When someone is operating a motorcycle, they have the obligation to abide by all traffic laws that apply to any motorist on the road. Failing to abide by these safety laws puts themselves and others at risk of severe harm. These violations could result in an injury to another motorcyclist, any passengers on the motorcycle, motorists, and pedestrians.

By following the motorcycle laws in Cincinnati, you not only protect yourself from preventable harm, you also minimize your liability in the event of a collision. If another motorist’s recklessness caused you harm, you can file a claim for damages with the help of a well-practiced injury attorney from our firm.

Who Can Operate a Motorcycle Under Cincinnati Law?

In order to operate a motorcycle in the state of Ohio, you must have a motorcycle license or a motorcycle endorsement on your driver’s license. The requirements for obtaining a license or endorsement vary on whether you are over the age of 18.

If you are 18 years old or older, you can obtain an endorsement or a license through a motorcycle skills test and knowledge test to address skills such as accelerating, turning safely, braking, adjusting speed, making quick stops, making decisions in a crisis situation, and communicating with other drivers.

If you are under the age of 18, you must complete a motorcycle basics course and meet all the requirements of a graduated driver’s license. This means that you need to obtain a learner’s permit, also known as an instruction permit, which is obtained by passing a knowledge test. You are also going to need your parents or legal guardians to sign a permission slip.

With that temporary instructions permit, you can only operate a motorcycle in daylight. Driving at night is not permitted, nor is carrying any passengers on the motorcycle. You are not permitted to operate the motorcycle on an interstate, highway or congested roads. You are also required to wear a helmet as well as eye protection.

A temporary instruction permit is valid for only one year and you need to carry it whenever you are riding a motorcycle. If that permit were to expire before you obtain your license, you are going to need to retake the knowledge test and obtain another permit.

After a motorcyclist holds that permits for six months, they can proceed with getting the license or the endorsement by completing the motorcycle course. They also must complete the driver’s education course.

Motorcycle Helmet Laws

In Ohio, the law requires a motorcyclist to wear a helmet if they are 18 years of age or younger. Motorcyclist who are within the first year of getting their motorcycle license or have a temporary license must also wear helmets under this law.

Failure to wear proper safety gear can result in the motorcyclist being cited for a minor misdemeanor. The level of the misdemeanor can increase depending on if the motorcyclist had previously violated the helmet law.

Benefits of Wearing Safety Gear

The biggest benefit of wearing a helmet while operating a motorcycle is it provides head protection. It also provides some indirect benefits as well, such as noise reduction and protection from the elements, such as sun glare and rain.

Helmets also provide some warmth if the motorcyclist is operating the bike in the wintertime. Finally, helmets also protect motorcyclists from insects and flying debris.

How Do Motorcycle Laws Impact Liability?

If someone is injured in a motorcycle accident and they were not in compliance with the law, it could be determined that they were negligent. This could impact the percentage of fault allocated to a claimant by a court.

Failing to wear a helmet can also potentially be an issue regarding comparative negligence. If a person is determined to be negligent by failing to wear safety gear or by violating a traffic statute, that could result in the reduction of their overall recovery. By following motorcycle laws in Cincinnati, a biker can increase their chances of a full recovery in the event of a wreck.

Learn More About Motorcycle Laws in Cincinnati with an Attorney

Motorcycle accidents can cause catastrophic or even fatal harm to bikers. While it is best to avoid an accident entirely, sometimes that is impossible. In the event of a collision, it is important for a biker to be able to prove they were following the motorcycle laws in Cincinnati to minimize their chances of a reduced recovery.

If you or your loved one were harmed in a motorcycle crash caused by another’s negligent actions, do not hesitate to seek legal recourse. Call our office today and schedule your first consultation for free.