Motorcycle accidents can be traumatic affairs, and the last thing injured cyclists need to be told is that the collision was their fault for violating traffic laws. A credible argument that a motorcyclist was not observing the rules of the road can deprive the injured bike rider of damages and invite legal consequences. That is why motorcycle riders should understand what Connecticut law has to say about motorcycles riding in traffic lanes.
Under Connecticut law, vehicles are limited to using a single lane on a road. If you are driving a car, you cannot occupy the same lane side by side with another car. This is a well-known fact of the road, and the vast majority of motorists operate as the law requires. Motorcycle riders are granted this same right and requirement under law. As a motorcyclist, you are mandated to have full use of a single lane. Another vehicle cannot ride side by side in the same lane with you.
State law also prohibits motorcycles from performing a number of actions while in a lane. As a motorcycle rider, you cannot drive up to a vehicle in front of you and pass it up if the vehicle is in the same lane as you. Connecticut law also forbids lane splitting. This is when motorcycles drive between two different traffic lanes, which is not only illegal but extremely dangerous.
Some motorcyclists are tempted to perform reckless actions because of the small size and maneuverability of their bikes. However, acts such as lane splitting will only increase the odds of getting into a car wreck that you will likely be blamed for and put you in legal trouble for violating traffic laws. It is best to observe the traffic laws so that if an accident should occur, the other party cannot credibly point a finger at you for causing the incident.
Motorcycle accidents take many different forms, so do not read this informational article as any kind of actionable legal advice for your situation.
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