A motorcyclist is 22 times more likely to get into a fatal accident than a traditional vehicle driver who travels the same number of miles. That does not mean motorcycle accidents are more common than car accidents. However, it does mean that the risk of a crash is higher and that the consequences are more severe for motorcyclists.
After a crash, your compliance with motorcycle licensing requirements in Albuquerque, NM, will become relevant. A lack of proper training and experience might imply that you were not riding carefully. And the other driver involved in your crash can use that implication to shift the blame for your injuries onto you.
Thankfully, you can turn to Curiel & Runion Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to fight these assertions and work to ensure a fair outcome for you. If you need help, contact our Albuquerque personal injury attorneys at (505) 594-3621 for a free initial consultation.
How Curiel & Runion Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident in Albuquerque, NM
Since 2011, Curiel & Runion Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers has amassed a 98% success rate on behalf of injured people in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We have successfully recovered over $50 million in compensation for our clients.
If you were hurt in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else’s actions, our Albuquerque personal injury lawyers will use their 55 years of combined legal experience to tailor a customized strategy.
That includes the following services:
- Discussing your injuries and goals for your case
- Investigating your accident to gather evidence
- Filing an insurance claim to try to reach a settlement
- Litigating against the at-fault party in the event that the insurer refuses to settle
A motorcycle does not protect its rider against catastrophic head and brain injuries in the event of a crash. With that in mind, do not hesitate to contact our Albuquerque motorcycle accident lawyers for a free consultation to learn about your legal right to pursue compensation for your damages.
How Does Rider Inexperience Affect Crash Risk?
Research shows that unlicensed motorcyclists are at twice the risk of dying in a crash than licensed riders. Generally, about 20% of motorcycle operators do not have valid licenses, but that percentage jumps to about 40% regarding motorcyclists in fatal crashes.
New Mexico saw a total of 54 fatal motorcycle accidents in a recent year. Up to 22 of these disastrous crashes might have involved an unlicensed rider. Extrapolate those numbers further, and unlicensed operators might have been involved in hundreds of non-fatal motorcycle accidents that year.
Requirements For a New Mexico Motorcycle License
New Mexico’s Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) issues driver’s licenses and provides the following options for obtaining an endorsement:
Pass a Motorcycle Safety Course
Riders between the ages of 13 and 17 must take a motorcycle safety course to obtain their license. The course teaches them how to handle a motorcycle using both classroom and hands-on instruction.
The classroom portion explains traffic laws and includes a written exam, while the hands-on section covers the following:
- Learning the parts of a motorcycle
- Inspecting the motorcycle before riding
- Starting, stopping, and shifting safely
- Cornering and making emergency maneuvers
- Developing and following safe riding strategies
The hands-on course ends with a road test. To complete the course, students must pass both the road test and the written test. Riders 17 and under must also pass the driver’s license exam at the MVD. However, the MVD will waive the road test requirement if the applicant has already passed a road test for their safety course.
Riders who are either 13 or 14 can obtain a license only for motorcycles under 100cc in displacement. Young riders are also not allowed to carry passengers with them on their motorcycles.
Lastly, riders 18 and older do not need to take the motorcycle safety course. If they do, the MVD will waive both the road and knowledge tests. If they do not, they must pass a written and road test.
Take a Road and Knowledge Test
The MVD administers road and knowledge tests for applicants 18 or older who did not pass a motorcycle safety course. Applicants can download the manuals necessary to study before taking the tests.
Move To New Mexico With a Valid License
If you move to New Mexico with a valid, albeit out-of-state, driver’s license, the state will exchange it for a New Mexico motorcycle license or endorsement on your new driver’s license. You do not need to take the motorcycle rider safety course or the tests, though you must provide proof that you now reside in New Mexico.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With Our Albuquerque Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Motorcycle accidents can happen even when riders do everything right, including obtaining a valid operator license. Contact Curiel & Runion Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to learn about your right to pursue compensation after a collision.