Motorcycle ridership has increased tremendously in Southern California. Increased traffic congestion and rising gas prices have resulted in more people opting to ride their motorcycle rather than drive their car. Unfortunately, the increase in motorcycle ridership has led to an increase in the number of motorcycle accidents in the Los Angeles area. The purpose of this blog is to highlight some of the relevant laws applying to motorcycle riders in California.
California Motorcycle Equipment Requirements
Custom bikes and choppers are very popular, particularly in Southern California, where there a number of custom motorcycle specialty shops. If you have recently moved into California or are operating a motorcycle in California, you should be aware of the following motorcycles equipment regulations:
- A DOT approved helmet is required.
- Rear-view mirrors are required.
- Brakes are required on both wheels.
- Handlebar height requirement- hand grips must be below shoulder height.
- Passenger seat and footrests are required when carrying a passenger.
- Headphones are prohibited if worn simultaneously in both ears (single ear is OK).
- Turn signals are required for motorcycles manufactured after September 1, 1973.
- Daytime headlamps required for motorcycles manufactured after September 1, 1978.
Motorcycles in California are subject to random inspections.
Operating a Motorcycle in California
If you are operating a motorcycle in California, you should be aware of the following statutes concerning motorcycles and their operation.
- License and permit requirements: to operate a motorcycle on public highways or in California, you must have an M-Class license. The DMV will issue an M endorsement after passing both a written test and a road test.
- California insurance requirements: Drivers involved in an accident must prove the existence of financial responsibility (usually liability insurance) or risk a one-year suspension of their driver's license.
- Helmet law: California requires riders to wear Department Of Transportation (DOT) approved helmets.
- Lane splitting: Lane splitting is legal in California, however, if you are involved in a collision while lane splitting be forewarned that the police will generally blame you for the crash.
- Statute of limitations: It is important to consult with an attorney soon as possible if you are involved in a motorcycle accident because the statute of limitations limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently issued a warning about helmets that are not DOT approved. It seems some companies are mislabeling helmets with stickers indicating the helmets are DOT approved. Don’t purchase a helmet with a removable sticker. DOT approved helmets should be appropriately stamped at the back of the helmet.
I hope you found this information helpful. Thanks for reading my blog. If you have a question or comment, please feel free to post it here, but keep in mind your response will not be confidential. If you have been injured or if a loved one has died in a motorcycle accident, seek experienced legal representation; contact me for immediate help and assistance.
2 comments:
I feel grateful to know about California motorcycle laws which not many of us have a fair idea on. Those who have been in an accident and have sustained a motorcycle accident injury, they will want to have help in settling your motorcycle accident claims with the insurance company. It is best to utilize the services of an experienced lawyer, who can take care of the legal matters, leaving them free to recuperate and get better quickly. Another great thing is that if you or your bike were damaged or injured in a motorcycle accident that was no fault of your own, you have rights under the law with regard to motorcycle accident settlement. By law, you should receive payment for all your medical bills, lost wages and for pain and suffering. Also, you should be paid to repair or replace your damaged motorcycle, and for any out-of-pocket expenses you incur due to your accident. For more information visit visit Work Accidents .
In every country, government should make strict laws which can reduce accidents. people who create accident should get big penalty by which they can not do this again.
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