As most motorcycle riders will tell you, riding these machines comes with a certain amount of freedom. It’s a thrilling experience to take to the open road, and a motorcycle can often go where many cars can’t. That includes riding between traffic lanes or lane splitting. But is lane splitting legal in Mississippi?

Traffic laws are designed to keep everyone on the road safe. There are specific laws depending on what type of vehicle you’re operating. For motorcyclists, lane splitting is now legal in the state of Mississippi.

This is actually a great way to reduce traffic congestion and save motorcyclists time on their trips. Although to car drivers, it might seem like motorcyclists are “cheating” by racing through a traffic jam, they are perfectly entitled to make those maneuvers provided they are obeying the other traffic laws, such as the speed limit.

When a motorcyclist gets into an accident with any vehicle, that rider is going to hit the road.

It’s unavoidable, given that a motorcycle does not have the same level of support as a car. It is also why Mississippi enacted a helmet law that requires every motorcycle rider and passenger to wear a helmet approved by the Mississippi Department of Transportation (DOT).

Unfortunately, even when wearing a helmet, a motorcyclist can still suffer a form of head trauma in a collision with a car or commercial vehicle.

If you or someone in your family has been in a motorcycle accident, it’s essential that you understand what all your options are for seeking compensation for any losses. That compensation includes current and future medical expenses. Depending on the type of head trauma, there could be months and maybe years of ongoing physical therapy and treatment.

The Jackson motorcycle accident lawyers working at Pittman, Roberts & Welsh, PLLC, are standing by to provide the guidance and information you need to determine what the next step should be to pursue a remedy. When calculating medical expenses, it is important to provide all the pertinent medical records associated with your head trauma. Those begin with the diagnosis and report of the initial exam.

The following post provides the signs of a head trauma after a motorcycle accident that you need to be aware of.

The moment you step into your car, you get to control your environment. In the summer, you can blast the AC to keep cool, while in the winter, you can crank up the heat to stay warm. Motorcyclists don’t have that luxury. They are constantly exposed to the elements, which is why they need special protection, and it is one of the reasons why motorcyclists wear leather.

Leather is a tough material that stands up to harsh weather. It isn’t completely waterproof, but it repels water, so it doesn’t seep into what you’re wearing underneath. You have to remember to treat the leather for added protection. Leather is also a good layer of protection against blowing winds.

There are many other benefits for motorcyclists who opt to wear leather, though.

As with all states, Mississippi has rules that apply to motorcycle drivers and riders who travel on our roadways. Most of the laws concerning responsible driving on a motorcycle are similar to those required for driving other vehicles.

However, motorcycles have a unique set of laws that all drivers and riders are required to follow regarding safety, specifically helmets.

So, what exactly are Mississippi’s motorcycle helmet laws, and how can drivers and bike riders ensure they abide by them?

In this blog, we’ll explain what the laws on helmet usage are for motorcyclists and what you and other bikers you know can do to make sure you stay safe out on the road.

There are a lot of different laws in Mississippi that can affect motorcycle riders. One of the most important is Mississippi Code § 63-9-11, which is the Mississippi motorcycle helmet law requiring all riders to wear a helmet while operating their vehicle in case of an accident.

If you are injured in a motorcycle accident and are not wearing a helmet, it could affect your ability to receive compensation for your injuries. Therefore, if you are injured in a motorcycle accident here in Jackson, you must speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer who can advise you of the rights Mississippi law affords you in this instance.

The most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) names Mississippi the most dangerous state in the nation for motorcyclists. With more fatalities per 10,000 registered motorcycles than other state in the U.S., Mississippi tops even other large, warm-climate states like Texas, Florida, and South Carolina in motorcycle accident deaths.

Truck and car drivers can do their part by exercising extreme caution when sharing the road with open-air vehicles like motorcycles. The body of a motorcycle offers very little protection to its rider, and collisions which cause negligible damage to a large car can be fatal to bikers.

Have you ever been sitting in your vehicle in standstill traffic, and all of a sudden, a motorcycle zoomed past you? They couldn’t have passed you in a lane because the other stopped cars all around you filled them. Instead, they were driving on the dotted lines and passed you in between the lanes. This is called road splitting or lane splitting. Even though it is legal in California and other parts of the world, road splitting is illegal in all the other states and is a dangerous practice that can cause serious accidents for motorcyclists and vehicle drivers alike.