May is here, and so is the open road. For thousands of Nevada riders, that means longer rides, warmer evenings, and the freedom that two wheels can offer. But this May, it’s especially important. Governor Joe Lombardo officially proclaimed May 2026 as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in Nevada, and the timing couldn’t matter more.
Sixteen motorcycle riders lost their lives in Clark County in the first quarter of 2026 alone.
Nevada’s Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month: Why It’s Happening Now
The Governor’s proclamation is a direct response to a troubling trend. Clark County accounts for more than 70% of all statewide motorcycle fatalities, and the numbers from the first quarter of 2026 already signal a rough riding season ahead.
Nevada’s Zero Fatalities campaign has been working to change that. The goal is exactly what the name says: zero fatalities, because there is no acceptable number of traffic fatalities.
Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month ties directly into that effort, asking drivers and riders alike to pay closer attention, slow down, and share the road with more intention.
What Riders Can Do During Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
Safe riding is never just one person’s responsibility. But riders do have control over a few things that can dramatically shift the odds.
Gear Up, Every Time
No ride is too short to skip the helmet. Nevada law requires helmets for all motorcycle riders and passengers, full stop. Beyond the helmet, proper riding gear, including jackets, gloves, and boots, provides meaningful protection that regular clothing simply cannot.
Take a Refresher Course
Even experienced riders benefit from brushing up. The Nevada DMV offers a Motorcycle Safety Program, and courses are available statewide. If you haven’t been on the bike all winter, a few hours of structured practice before hitting the highway is time well spent.
Be Seen
Ride in positions that keep you visible. Use your headlight. Wear high-visibility gear when possible. Assume you’re not being seen, and ride accordingly.
Watch the Intersections
Intersections account for a disproportionate number of motorcycle accidents. Slow down, scan, and never assume the driver turning left has actually seen you.
What Drivers Can Do to Prevent Fatal Crashes
Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is aimed at everyone on the road, not just riders.
- Look twice, save a life: Check your blind spots twice before changing lanes or making turns at intersections (especially left turns). Motorcycles can disappear into spots that cars fill.
- Give extra following distance. Motorcycles can stop faster than you expect.
- Don’t tailgate. A rear-end collision that might mean a fender bender in a car can be fatal on a motorcycle.
- Put the phone down. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of motorcycle accidents. A glance at a text is more than enough time to miss a rider.
- Don’t drink and drive. It’s easy enough to miss a motorcyclist, sober, but when you’re under the influence of alcohol or other substances and behind the wheel, you’re putting everyone around you at greater risk. If you’re going out for drinks, make sure to have a plan to get home, whether that means you’re the designated driver or ready to call a taxi or rideshare service.
If You’ve Been Hit: Understanding a Motorcycle Rider’s Legal Rights in Nevada
Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is also a good time to talk about what happens when prevention isn’t enough. When a driver fails to yield, runs a light, or doesn’t see a rider, the consequences can be life-altering, with medical bills, lost income, and insurance companies calling before you’ve even left the hospital.
Nevada law gives injured motorcycle riders the right to pursue compensation for their losses, but insurance companies are not on your side in that process. They move fast, and they’re trained to minimize what they pay out.
Nevada’s Fault and Insurance Rules
Nevada follows a modified comparative negligence standard. This means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault, as long as your percentage of fault doesn’t exceed 50%. Insurance adjusters know this and will often try to assign as much fault to the rider as possible to reduce your claim.
Riders involved in a left-turn collision, for example, may hear suggestions that they were speeding or not visible enough. This is a tactic. Having an attorney review the facts before you make any recorded statements changes the dynamic entirely.
What Compensation May Cover
A successful motorcycle accident claim can include:
- Medical expenses, both current and future
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering, known under Nevada law as general damages
- Property damage to the bike and gear
- Wrongful death damages if a rider was killed
Talk to an Attorney Before You Talk to the Insurance Company
This bears repeating: do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company before speaking with an attorney. Insurance adjusters are skilled at asking questions in ways that can hurt your case later. What sounds like a routine follow-up is often part of a process designed to protect their bottom line.
At Henness & Haight, we’ve spent over 25 years going up against insurance companies on behalf of Nevada accident victims. We know how they operate because we were trained to beat them. Our team has recovered more than $500 million for personal injury clients, and we don’t charge a thing unless we win your case.
Learn more about our Las Vegas motorcycle accident attorneys.
Las Vegas Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Who Know Nevada
We’re not a national firm with a satellite office. Mark and Mike both built their careers right here in Las Vegas, and that local knowledge makes a difference. We know the roads, medical providers, defense attorneys, and courts. When your case involves local law and local people, having attorneys who’ve spent 25+ years in this community working alongside them matters.
Our clients are our neighbors. We treat them that way.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident anywhere in Nevada, we’re here to help.
Ride Safe This Month
Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is a reminder that the roads belong to everyone, but not everyone gives motorcyclists the attention they deserve. Whether you’re a daily commuter on two wheels or someone who pulls the bike out on weekends, your safety is worth fighting for.
If something does go wrong, you don’t have to face it alone.
Ready to talk through your options? Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with Henness & Haight today. There’s no pressure, no fee unless we win, and no reason to wait.
