Motorcycle Accidents

Nevada is the perfect place to ride a motorcycle: beautiful weather, open roads and a great motorcycle community. Las Vegas and Motorcycles Go Together like Burgers and Fries; however, Las Vegas ranks among the top U.S. cities for its number of motorcycle accident fatalities each year.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nhtsa.gov motorcyclists as a whole experience accidents more often than other motorists and are more likely to suffer severe or fatal injuries. Injuries from this type of accident can include brain damage, spinal cord trauma, broken bones, road rash and even death.

The open desert roads outside of the Vegas Strip seem to call for a motorcycle to explore. The dark side of that earthly pleasure is the significantly high number of motorcycle accidents that annually occur on those beautiful highways.

Even if a motorcyclist is extremely careful, they are still vulnerable to negligent drivers. Cars and trucks can have blind spots that can make spotting a motorcycle difficult or sometimes entirely impossible. Constant awareness on the part of the motorcycle driver is of the utmost importance, but even the safest motorcycle driver can become victim to the negligence of another driver. And because motorcyclists have minimal protection when they collide with a larger vehicle, the results can be catastrophic.

Because motorcycle accident injuries can be so life changing, it is necessary to obtain maximum compensation to pay for medical expenses, rehabilitation, lost income and motorcycle damage. Our experienced attorneys understand the type of injuries motorcyclists suffer and know how to make the insurance companies do the right thing. Contact our office for a no-pressure and free consultation so we can help you fight for your rights.

If you have any questions or concerns about Nevada’s motorcycle laws or if you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, you need an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer on your side. Please contact our law firm for free legal guidance.

Before You Ride – Know Your Responsibilities : Las Vegas Motorcycle Safety Laws

Motorcyclists in Las Vegas and throughout the state of Nevada must follow the same traffic rules that every driver of a vehicle must follow; however, Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles dmvnv.com also has special safety conditions motorcyclists must comply with:

Motorcyclists in Nevada have licensing requirements, helmet laws, and safety equipment regulations that every motorcycle driver must obey. If involved in a motorcycle crash, the failure to adhere to these laws can lead to you being held partially responsible for causing your injuries.

What are Nevada’s Licensing Requirements to Drive a Motorcycle

A Class M license is required to drive a motorcycle in the state of Nevada. To apply:

You need to show Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles proof of residency and your age. You must be 18 years of age & older to apply for a permit. A permit is good up to 6 months from the date it was issued and can only be renewed once in a 5 year period. To complete your permit, you must successfully pass the DMV-administered skills test. Or you have the option of presenting a certificate (dated within one year) showing you have successfully completed one of Nevada’s many motorcycle safety program classes, such as Nevada’s Department of Public Safety NevadaRider.com and further testing at the Department of Motor Vehicles will be waived. If you are new Nevada resident with a motorcycle license from another state, you have 30 days to transfer you license with Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.

Can I apply for a permit if I’m under the age of 18

Permits can be issued to individuals under 18 years of age but they are valid for one year from the date of issuance. Your permit may be renewed if necessary as many times as needed but it will expire on your 18th birthday.

Do I Have to Wear a Motorcycle Helmet in Nevada

Motorcycle riders and their passengers are required to always wear a motorcycle helmet while riding a motorcycle bike on a road or highway in Nevada. Before purchasing a motorcycle helmet in the state of Nevada, make sure the helmet is DOT compliant and has a manufacturer label certifying that the helmet meets with the strict federal safety standards as set forth by the U.S. Department of Transportation Transportation.gov

If your motorcycle is not equipped with a windshield or windscreen, you cannot wear an open face helmet. A protective face shield or goggles must be worn at all times along with a helmet. If you do not adhere to Nevada’s helmet laws, apart from risking your life, you incur stiff penalties and fines that over time can lead to your license being suspended.

Nevada Motorcyclists Have The Right To:
Motorcyclists have the right to use a whole traffic lane. After coming to a full stop prior to the crosswalk at a traffic signal, a motorcyclist may proceed straight through or turn left or right. If after coming to a full stop prior to the crosswalk at a traffic signal, and the traffic light is found to be either malfunctioning or if the light was not triggered by the motorcycle, a motorcyclist may proceed after the traffic light completes two cycles.

Nevada Motorcyclists Do Not Have The Right To Split Lanes

Lane sharing or splitting lanes means to pass or ride next to another vehicle in the same travel lane. Motorcyclists in Nevada are not allowed to Split Lanes or share lanes. This means a motorcycle operator is not allowed to pass or ride next to another vehicle in the same travel lane whether that vehicle is moving or not. This means a motorcycle operator cannot ride next to another vehicle in the same travel lane or between moving or stationary vehicles.

There is an exception to this law for police officers.
There is an exception to this law if two motorcycle riders agree to ride two abreast in the same travel lane.
It is not legal for more than two motorcyclists to ride side by side in the same lane.

In Nevada what Equipment Is Mandatory on a Motorcycle?
All motorcycles in the state of Nevada must be outfitted with the following equipment:

Headlights –a motorcycle must have at least one and no more than two
Taillight –must be a red taillight that can be seen for 500 feet
Stoplight or brake light –must be visible for 300 feet in daylight
Reflector –at least one rear reflector visible for 300 feet when lit with low beams
Brakes –both front and rear brakes are compulsory
Electric turn signals (except for motorcycles manufactured before 1973)
Two Rearview mirrors –one must be mounted on each handlebar
Handlebars – Nevada does not permit handlebar height to extend more than six inches above the rider’s shoulders when the rider is in a seated position.
Fenders –on front and back wheels
Footrests –adjustable to fit passengers
Horn
Muffler – Nevada’s motorcycle exhaust laws require a proper motorcycle muffler

What is the legal motorcycle exhaust noise level in Nevada

Motorcycles traveling at 35 miles per hour or slower must have a decibel level lower than 82 decibels.
Motorcycles traveling more than 35 miles per hour can go as high as 86 decibels.
Motorcyclists should also check with their local cities or county authorities to become aware of any additional noise ordinance laws or regulations that may apply to a particular community or to a particular time of day or night.
Also Important for all motorcyclists to know is that it is illegal in the state of Nevada to use a “muffler cutout, bypass or similar device” to boost exhaust noise level.

What Do I Need to Know Before I Carry a Passenger on my Motorcycle

It is illegal in the state of Nevada to ride with more than one passenger if your motorcycle is not equipped for it.
A motorcycle passenger is only permitted to ride behind the driver on a seat designated for one passenger, or in an attached sidecar.
The motorcycle must be equipped with adjustable footrests for a passenger.
While traveling, the passenger’s feet must be always on their own footrests.

Gina Corena & Associates is dedicated to fighting for the rights of the people who suffer life-changing injuries in car, truck and motorcycle accidents as well as other types of personal injury.

We wish you safe driving, but if you or a loved one has been seriously or fatally injured in a motorcycle crash and want outstanding legal representation, call us today to schedule a free consultation. We are always here to help. Call Gina Corena & Associates now at (702) 680-1111.