motorcycles and those operating them the same way it treats commuter cars and the people driving them. Everyone on a public road has the same basic duty of care to act lawfully and carefully around each other, and any driver who fails to fulfill that duty around a motorcyclist could hold civil liability for any injury they cause that motorcyclist to sustain through an ensuing accident.

A few Phenix City motorcycle traffic laws are worth knowing about whether you are new to the motorcycle lifestyle or have been riding for decades. When you need help enforcing your rights under state law after a severe accident caused by someone else’s negligence, David Bence is the  aggressive motorcycle accident attorney you will want throughout your legal proceedings.

Carrying Passengers

While motorcycle operators are allowed to carry passengers while riding, their motorcycle must meet specific criteria for more than one person to ride it within the boundaries of Alabama state law. Most notably, all motorcycle passengers must have their seats and footrests separate from the driver’s. There must also be straps or some other type of handheld attached to the motorcycle itself for the passenger to hold onto while the motorcycle is moving.

Lane Splitting

In some states, motorcyclists are allowed to advance to the front of intersections on local roads or get around traffic jams on highways by riding on the dividing line between lanes of traffic. In Phenix City and Alabama as a whole, lane splitting like this is against the law, and motorcyclists must always remain fully within designated traffic lanes while riding unless they are merging or changing lanes and have signaled adequately with their hands or blinkers first.

Lane Sharing

Under the motorcycle traffic laws in Phenix City, motorcyclists riding in a group are allowed to ride two abreast within the same lane of traffic. However, not all traffic lanes are wide enough for this to be a perfectly safe maneuver, and state authorities generally encourage motorcyclists to ride in a staggered formation rather than right next to each other in a single lane.

Full Use of a Lane by a Single Rider

Even if a motorcyclist is riding on their own, they still have a right to the full use of any traffic lane they are riding within. In this way, Alabama state laws treat motorcycles in Phenix City and elsewhere identical to full-sized commuter cars regarding the rights and responsibilities afforded to their operators.

Discuss Motorcycle Traffic Laws With a Phenix City Attorney Today

Knowing Phenix City motorcycle traffic laws is one thing, and proving you stayed in compliance with them the whole time leading up to an accident is another. If there is even a little doubt that you were completely responsible and that the person who hit you was not 100 percent at fault for your injuries, you may have serious trouble getting any civil compensation for your crash-related losses, let alone the total amount you need to protect your short-term and long-term best interests.

Fortunately, that is where Bence Law Firm, LLC, could help you understand, enforce, and protect your rights as a motorcyclist. Call David Bence today to learn more during an initial consultation.