Lane Laws for Motorcycles in Georgia

Traffic in Decatur and throughout the Atlanta area is getting more manic by the day. If you ride a motorcycle, it can be incredibly tempting to take advantage of the slim profile of your vehicle to bypass traffic gridlock. But it is important to be aware of what is allowed and what is not.

If you violate Georgia’s motorcycle lane laws, you not only risk getting a ticket and having your insurance go up, but you also could lose out on compensation if you get hurt in an accident. Of course, if you’ve been injured in an accident, the other driver’s insurance company is likely to insist that you were violating lane laws even if you were not. So it is important to know those laws. And it’s important to know that if you do get in an accident, you cannot trust anything the insurance company says, and it is wise to get advice from a dedicated accident attorney as soon as possible.

We urge you to read the Georgia Department of Driver Services Motorcycle Operations Manual for full details on state lane laws. For an introduction to the rules that apply to motorcyclists and other drivers with regard to lanes of traffic, here’s a brief summary.

Lane Sharing is Legal

Georgia law allows motorcycles to ride side by side in the same lane. That is known as lane sharing, and it’s a perfectly legal maneuver. Many drivers of four-wheeled vehicles do not realize this, and they may try to argue that a motorcyclist was violating the law when, in fact, the motorcyclist was taking advantage of the law and making sensible use of lane space. In many cases, it is recommended that motorcyclists traveling in groups stagger their formation to maximize visibility and increase the group’s stopping distance.

If more than two motorcycles ride abreast in a single lane, that is a violation of the lane-sharing law. In addition, a motorcycle cannot share a single lane with a car, truck, or other larger vehicle. The drivers of those vehicles must allow a motorcycle to use a full lane on its own. If a driver tries to move into a lane occupied by a motorcycle, that driver is in violation of the law. If an accident results, however, the insurance company for the driver of the larger vehicle will try to argue that the motorcyclist infringed on the other vehicle’s lane even if the opposite is true. To protect their rights, a motorcyclist in this situation needs to work with an attorney prepared to secure evidence showing that the other motorist, not the motorcyclist, was at fault.

Lane Splitting and Lane Filtering are Not Legal

In Europe and other parts of the world, it is common to see motorcycles riding between lanes of car and truck traffic. This is approved as a way to reduce traffic congestion. Although there are proponents advocating the use of roads by motorcycles, it is not an accepted practice in most of the U.S. Lane filtering is permitted in a few jurisdictions, whereas lane splitting is not. Neither practice is allowed in Georgia.

Lane filtering occurs when a motorcycle rides the line between stopped or very slow-moving vehicles stuck in a traffic jam or waiting at a stoplight. Lane splitting involves moving between lanes of cars or trucks that are proceeding at or near the speed limit. Georgia law does not distinguish between lane filtering and lane splitting. Both are prohibited by OCGA §40-6-312.

Consequences of Violating Motorcycle Lane Laws in Georgia

Motorcyclists and drivers of other vehicles can receive traffic citations for violating the lane laws. Many drivers don’t want to let a motorcyclist use a full lane, but if they try to crowd the bike out, they could be cited for a violation. If a motorcyclist tries lane splitting or lane filtering, they can receive a citation and could also potentially be held liable for reckless driving. Tickets for these offenses are reported to the insurance company, which may raise your rates or refuse to renew your policy.

But the biggest problem with a lane law violation could arise if a motorcyclist is involved in an accident while lane-splitting or otherwise appears to violate the law. That could be considered to be negligent, and if a motorcyclist’s own negligence is too great, then they cannot recover compensation for a motorcycle accident even if they are very badly injured.

The law considers the effects of each person’s actions in the accident. Their actions are rated by percentage of fault. A small amount of fault reduces the amount an accident victim receives in damages. A large amount of fault prevents the victim from recovering anything.

So if a motorcyclist was hurt in an accident while appearing to be in violation of the lane law and the judge believed that the motorcyclist’s actions were 50% or more responsible for causing the accident, then the victim gets nothing, even if every bone in their body was broken. Because of the impact of the comparative fault rule, insurance companies always try to use it to claim that an accident victim was really the one to blame for causing everything. It is important for accident victims to work with an accident lawyer as soon as possible so they can begin gathering and preserving evidence to demonstrate that someone else bears the majority of the blame.

Michael M. Day Law Firm Knows How to Fight for Maximum Recovery for Motorcycle Accident Victims

When you’re riding a motorcycle, you don’t have metal walls around you to protect you. Even when you’re wearing protective gear and the world’s best helmet, you’re still at risk of traumatic brain injuries and other catastrophic damage. So when an insurance company wrongfully tries to argue that a motorcyclist is to blame for their own injuries, it just isn’t right. The team at Michael M. Day Law Firm knows how to stand up to insurance companies and fight effectively to get accident victims the full compensation they deserve. We urge everyone to follow the law, and we work to hold others accountable when their irresponsible conduct causes harm. For a free consultation to learn what could be possible in your case, contact our team to schedule a free case evaluation.