Metier Law Firm Personal Injury Blog

TL;DR - Key Takeaways:

• Multiple parties can be held liable in truck accidents including the driver, trucking company, truck owner, vehicle manufacturers, parts manufacturers, and cargo loaders, complicating liability determination.
• Federal and state trucking regulations significantly impact case complexity, requiring attorneys to understand Hours of Service laws, maintenance requirements, and commercial vehicle standards.
• Critical evidence including driver logs, maintenance records, and black box data must be preserved immediately through spoliation letters, as trucking companies often have policies allowing routine destruction of these materials.
• Severe or permanent injuries from truck accidents require complex compensation calculations covering life-altering medical care, lost earning capacity, and long-term care needs beyond standard vehicle accident claims.
• Multiple insurance policies typically apply to commercial truck accidents, covering the driver, truck, trailer, and cargo separately, while trucking companies deploy aggressive legal teams with extensive resources to minimize liability.

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Victims of tractor-trailer accidents often face a range of complex issues due to the severity of such accidents and the multiple parties that can be involved.Here are some common questions and concerns they might have when seeking a personal injury attorney:

Truck Accident Attorney

Who can be held responsible for my accident?

Identifying Liable Parties: With commercial vehicle accidents, multiple parties could be held liable, including the driver, the trucking company, the owner of the truck, the manufacturer of the vehicle or its parts, or the loader of the truck's cargo.

How do trucking regulations affect my case?

Understanding Regulations: Commercial trucks are subject to various federal and state regulations, which can complicate a legal case. 

How is compensation calculated for severe or permanent injuries?

Severe Injuries: Accidents involving tractor-trailers often result in serious, life-altering injuries or even fatalities.

How do we fight against a large trucking company?

Dealing with Large Corporations: Trucking companies often have extensive resources and aggressive legal teams. 

​​How can we ensure critical evidence is preserved?

Preservation of Evidence: Evidence in truck accident cases can include driver logs, truck maintenance records, and black box data.

Which insurance policies apply to my case?

Multiple Insurance Policies: There might be multiple insurance policies involved, such as separate policies for the driver, the truck, the trailer and the cargo. 

Will we need expert witnesses for my case?

Expert Testimony: These cases often require testimonies from accident reconstruction experts, medical experts, and others.

Understanding the Above Common Truck Accident Questions

By understanding and addressing these concerns, a personal injury attorney can provide much-needed guidance and support to victims of tractor-trailer accidents — whether they’re in Denver, Portland, Seattle, Omaha, Cheyenne, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, or Casper. Call us at 866-377-3800 for a free consultation and get the trusted legal help you deserve.

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TL;DR - Key Takeaways:

• Truck accident liability extends beyond the driver to include trucking companies, cargo owners, truck manufacturers, maintenance vendors, and government entities responsible for highway conditions, requiring comprehensive investigations to identify all responsible parties.
• Common causes of commercial truck accidents include driver fatigue, speeding, improper maintenance, distracted driving, substance abuse, inexperienced drivers, improper cargo loading, and failure to follow traffic regulations.
• Recoverable damages encompass property damage from vehicle collisions, medical expenses for severe or catastrophic injuries, lost income from work inability, and pain and suffering affecting victims and their families.
• Critical evidence includes police reports establishing fault, accident reconstruction visualizations for juries, GPS and driver log data revealing Hours of Service violations, and driver records showing patterns of negligence.

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If you've been injured in a truck accident in Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington, or Wyoming, you can trust in the Comfort, Safety, and Strength® provided by the team of truck accident injury lawyers with Metier Law Firm. We've been effective and efficient against the toughest competition for over 40 years thanks to our decades of legal and medical experience and quick trial readiness. So give us a call today for a free consultation on your case.
 
Truck accidents are some of the most debilitating accidents victims can face, causing thousands in damages, debilitating injuries, and even death. But you shouldn't have to face the future alone. Call an experienced truck accident attorney from Metier Law Firm today, and read the following blog to answer some of our clients' more common questions.

Causes of a semi-truck accident

Tragically, a tractor-trailer accident can be caused by many factors. Some of the most common we've seen in accidents our clients have suffered include

• Truck driver fatigue
• Speeding and other forms of reckless driving
• Improper truck maintenance
• Failure to follow traffic signals
• Distracted driving
• Truck driver inexperience
• Improper loading
• Substance abuse, including driving while under the influence of alcohol

It's important to note that not all semi-truck accidents are caused by the above causes. There are as many causes for tractor-trailer accidents as the accidents themselves because every truck accident is different. Other factors influencing an accident include poor road conditions, lack of driver training, lousy weather, unrealistic time constraints, and tight deadlines.

Common injuries from a tractor-trailer accident

Semi-truck accident victims can sustain a wide range of injuries, ranging from neck and back injuries to head or brain injuries, broken bones, organ damage, spinal cord injuries, lacerations, bruising, whiplash, and even wrongful death.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a semi-truck wreck, you're likely broken in body or spirit and unsure of where to turn. That's why you need an experienced personal injury lawyer to help you recover the compensation you deserve after suffering significant injuries from a truck accident.

Who is liable for a truck accident?

Commercial truck accidents are different from crashes that involve only passenger cars, in part because of the number of parties involved: the court has to take into account your rights and responsibilities, those of the truck driver, and the following:

• The company that owns the truck or trailer
• The owner of the cargo
• The manufacturer of the truck, trailer or truck parts
• Vendors providing carrier services
• A local government or contractors responsible for highway maintenance
• and others

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, it could take an investigation to determine who should be responsible for your injuries and other losses. Our legal team has experience investigating and litigating all kinds of truck accidents in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Oregon, and Washington, so you can trust that we'll help you become whole again after your accident.

Damages in a truck accident

There are many types of damages you could face after a semi-truck accident. Not only can these be expensive, but they can also be complex, which is why a skilled attorney should assess your case as soon as possible. Damages you could suffer after a tractor-trailer wreck include:
 

• Property damage: Because 18-wheelers are much larger than the passenger vehicles they collide with, the other vehicle usually sustains the most damage. An insurance adjuster will assess your car to determine if it can be repaired or must be totaled.
  

• Medical expenses: Truck accident injuries are often severe or even catastrophic, requiring massive medical intervention and continuing care. The cost of all of the treatment you've received, plus the care you'll need in the future, must be totaled to include in your demand for insurance.
  

• Loss of income: If your injuries leave you unable to work, you'll lose that income. Similarly, suppose your injuries are severe enough to reduce your ability to obtain work in the future. In that case, you may also be eligible to recover those losses in your settlement.
  

• Pain and suffering: Your attorney will confer with doctors and other experts to assess the total severity of your injuries and damages, as well as how they affect your life, your family's, and others around you.

Evidence in truck accident cases

After you call the experienced lawyers at Metier Law Firm, we'll investigate your case immediately and collect evidence to help you recover the maximum compensation you're owed. We'll examine all evidence pertinent to your case, including:

Police Reports

When you call 911 at the scene of an accident, a police officer will arrive to assess the fault of all parties involved and generate an official report. This report can be used as evidence in your case, but you can also collect evidence yourself.

If you can, take pictures of the scene, including tire marks, car damage, and injuries. Also, collect the contact information of all witnesses, and try to write down your thoughts and feelings as you wait for the police to arrive.

Accident Reconstruction

The experienced lawyers with Metier Law Firm have years of experience working with accident reconstruction experts skilled at recreating the accident and explaining the mechanism of injury to a jury. Often, an accident reconstruction is all the jury needs to visualize the accident and determine fault. 

GPS and Driver Logs

Current trucking regulations require truck drivers and companies to keep detailed logs about their whereabouts, how long they've been driving, and other information. A truck driver is required by law to take regular breaks, but many don't do so in the interest of saving time. Finding a discrepancy in the driver's logs or evidence of log fraud can significantly improve your odds of receiving compensation.

Driver Record

We'll also consider the truck driver's record, including whether they've been in an accident before. Again, a poor record can help to establish a pattern of negligence, further proving their liability in your case.
 
Call an experienced truck accident lawyer today
 
If you're dealing with the aftermath of a truck wreck, you don't have to deal with your pain alone. Whether you’re in Denver, Portland, Seattle, Omaha, Cheyenne, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, or Casper, call the nationwide truck accident attorneys with Metier Law Firm today for a free, no-risk consultation about your case.
 
When you call Metier, you'll talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer who'll listen to your story and advise you on how best to proceed. Then, when you hire us, you'll have a passionate on your side who'll tirelessly fight for your rights against those of the insurance company, trucking company, and other parties.

We've been in business for over 40 years, and in that time, we've seen it all. So give us a call today to start on your path to healing.

TL;DR - Key Takeaways:

• Trucking companies deploy legal teams immediately after crashes to deflect blame and file delaying motions, requiring experienced attorneys who can act quickly to preserve critical evidence before it disappears.
• Proving liability requires investigating beyond police reports to examine maintenance records, training documents, safety policies, and corporate practices that enabled negligent behavior contributing to the crash.
• Critical evidence including dashcam footage, black box data, and physical vehicle damage can be destroyed or erased within days or weeks under company policies, necessitating immediate spoliation letters to preserve materials.
• Colorado allows three years to file truck accident claims, but evidence preservation must occur within days or weeks of the crash to maintain case strength and recover full damages.
• Crash reconstruction experts and imaging technology are essential for reenacting accidents and demonstrating fault, as single pieces of evidence like police reports rarely suffice in complex commercial vehicle litigation.

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If you're a parent, you know how important it is to keep your children safe. But what happens if you're involved in a commercial truck accident with them in the car? The physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial burden can be overwhelming. A law firm with expertise in handling Colorado truck accident cases can make a monumental difference in the outcome of the claim.

After a commercial truck crash, it's difficult to navigate the legal process while dealing with medical treatments, bills and your own injuries. The trucking company will likely hire a legal team to deflect blame and delay the case, making it even more challenging for injured drivers to get the compensation they need and justice they deserve.

However, hiring a Colorado truck accident attorney can be the first step towards protecting your children's future. Truck accident lawyers act quickly, investigate the accident scene thoroughly, and ensure that the trucking company keeps any evidence that will prove who is at fault. In this article, we'll explore the importance of hiring a truck accident attorney in Colorado, and how they can handle the complexities of the legal process so that you can focus on healing and caring for your family. 

Truck accident lawyers know how to investigate a commercial truck crash

After a commercial truck crash, the trucking company will hire experienced legal teams to investigate the accident and deflect blame. Rather than timely evaluating fault, they often file endless motions, delaying the case for years. This can be extremely challenging for injured drivers who are dealing with medical treatments and paying bills. 

A truck accident law firm with expertise and experience can act quickly. They will investigate the crash and make sure the trucking company keeps any evidence that will prove who is at fault. Without this critical evidence the responsible parties cannot be held accountable for the damages suffered by the injured accident victim.  

A truck accident attorney will also handle the complexities of the legal process, while the client’s only focus is healing. 

Truck accident attorneys can prove how and why crashes happen

Unlike trials in movies and TV shows, there is no “smoking gun” that will win a truck accident case. Relying on any single piece of evidence, like a police report or witness, to win your case is a mistake. 

Proving and holding defendants liable for damages in Colorado truck accident cases can be a daunting challenge. Even if negligence seems obvious and a police report states the truck driver is at fault, that often is not enough.  

Colorado Truck Accident Attorneys must investigate the trucking company's business practices and explain how they contributed to the devastating truck crash. Maintenance records, training documents, and safety policies can be used to demonstrate how the corporate practices enabled negligence to go unaddressed. Understanding the laws regulating the trucking industry is key to uncovering those negligent practices.  

The physical accident scene investigation can also reveal how a crash unfolded. An experienced truck accident attorney can use imaging technologies and crash reconstruction experts to reenact the crash. Documented maintenance protocols, training procedures, and safety policies are other key sources of information used to determine fault.

Investigating the accident scene, researching corporate practices and reviewing protocols and policies often reveals how trucking companies foster negligent behavior. When such behavior is overlooked the consequences are often devastating. 

Truck Accident attorneys provide guidance and confidence

Truck accident cases are often complex and emotionally challenging. Especially when dealing with life altering injuries after the crash. An experienced truck accident attorney can provide guidance and confidence throughout the legal process. 

Unfortunately, we’ve seen injured victims and even some unqualified attorneys attempt to handle their own truck accident claim. That usually results in a substantially undervalued settlement with the injured victim paying for related medical bills long into the future.

Our Colorado truck accident attorneys can assess any settlement offers you have received. They can inform you if the offers are fair or should be rejected. Our trucking attorneys will never required you to accept a settlement or refuse one. We will provide our guidance so you can confidently make decisions about the direction of your case.   

Truck Accident Attorneys Protect and Gather Evidence

Hiring an experienced injury attorney quickly after an accident is important. They should have experience in investigating and litigating truck crash cases. This will give you the best chance of recovering the full amount of damages. 
Generally, you have three years in Colorado to file a truck accident case.

However, you must preserve and gather evidence much sooner - sometimes only within days or weeks of the crash. Evidence is often destroyed before it can be recovered including dashcam footage and vehicle damage. A truck accident attorney will intervene and timely preserve critical evidence.

It is important not to wait too long to hire a truck accident attorney. Delaying even a few weeks can mean losing valuable evidence and weakening your case. A few weeks could mean the difference between getting the long-term medical care you need or not.

Need a truck accident lawyer?

If you were injured in a commercial truck accident, you deserve a legal team with experience. We know the tricks that trucking companies and their insurers use to avoid liability and financial responsibility. Even more importantly, our trucking lawyer understand the complexities of commercial truck accidents and the laws that protect victims.

We have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our truck accident clients. Let us answer your truck accident questions and guide you through the process.

With offices located conveniently in Denver, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs, we are just a phone call away. Your consultation is confidential and free. Get answers about your commercial truck accident today.



 

TL;DR - Key Takeaways:

• Colorado has no minimum age requirement for motorcycle passengers, unlike Texas and Washington which require passengers to be at least 5 years old or California which requires children to reach footrests comfortably.
• Child passengers must be physically able to reach footrests or foot pegs, understand how to move with the motorcycle during turns, and maintain proper body position throughout the ride.
• All riders under 18 must wear DOT-approved helmets and all motorcycle riders regardless of age must wear protective eyewear, with full-face helmets satisfying both requirements.
• Parents should verify children can fasten and release chinstraps independently, demonstrate proper holding positions, and understand not to make sudden movements or dismount without permission before riding.

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Even if you have all of the protective gear for them, make sure your child can legally be a motorcycle passenger before letting them hop on the back. Only a handful of states have minimum age limits for motorcycle passengers, but you don't want to find yourself breaking the law accidentally. 

Texas and Washington require your child be at least 5 years old to ride on your motorcycle. California requires the child to be tall enough to rest their feet on the foot pegs or footrests easily while seated on a permanent passenger seat.  

Where does Colorado stand on children being passengers on motorcycles?

Can children be passengers on motorcycles in Colorado?

The state of Colorado does not have any laws restricting the age of a motorcycle passenger. As a general rule of safety, a motorcycle passenger needs to be able to reach the footrests and know how to move while riding.   

Minors are required to wear a DOT approved helmet and all riders are required to wear eye protection. A full face helmet offers the most amount of protection and with the visor attached, it satisfies both requirements for children riding as a passenger.  

Can a Child Be a Motorcycle Passenger in Colorado?

Yes, a child can be a passenger on a motorcycle in the state of Colorado. For motorbike passengers, some states have age restrictions ranging from five to eight years old. Colorado does not have a minimum age requirement for passengers.

No matter how old or young, a person can ride a motorcycle as a passenger in Colorado. They need to be able to hold onto the driver and understand the obligations of being a motorcycle passenger. In Colorado, all riders under the age of 18 must wear a DOT approved helmet, and all riders must wear protective eyewear.

What are the age limits for motorcycle passengers in Colorado?

There is no set age requirement for children riding on motorcycles as passengers, but they must all be able to reach the footrests or foot pegs. They must understand how a motorcycle works to be a safe passenger just as any adult should. Any motorcycle rider under the age of 18 is required to wear a DOT approved helmet. All motorcycle riders, regardless of age, are required to wear protective eyewear.

How Old Must a Passenger on a Motorcycle Be In Colorado?

Colorado state law determines what age a passenger on a motorcycle must be. There is no minimum age requirement in the state of Colorado to ride as a passenger on a motorcycle. 

In general, the child must be tall enough to reach the foot pegs or footrests, old enough to understand how to move as a motorcycle passenger, and must wear a DOT helmet and protective eyewear.  

If you plan on taking your child on a ride through multiple states, other states have minimum age restrictions. The minimum age to ride as a passenger on a motorcycle varies by state and can be as high as eight years old. Research the laws of the states you plan to ride through beforehand.  

Colorado Motorcycle Passenger Age Requirement

In Colorado, there is no minimum age for motorcycle passengers. They simply need to be able to lean with the driver and understand the obligations of riding a motorcycle. In Colorado, all riders under the age of 18 must wear a helmet.

How To Get Your Child Ready To Be A Passenger On A Motorcycle

• An appropriate helmet must fit your youngster.
• Verify that the child is donning safety eyewear and footwear - closed-toed shoes and a visor on a full-faced helmet are best.
• Demonstrate to the child how to fasten and release the chinstrap. Stress the necessity of keeping it fastened while riding a motorcycle.
• Demonstrate how to maintain good body position while the motorcycle is moving and caution against counterbalancing during turns.
• Place the child's feet on the pegs and in the proper position on the seat. Emphasize the value of holding on throughout the ride while demonstrating to the child how to grasp onto you or handholds.
• Remind the child not to make quick movements while the motorcycle is moving.
• Remind the child to wait for your permission before attempting to exit the motorcycle.
• Before starting your ride, perform a final motorbike safety inspection.

Colorado Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Were you injured in a motorcycle accident? You may be entitled to financial compensation even if you were a passenger on the motorcycle. You can learn more about your rights and any legislation that may be relevant to motorcycle passengers from our Colorado motorcycle accident attorneys.

Contact Metier Law Firm's lawyers right away. Our law firm has locations throughout Colorado with offices located conveniently in Denver, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs. Your consultation is confidential and free. Get answers about your motorcycle accident today.

Sources:


https://csp.colorado.gov/community-outreach/most-motorcycle-safety-training/motorcycle-laws
https://www.codot.gov/safety/motorcycle/motorcycle-laws.html

TL;DR - Key Takeaways:

• Immediately after a motorcycle accident, prioritize seeking medical attention even for minor injuries, as serious conditions can take hours or days to show symptoms and early documentation strengthens injury claims.
• Essential post-crash actions include photographing vehicle positions, damages, injuries, traffic signs, and skid marks while gathering contact and insurance information from all drivers and eyewitnesses.
• Common claim-compromising mistakes include unknowingly admitting fault, making recorded statements to adjusters, signing general liability releases, and accepting early settlements that fail to cover future medical expenses.
• Police accident reports containing crash details, injuries, damages, and fault determinations provide critical evidence that motorcycle accident attorneys use to prove negligence and liability in court.

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If you've been involved in a motorcycle accident, you're probably experiencing shock and panic. The adrenaline from the collision can make it hard to think clearly, but the next few moments are vital for your health and for your ability to recover fair compensation for your injuries, property damage, lost wages, and other costs.

Common mistakes post motorcycle accidents are like making a recorded statement or unknowingly admitting fault, may seem small, but they can have huge ramifications down the line, including preventing you from recovering any compensation whatsoever. It's critical to know now, before you're in an accident, how to protect your interests should you ever be the victim of one.

What Should I Do Right After A Motorcycle Accident?

In particular, there are four steps that you should undertake as soon as you can after a motorcycle accident:

• Look for injuries
• Take photographs
• Gather contact and insurance information
• Call a motorcycle accident injury lawyer

If you were hit by a negligent driver while riding your motorcycle in Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington, or Wyoming, call Metier Law Firm for a free consultation about your case. We've helped hundreds of motorcycle accident victims recover the maximum compensation for their injuries and other damages, and we can help you too. We will help you avoid mistakes during your claims process and recover the compensation you need to heal.

Our legal team will gather evidence, interview witnesses, review the police report and your medical records, and represent your interests against those of the other driver and their insurance. Call us today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Look for Injuries

Your top priority after any accident is to seek medical attention, but this can be even more important in a motorcycle accident due to the higher risk of injury faced by motorcyclists. If you or someone else suffered a severe injury, call 911 and request emergency medical assistance.

Even if your injuries seem minor, you should call law enforcement and get checked out by a medical professional. Some serious injuries can take hours or days to show symptoms, but an EMT or doctor can catch your injury and treat it sooner. Additionally, the police officer on the scene will compile an accident report containing important details about the crash, including the time, date, location, any injuries or damages incurred, and the at-fault party. Your motorcycle crash injury lawyer can use that report to prove negligence and liability in court

Take Photographs of the Scene

If you decide to make a personal injury claim, photographic evidence will be essential. Take pictures showing the vehicles' positions, any damages they incurred, injuries, traffic signs, and skid marks. These photos will help tell the story of how the crash unfolded, and will be particularly important if the at-fault driver denies their liability.

Gather Insurance and Contact Information

Record the contact information of all drivers involved in the wreck, as well as their insurance information. You'll need those details to make an accident claim with your insurance provider.

In addition, write down the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of eyewitnesses to the crash. Your attorney can use their testimonies to support your claim, since bystanders often notice details that the involved parties can miss.

Call a Motorcycle Accident Attorney with Metier Law Firm

Even if it seems obvious to you that the other party is liable because they were being negligent, it is not always easy to recover fair compensation after a motorcycle crash. The at-fault party and their insurance will look for every excuse they can legally use in order to get out of paying you your fair compensation.

Why Should I Hire A Motorcycle Accident Attorney After A Crash?

A motorcycle accident injury attorney can help you avoid mistakes that would compromise your claim, including
 

• Unknowingly admitting fault
• Signing a general release of liability
• Making a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster
• Neglecting a doctor's visit
• Overlooking certain damages
• Accepting a settlement that fails to cover your future expenses

If you were injured by a negligent driver while riding a motorcycle, call Metier Law Firm. Whether you need the guidance of a motorcycle accident lawyer in Denver or trusted legal support in cities like Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Portland, Seattle, Omaha, Cheyenne, or Casper, we’ll represent your interests against those who caused your injuries. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.

Is Lane Splitting Legal in Colorado? 
A new law may help pave the way

‍TL;DR - Key Takeaways:

• Lane splitting is currently illegal in Colorado, but HB-23-1059 proposes a $75,000 feasibility study by CDOT and Colorado State Patrol to examine benefits, drawbacks, and safety concerns of legalizing the practice.
• Lane splitting allows motorcycles to travel between rows of moving vehicles at any speed, while lane filtering restricts the practice to stopped or slow-moving traffic under specific speed limits, typically 15-20 mph.
• California is the only state where lane splitting is fully legal, while Arizona, Montana, Hawaii, and Utah permit lane filtering under restricted conditions requiring speed limits under 45 mph and stopped traffic.
• A 2015 UC Berkeley study found lane-splitting riders experience fewer injuries including reduced head trauma (9% vs 17%), torso injuries (19% vs 29%), and rear-end collisions (2.6% vs 4.6%) compared to non-splitting riders.

A new bill  has been presented at the Capitol that may help pave the way for lane splitting in Colorado. Presently, Colorado prohibits lane splitting, or passing another vehicle while traveling in the same lane or between rows of vehicles.

Rep. Ron Weinberg has introduced HB-23-1059 to budget $75,000 on a motorcycle lane-splitting feasibility study. The Colorado Department of Transportation and Colorado State Patrol would research motorcycle lane splitting under the authority of Weinberg’s bill. 

According to Weinberg, the study will examine the benefits and any drawbacks of legalizing lane splitting in Colorado. Depending on the study's findings, Weinberg may propose legislation to make lane splitting legal in Colorado during the following legislative session.

Some text from the bill is below, but you can read the rest here - 

"5 THE DEPARTMENT, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COLORADO STATE
6 PATROL, SHALL STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF PERMITTING MOTORCYCLES TO
7 PASS OR OVERTAKE A MOTOR VEHICLE BY DRIVING ALONGSIDE THE MOTOR
8 VEHICLE IN THE SAME LANE OR DRIVING BETWEEN ROWS OF STOPPED OR
9 MOVING MOTOR VEHICLES, REFERRED TO IN THIS SECTION AS "LANE
10 SPLITTING". THE STUDY MUST, AT A MINIMUM:
11 (a) IDENTIFY AND ANALYZE THE BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS OF
12 PERMITTING MOTORCYCLE LANE SPLITTING; AND
13 (b) IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES RELATED TO PERMITTING
14 MOTORCYCLE LANE SPLITTING."

If you’re one of the many drivers who hears the term “lane splitting” and immediately imagines a 100mph sport bike zipping between you and another vehicle on I-70, you may actually like where this may go. 

A couple of specific and consistent things Rep. Weinberg has mentioned multiple times are 40mph speed limit or a 40mph zone and stopped traffic. When he discussed this topic at length on Jayson Luber’s podcast, his references for what he wanted to see sounded less like California’s lane-splitting and more like other states' lane-filtering definitions.

What’s the difference between lane splitting from lane-filtering?

In situations of stop-and-go or rush hour traffic, lane splitting turns into a fuel-saving, rider-protecting strategy. While lane splitting is permitted on all highways in California, some other states have legalized the practice with restrictions on the conditions and kind of roadways that the move is permitted on.

Lane filtering allows a motorcycle to trickle down between rows of stopped or slowly moving vehicles, as opposed to lane splitting, which enables a motorcycle to travel between rows of driving vehicles. Riders can move forward in the line by using this tactic, which is frequently seen at stoplights. Because motorcycles can accelerate to speed in a fraction of the time, this enables them to take off quickly with little to no delay for other vehicles.

Lane filtering is typically prohibited between a lane of moving traffic and a line of parked cars, a curb, or both. In many cities, such as Denver, these areas are often bicycle lanes. Each State has its own lane filtering regulations and definitions.

The speed of the nearby vehicles and the situation also determines the difference between lane splitting and filtering (rush hour traffic versus intersections). In many of the states that allow lane-filtering, a motorcycle would not be able to ride faster than 20mph between slow moving traffic while other states require traffic to be stopped.

In every state where lane splitting or lane filtering is allowed, if a motorcyclist doesn't feel comfortable, they are not required to lane split or filter.

Where is Lane-splitting legal? 

California is currently the only state where lane splitting isn't illegal. No specific law was passed stating the conditions when lane splitting is allowed. 

Instead, the DMV has three guidelines on how to lane-split safely.

1. When traffic is moving slower than 30mph
2. Don't travel more than 10mph faster than other traffic
3. Don't lane split around on-ramps and exitsWhere is lane-filtering legal?

Arizona
The three requirements are:

1. Speed limit less than 45mph
2. Motorcycle rider cannot travel faster than 15mph
3. Traffic must be stopped

Montana
Traffic must be moving less than 10mph and the motorcycle rider's speed can't be more than 10mph faster than traffic.

Hawaii
Motorcycles can't ride between lanes, but they can ride on the shoulder no faster than 10mph to pass stopped traffic. The rider cannot make any turns from the shoulder as well.

Utah
When traffic is stopped in an area with a 45mph speed limit or less, the motorcycle rider can ride between traffic no faster than 15mph. 

What are the safety benefits of lane-splitting?

There are three main advantages of lane splitting:

Simply put - it's safer. It has been established that motorcycle riders who split lanes suffer fewer and less severe injuries and are rear-ended less frequently.

A reduction in traffic is another benefit. Motorcycle riders occupy the same amount of space as cars on the road. Traffic in many situations would move quicker when motorcycles are allowed to escape to the front.

It reduces overheating in motorcycles. Idling in traffic could lead to overheating in motorcycles with air-cooled engines, which rely on fuel, lubrication, and airflow to keep the engine cool. 

What are the negative aspects to lane-splitting?

An obvious lane splitting hazard is a car that tries to change lanes without signaling or checking that the travel lane is clear. When there is a lot of traffic, drivers tend to quickly look over their shoulders to see if there’s enough space for their car instead of looking for approaching motorcycles before changing lanes.

Compared to driving a car, riding a motorcycle requires a higher level of ability, training, and awareness of one's surroundings. Riders will need to account for the size of the cars the rider wants to pass, the width of the lanes, the speed of the traffic, and other factors for lane splitting in Colorado to be safe. 

 

Is lane splitting safe?

Yes.

Surprisingly to most, an academic study published in 2015 proved that it’s a safe practice when done properly. The University of California Berkeley’s Safe Transportation Research & Education Center released the findings of their study in a report titled "Motorcycle Lane-splitting and Safety in Califonria."

Data showed that motorcycle riders who split lanes suffered injuries substantially less frequently in crashes.

Injuries to the head (9% vs. 17%), torso (19% vs. 29%), extremities (60% vs. 66%), and fatal injuries (1.2% vs. 3.0%) were less common among lane splitting riders.

Finally, riders who split lanes had a considerably lower chance of being rear-ended than other riders (2.6% vs. 4.6%).

Conclusion

We’re excited that one of our state legislators wants to study new ways to keep Coloradans safe on our roads. Even if this new bill passes, there’s no guarantee that any new Colorado lane-splitting laws will be proposed or passed, but for many motorcycle riders, this is a step in the right direction. 

If a new Colorado lane-splitting or lane-filtering law is passed, what happens if you are hurt by a careless driver?

Similar to other drivers, motorcyclists have the right to pursue financial and emotional damages for harms incurred as a result of another driver's reckless or dangerous actions. If you are following the law while riding your motorcycle and are injured by another driver, then this type of crash would be very similar to many of our other cases we’ve successfully litigated. 

How can a motorcycle accident attorney help?

Many individuals believe that motorcycles are always to blame for an accident, including those in the legal, insurance, and medical fields. This makes it challenging to prove any motorcycle accident case, but our attorneys are up to the challenge.

Our attorneys ride motorcycles and know the negative stereotypes motorcycle riders have. You deserve a legal team that understands that many law-abiding people enjoy riding motorcycles and that everyone has the right to seek compensation for injuries brought on by the negligence of others is necessary for motorcyclists who have been hurt.

If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, call Metier Law Firm for a free consultation. Our motorcycle accident attorneys have decades of experience fighting for injured riders’ rights.