Collision Involving Attempted Lane-Splitting on I-5
Lane-splitting may have been involved in a December 13 motorcycle crash with a motor vehicle. The collision happened around 5:38 p.m. along southbound I-5 north of the Garden Highway off-ramp. The incident report issued by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said it appeared that the motorcyclist was trying to split lanes near the Ford pickup when the accident happened.
Motorcyclist Hospitalized in Lane-Splitting Accident
Three lanes were blocked going southbound under West El Camino Avenue as the scene was cleared. The motorcycle rider suffered major injuries in the crash and was transported to UC Davis Medical Center for care. The motorcycle was picked up by a tow truck and removed. The CHP traffic crash unit is conducting an investigation to determine fault.
White-Lining in California
California is the only state in the nation that allows lane-splitting by motorcyclists, which is also called white-lining, filtering or stripe-riding. It was passed into law in 2016 and allows motorcyclists to pass other vehicles between the lanes between moving and stopped vehicles. This maneuver is allowed on highways, roads and divided or undivided streets. The reason this law was passed was to decrease travel time and reduce traffic congestion.
White-Lining Guidelines
The CHP released safety guidelines for filtering through traffic in 2018 and apply to both motorcycle riders and other motorists. They include:
- Only those experienced motorcyclists who can handle their bikes at lower speeds should attempt filtering.
- Motorcycle riders are only allowed to ride between the two leftmost lanes.
- Stripe-riding is never permitted on the right side of a vehicle.
- Filtering should never be attempted if highway speeds exceed 50 mph and the speed difference between cars and motorcycles is more than 10 mph.
- Riders should use caution and prepare to stop suddenly if needed.
- Filtering between larger vehicles such as semis, buses and the like is not recommended.
- Riders should always use hand gestures or signals when lane-splitting.
When Motorists Are Negligent
Types of negligence exhibited by motorists that can lead to a white-lining accident include:
- Changing lanes without looking first for a motorcyclist who is filtering.
- Driving aggressively or recklessly could cause an accident.
- Blocking a lane intentionally to prevent a rider from filtering.
- Opening a vehicle door without looking for an oncoming motorcycle.
Legal Help for Motorcycle Accidents
If you are choosing a motorcycle accident lawyer, you should take their success rate into consideration. Many factors can be at play during an investigation of a motorcycle accident, such as negligent drivers and neglected maintenance. Throughout our years in business, AutoAccident.com has helped many motorcycle riders receive fair compensation for their injuries.
When seeking legal aid, Ed Smith provides the following tips that can assist you in making a more informed decision:
Sacramento Motorcycle Crash Lawyer
I am Ed Smith. I am a Sacramento motorcycle crash lawyer. Riders who suffer motorcycle accidents often sustain serious injuries that result in costly medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Compensation may be sought by the injured rider when negligence by another motorist was the cause of the accident. Please call (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly advice from our injury lawyers. If you are calling from a long distance, you can call us at (800) 404-5400. You also have the option of contacting us online.
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Photo attribution: Image by Raphael Stäger from Pixabay
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