It’s not necessarily safe to ride a motorcycle all months out of the year in New Jersey. Weather affects all vehicles, but especially smaller vehicles like motorcycles, and riding your motorcycle in deep winter might be particularly dangerous, making it best to avoid the practice altogether.
You can ride your motorcycle any time of the year, weather permitting. As soon as temperatures get above freezing and you don’t have to worry about ice, you can take out your bike without weather concerns, apart from rain. The majority of the year, New Jersey’s weather is suitable for motorcycle riding. Motorcycle accidents still happen frequently in the summer months, so better weather does not necessarily mean it’s safer to ride a motorcycle in New Jersey.
To schedule a free case evaluation, call New Jersey motorcycle accident lawyer Jerry Friedman at 1-800-529-4464.
What Months Are Best for Riding Motorcycles in New Jersey?
The majority of the year, the weather is fine for motorcycle riding in New Jersey. From the spring to the fall, a motorcycle can be a great way to get around the Garden State, barring any particularly bad weather.
If it’s an especially rainy spring season, you may want to refrain from riding your motorcycle as frequently. Motorcycles might lose traction in bad rain, and riders might have worse visibility than car drivers.
It sometimes snows well into March in New Jersey, and this might push back your motorcycle usage for the year. Don’t rush riding your bike if it’s still too icy, as that increases your risk of injury.
While the summer months provide optimal weather for motorcycle riding, that doesn’t mean the risk of an accident necessarily decreases. The summer and warmer weather often mean more people out on the road, some of whom might drive drunk, distracted, or recklessly, hitting motorcyclists.
Weather may not be a contributing factor to motorcycle accidents in the summer months in the same way it is in the winter, but crashes still happen at high rates during these months because of negligent drivers.
While some years are different than others, you can generally bank on being able to comfortably ride your motorcycle for more than half the year in New Jersey.
Can You Ride Your Motorcycle in the Winter Months?
If you want to ride your motorcycle in the colder winter months, especially January or February, exercise extra caution. Motorcycles easily lose traction when riding over slick, icy roads, and might be more at risk of single-vehicle accidents than passenger cars or trucks.
Not to mention, riding a motorcycle is less comfortable during the winter because of the cold temperatures. Wearing a heavier jacket, covering your face, wearing gloves, and making sure you have adequate eye protection can make riding your motorcycle in the winter more enjoyable.
In general, your motorcycle shouldn’t be your primary mode of transportation in the winter. If it’s very snowy or icy, riding a motorcycle becomes incredibly dangerous. Motorcyclists may be unable to slow down or stop effectively due to ice, putting them at risk of serious injury.
Should You Ride Your Motorcycle Year-Round in New Jersey?
New Jersey doesn’t place any legal restrictions on which months motorcyclists may ride their bikes in and around the Garden State. Whether or not you take your motorcycle out as it gets colder and icier, around November or December, is based on your comfort level and riding experience.
However, even the most experienced motorcyclists cannot control other drivers, who might lose control over their vehicles because of ice or snow during the winter.
If you ride your motorcycle year-round, you must be particularly careful in bad winter weather. Failing to adjust your speed or swerving in and out of lanes might make you partially liable for an accident involving another driver. New Jersey is a comparative fault state, so that might reduce the damages you are eligible to recover in a lawsuit.
Don’t take your motorcycle out on the road if you’re uncomfortable. While you should always wear a motorcycle helmet and other mandatory protective gear in New Jersey, this is especially important during the winter months when the risk of catastrophic injury may increase due to hazardous snow or ice.
Can I Get Compensation if Bad Weather Contributed to My Motorcycle Accident?
No matter the time of year, if you’re injured in a crash and the at-fault driver claims weather was the largest contributing factor, that could complicate your recovery. Call Jerry in this scenario, and he can help prove that the defendant was negligent, despite the bad weather conditions.
For example, suppose the accident happened during a bad rainstorm. Suppose the other driver did not adjust their behavior to account for the change in condition, like by slowing down or leaving more space between them and the motorcycle in front of them. In that case, their recklessness can make them fully liable. Not exercising caution in bad weather endangers everyone on the road, and victims can seek compensation from such drivers.
This is especially important in New Jersey, where a driver’s personal injury protection insurance will not cover their motorcycle accident injuries. You must pursue compensation against the other driver to get damages, which makes proving their liability despite the bad weather crucial.
Evidence that helps prove weather was not the primary cause of your recent motorcycle accident includes eyewitness statements, video footage, photos, and accident reconstruction reports. Jerry can organize this evidence for you once you contact us about filing a motorcycle accident lawsuit, so don’t wait to start your case.
Call Our New Jersey Motorcycle Accident Attorney for Help Now
To schedule a free case assessment with Newark, NJ motorcycle accident lawyer Jerry Friedman, call us today at 1-800-529-4464.