Splitting lanes is one of the most dangerous things a motorcyclist can do. If handled improperly, this technique can be quite dangerous. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Massachusetts motorcycle accident, order a FREE copy of our consumer guide: Do Loud Pipes Save Lives? A Biker's Guide to Accidents and Injuries, then contact the Kiley Law Group for a FREE consultation - 800-410-2769

Blog

Latest News

Library

Case Results

$ 3.5 million Settlement for
auto injury

Our eighteen-year-old client was driving on an interstate into the early morning sun. As he drove over a rise in the road, he struck a car that was disabled and stopped in the middle of the road because a 150-pound wheel and tire detached from a tractor-trailer rig traveling in the opposite direction. The lugs holding the tire had broken off, causing the tire and wheel to travel across the median strip, and hit and disable the stopped vehicle.
Awarded: $ 3.5 million

$1,000,000 Jury Verdict for
86 year-old woman

Our client an 86 year-old woman sustained an injury after being struck by a bus. The inattentive bus driver was warned by a passenger that the woman was crossing in front of the bus but could not stop in time to avoid impact.
Awarded: $1,000,000

$785,000 Settlement for
crushed ankle

Our client was operating his motorcycle on a two-lane road when a large box truck made a U-turn into his path of travel. The client attempted to avoid the collision by laying his motorcycle on its side. Unfortunately his lower leg and ankle came in contact with the truck causing seven fractures and soft tissue injury.
Awarded: $785,000

DISCLAIMER: Please note that every case is different and these verdicts and settlements, while accurate, do not represent what we may obtain for you in your case.

How to Split Lanes While Riding Your Motorcycle (Part B)

Be Aware of Nervous Drivers

Drivers tend to get anxious at certain points on the highway, including sections where freeways merge, on and off ramps, and spots where traffic begins to speed up or slow down. Motorcycle riders should exercise additional caution in these areas when splitting lanes.

Splitting Lanes in Dense Traffic is Safer

Perhaps contrary to what a rider might think, splitting lanes in heavier traffic is actually safer than doing so in light traffic. This is because drivers are more alert when there are more cars around. A driver paying closer attention has a much better chance of spotting a motorcycle before he veers into the next lane.

Use Mirrors, While Avoiding Them

Use car mirrors to gauge drivers' intentions. Remember, if you can see yourself in a driver's mirror than they can also see you. Also consider that mirrors are all the way to the right and left of a motor vehicle, and are generally at the same level as your motorcycle. As such, they generally are the point of collision during motorcycle accidents that occur when splitting lanes.

Beware of Big Gaps Between Cars

After sitting in traffic for an extended period of time, drivers suddenly confronted with open space are unpredictable. There's no way to tell what they'll do, including changing lanes without signaling or taking off quickly. This can easily result in a serious or fatal motorcycle accident, so use extra caution when moving into a wide gap.

Maintain Awareness of Trucks and Trailers

Larger vehicles usually have back sections that can sway or bounce around as you pass. This means that the space you thought you had as you initiate the pass can quickly contract as you move further alongside the vehicle. Therefore, you need to exercise extra caution while splitting lanes around these vehicles.

The Decision to Split Lanes Belongs to the Biker

Ultimately, the biker is the one to decide whether splitting lanes is worth the time savings. If the rider feels uncomfortable with the practice, the answer is simple: don't do it. An extra half hour sitting in traffic is a small price to pay for avoiding a potentially serious motorcycle accident.

When looking for a Massachusetts motorcycle accident attorney ask critical questions, like: how long have you been practicing law; what is the largest settlement or verdict you have obtained; or do you have experience with motorcycle accident claims in Massachusetts? You should also order a FREE copy of our consumer guide, Do Loud Pipes Save Lives? A Biker's Guide to Accidents and Injuries.

The Kiley Law Group works with you on a contingent basis so there are NO FEES unless our trained Andover motorcycle accident lawyers wins your case. Contact us today for a FREE evaluation - 800 - 410-2769

The personal injury attorneys at The Kiley Law Group are dedicated to helping the victims of:

Car, motorcycle, truck, van or bus accident
Single vehicle accidents such as SUV or 15-passenger van rollovers
Pedestrian accidents such as a hit and run
Defective products such as ineffective airbags or seatbelts, prescription drugs with unpublicized side-effects, or hazardous children's toys
Child injury and child abuse such as negligence
Birth injuries such as trauma during labor or cerebral palsy

We Serve Clients Across the State of Massachusetts & Salem, New Hampshire
The firm's headquarters are in Andover, MA and serves the following cities in Massachusetts: Boston, Danvers, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Methuen, Middleton, Reading, and Salem, MA and Salem, New Hampshire.

Massachusetts personal injury lawyer, Thomas M. Kiley, is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and is a respected member of the American Association for Justice and the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys.

Share |

Need Help Now?

Kiley Law Group
342 North Main Street
P.O. Box 3040
Andover, MA 01810
Phone: 978-474-8670
Fax: 978.474.8946
Toll Free: 800-410-2769

Get Directions