It might seem like a casual detail, but safety lighting is critically important in many accident cases and even more important in motorcycle accidents. At the beginning of dusk, as daylight starts to fall away, such conditions can cause dangerously low-lit sections of roads. The issue compounds as twilight unfolds, which is why at some point, law enforcement officers who see vehicles without headlights on will often stop the vehicles and cite the drivers. The danger is even worse after dark where without proper lighting, serious accidents can result. As difficult as it can be to see motor vehicles at night, without proper lighting, it’s even more difficult to identify motorcycles. Many drivers just don’t have the peripheral vision for these smaller vehicles and find it hard to see them on the road. However, adequate safety lights can work effectively to clue oncoming drivers that there is an obstacle on the road. People almost always respond to these professionally-designed types of lighting — flares or proper electric lights — because they’re bright enough to appear prominently and mark a path for traffic. Consider the following section from a New York statute that applies to large vehicles. It is an excellent example of why warning lights are so important and how the state of New York views them as a common-sense precaution for different types of roadway emergencies: “Every omnibus having a seating capacity of more than ten passengers, every truck having a maximum gross weight in excess of twelve thousand pounds and every combination of tractor and trailer operated upon a public highway shall carry emergency lighting equipment…flares of the type used by railroads, flaring candles, torches, lanterns or red emergency reflectors…in front of and in the rear of the vehicle for at least eight hours. No red emergency reflector shall be deemed adequate within the meaning of this subdivision unless it is of a size and type approved by the commissioner.”
Representing Victims in Motorcycle Accidents
Qualified personal injury lawyers look carefully at every motorcycle accident to determine all aspects of the case and whether safety precautions were properly followed. Skilled attorneys look for any evidence of negligence or inattention to public safety, which may mean that third parties have a responsibility to compensate injury victims for the costs of care and other costs such as lost wages, pain and suffering and more.
Ask New York City Motorcycle Accident Attorneys About Your Injury Case
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident or any other type of accident in New York City, call the lawyers at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff. We are experienced attorneys who are prepared to handle cases within the five boroughs and beyond. Let us advise you of your options under the law.