Atlantic City Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

New Jersey law governs various aspects of motorcycle riding and safety, including helmet requirements, bike equipment requirements, and rules of the road for motorcyclists. Here are a few of the most significant ones.

New Jersey motorcycle license requirements. All motorcycles must be titled, registered, and insured. Residents operating a motorcycle in New Jersey must have a motorcycle license or an endorsement on their existing driver’s license. A motorcycle license is similar to a driver’s license, but is only for motorcycles. An endorsement, in contrast, is an addition to your current driver’s license that allows you to legally operate a motorcycle as well as a car. New Jersey accepts motorcycle endorsements from other states.

Whether you already have a driver’s license or you want to obtain a motorcycle-only license, if you are under the age of 18 then the first step is to take a Basic Rider Course from an approved provider. Upon successful completion, you’ll receive a stamped waiver form and completion card. If you are older than age 18, you do not need to take this course, but must get a motorcycle permit.

If you are over the age of 18 and already have a driver’s license, you must first apply for a motorcycle permit at your local motor vehicle agency. You must pass vision and knowledge tests. Upon passing these tests, you can schedule a road test on your motorcycle. The road test takes place 20 days after taking your knowledge and vision tests so that you have time to practice.

If you do not have a driver’s license and wish to get a motorcycle-only license, you must practice ride for six months after receiving your permit if you’re younger than age 21, or three months if you’re older than 21, and receive no citations during this time. After this period, you can take your road test; upon successfully passing, you’ll receive a probationary license. For one year, you are not allowed to ride after dark, on state-restricted toll roads, or with passengers. Completing the probationary year qualifies you for a full motorcycle license NJ.

While riding with only a permit, you cannot:

• ride with passengers on your motorcycle.
• ride on any toll road or limited-access highway.
• and, ride after dusk or before dawn.

Safety helmet. New Jersey law provides that “No person shall operate or ride upon a motorcycle unless he wears a securely fitted protective helmet of a size proper for that person and of a type approved by the federal DOT.” Such a helmet must be equipped with either a neck or chin strap and have reflectors on both sides. This law exists for riders’ safety. Unhelmetd riders are three times more likely to die from head injuries in an accident than helmeted riders.

Eye protection. All motorcycle drivers must wear protective eyewear, such as goggles or a face shield, unless the motorcycle has a windscreen.

Lights and reflectors. All motorcycles must have at least one working headlight, but not more than two, along with a brake light, tail light, license plate light, and at least one rear reflector. The law does not require turn signals, but they are an excellent safety feature.

Mirrors. Motorcycles in New Jersey must have at least one rear-view mirror so that the motorcyclist can see all of the vehicles and road hazards in the area.

Passenger seat. Motorcycles designed to carry more than one person must have a passenger seat and adequate passenger footrests.

Handlebar height. Handlebars cannot be higher than the shoulder height of the driver while seated.

You must have proof of insurance to register a motorcycle in New Jersey. The state law requires a minimum of $15,000 in liability insurance, $30,000 for total bodily injury for multiple people, and $5,000 for property damage.

Different levels of coverage are available. Underinsured Motorist/Uninsured Motorist is a type of motorcycle coverage that isn’t required by NJ law, but it is important to carry if you can afford it. It protects you in the event you get into an accident in which the other driver is at fault, but that driver either has no insurance, or not enough insurance to cover your injuries.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you may face huge medical bills, loss of income, and costly repairs to your bike, all because of someone else’s dangerous decisions of actions. In many cases, New Jersey law allows you to take legal action against the at-fault party seeking compensation for your injuries and losses.

The law of negligence is the basis for most motorcycle accident lawsuits. We all must take care to avoid injuring others who use New Jersey roads. Negligence is “A failure to behave with the level of care that someone of ordinary prudence would have exercised under the same circumstances.” Atlantic City motorcycle accidents often happen because someone other than the motorcyclist failed to exercise that level of care, making that person, business, or entity legally liable to the motorcyclist for damages.

In many Atlantic City motorcycle accidents, the driver of a car or truck that collides with a motorcycle has a legal liability to the injured biker. However, drivers are not the only parties who can owe damages after a motorcycle crash.

Depending upon the circumstances, others could include:

• The employer of a driver who crashes a work vehicle into a motorcycle;
• The local or state government entity responsible for the maintenance of a roadway, if an unreasonably dangerous, preventable hazard caused the accident;
• The manufacturer of the motorcycle, if a defective part caused a mechanical failure that led to a crash; and
• The repair shop that did a poor job of inspecting or maintaining a motorcycle, leading to a dangerous condition that caused an accident.

These are just a few examples. Virtually any person, business, or organization could face legal liability to an injured motorcyclist after an Atlantic City bike wreck. To learn who may owe you money damages for the harm you suffered in a crash, contact an experienced Atlantic City motorcycle accident injury lawyer today.

Atlantic City motorcycle accidents happen in all kinds of ways.

Some common causes include:

• Driving a car or truck under the influence. Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs can lead to deadly accidents, as well as criminal and civil and liability. Alcohol and drug use is a factor in many motor vehicle accidents, and drunk drivers put motorcyclists at extreme risk of harm.
• Speeding. A driver who speeds has time to see and react to motorcyclists than a driver operating at a safe speed. In general, the higher the speed of a collision between a car or truck and a motorcycle, the more severe the injuries to the motorcyclist.
• Left-turn accidents. Approximately 42 percent of all accidents involving a motorcycle and a car happen when cars make left-hand turns into the path of a motorcycle. Usually, the car hits the motorcycle when the motorcycle is passing the car, trying to overtake the car, or traveling through an intersection.
• Unsafe lane changes. Motorcycles are smaller than most other vehicles, and can disappear in car and truck blind spots. A driver who fails to check their blind spots for motorcyclists risks changing lanes into a motorcycle’s path, causing an accident.
• Car doors. Motorcyclists are frequently victims of “dooring.” This happens when a driver in a parked car opens a door directly into the path of a motorcycle approaching the car from behind, resulting in a potentially fatal collision between the motorcycle and the door.
• Sudden stops. Drivers often fail to appreciate that motorcycles can brake and stop much more quickly than cars or trucks. Motorcyclists also often downshift, rather than squeeze the brakes, to slow down. Drivers who follow motorcyclists too close risk a rear-end collision with a motorcycle in these situations.
• Motorcycle defects. A defect in the motorcycle or a motorcycle part can cause a sudden, unexpected mechanical failure, resulting in a deadly accident.

Experienced lawyers for Atlantic City motorcycle accident victims know that bikers can suffer a wide, and potentially deadly, assortment of injuries in a crash.

Some common injuries these lawyers have the skill and know-how to handle include:

• Traumatic brain injuries;
• Spinal cord injuries;
• Serious injuries to the back, neck, or head;
• Severe road rash;
• Internal injuries;
• Complex bone fractures, crushed limbs, and traumatic amputations;
• Extreme orthopedic and soft-tissue injuries; and
• Wrongful death.

If you suffered injuries in an Atlantic City motorcycle accident that wasn’t your fault, then you likely have the legal right to seek compensation from the party at-fault. Every motorcycle crash has unique features that affect the types and amounts of compensation you may seek to recover.

However, legal actions after an Atlantic City motorcycle crash can often secure compensation to help pay for:

• Medical expenses related to the treatment of accident injuries, including emergency care, surgeries, hospitalizations and long-term care stays, medication, and medical equipment.
• Other expenses that result from the accident and injuries, such as costs of adapting a home to accommodate a new disability, or hiring help with day-to-day activities.
• Past and future lost income due to missing work because of motorcycle accident injuries;
• Pain, suffering, and diminished quality of life and relationships caused by the injuries; and
• In some cases, punitive damages that extreme recklessness or other egregious conduct that led to a crash.

The law does not guarantee that an Atlantic City motorcycle accident victim will recover compensation. However, victims of motorcycle crashes can give themselves the best possible chance of securing the compensation they need and deserve by hiring an experienced motorcycle accident injury lawyer as soon as possible after suffering their injuries.

• The most important thing you can do is take care of your health and safety. Move to a safe area, check yourself and others for injuries and call 911 for immediate assistance from a medical professional or ambulance. Let an EMT examine you, go to the hospital by ambulance if recommended, and follow up with your regular doctor for a full exam to screen for injuries.
• If you do not call 911, you should still call the police. They will investigate the scene and file a police report, which you may need later if you file a lawsuit.
• Gather as much contact information as possible from the other party and any other witnesses to the accident.
• If you can, take pictures from several angles of the damage to your motorcycle, your injuries, the other vehicle, and the scene of the accident.
• Save your motorcycle, clothing, and helmet. These may constitute important pieces of evidence in a claim for damages.
• Do not admit fault or discuss your case with insurance representatives before speaking with an attorney.
• Make copies of all medical records, insurance information, and other documentation.
• Contact an experienced Atlantic City motorcycle accident lawyer right away. You have only limited time to take action to protect your legal rights and financial interests.

If you or someone you love suffered injuries in an Atlantic City motorcycle accident, then consult with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney at the Levin Firm as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.