Riding a motorcycle can be a deeply rewarding experience, allowing you to connect with nature, yourself, and the world around you in fulfilling and empowering ways. When inattentive or drunk drivers get behind the wheel and do not follow the rules of the road or respect the right of choppers to be on the street, they put others at serious risk of getting hurt or killed in a preventable accident. One way to protect yourself and others from this possibility is to deepen your knowledge of the regulations that apply to those who ride motorbikes.
At Shook & Stone, we have a comprehensive understanding of Reno motorcycle traffic laws and how to fight for your best interests. Because of our longstanding practice in this field, we can anticipate the tactics insurance companies and others may use to wrongfully point fingers at a biker who was doing everything right. We can leverage our knowledge and skills in this area to craft well-reasoned arguments to help show that the other driver—not you—is primarily at fault.
In Reno, people who ride motorcycles have the same types of rights and responsibilities as their passenger car peers, as explained in Nevada Revised Statutes § 486.331. For example, under Nev. Rev. Stat. § 486.271, a motorcyclist should have properly installed turn signals that they use to notify others that they are going to change lanes or enter or depart from the roadway. Additionally, a motorcyclist who is turning, parking, or leaving a parking lot should leave space for trucks and other vehicles that have the right of way.
That said, Nevada does have regulations that address issues that are unique to motorcyclists. For example, Nev. Rev. Stat. § 486.181 makes it illegal for riders to carry more than one passenger at a time unless the manufacturer designed it to carry two or more non-drivers legally and safely. Likewise, Nev. Rev. Stat. § 486.351 allows a maximum of two people who are riding their bobbers to do so next to each other in a single lane as long as both drivers agree to this.
Riding your motorcycle is a wonderful way to unwind at the end of a long day, and by being aware of the traffic laws in Reno, you allow yourself to enjoy your freedom on two wheels safely. When another motorist cuts you off, does not share the lane with you, or engages in other reckless behavior that harms you, connecting with knowledgeable lawyers could help you advocate for your rights.
Because motorbikes have such different equipment and makeup than other automobiles, those who ride them need to have special licenses or endorsements. For example, as Nev. Rev. Stat. § 486.061 describes, the person may apply for a motorcycle license or add an endorsement to their regular driver’s license. Additionally, those who have a driving permit may operate a motorcycle if they follow the requirements laid out in Nev. Rev. Stat. § 483.280.
Under Nev. Rev. Stat. § 486.071, someone applying for permission to lawfully drive a bobber may have to take special safety courses. In these lessons, they may learn how to properly balance, maneuver, and drive the vehicle in live traffic. In some courses, the instructor may set up a miniature roadway in an empty parking lot, so participants can test out their knowledge of the motorcycle traffic laws in Reno under the guidance of an experienced rider.
Getting to safely enjoy your time on your bike can rejuvenate you and help protect you so you can continue to ride long into the future. Just because your vehicle has two wheels instead of four, it does not mean you have any less right to enjoy the feel of the open roadway.
When motorists do not respect the Reno motorcycle traffic laws, and you get hurt because of it, consider contacting Shook & Stone for legal help. We provide free, no-obligation consultations and have decades of experience in this field.
