Low sun glare can make motorcycles difficult to see on Manchester, New Hampshire roads, especially during morning and late-afternoon travel. If another driver strikes you while turning, changing lanes, or approaching stopped traffic, sunlight does not automatically relieve that driver of responsibility. New Hampshire law requires motorists to use reasonable care under existing conditions. Fault depends on the driver’s actions, the available visibility, and the evidence connecting those actions to your injuries. Tenn And Tenn, PA helps injured riders investigate collisions and pursue compensation when negligence contributed to a crash.
Why Low Sun Glare Creates Risks for Manchester Motorcyclists
When the sun sits low near the horizon, direct light can reduce contrast through a windshield and make it harder to judge another vehicle’s distance and speed. A motorcycle’s narrow profile may be less noticeable than a larger vehicle, particularly when a driver is preparing to turn across traffic.
Consider a driver approaching a left turn on Elm Street late in the afternoon. If sunlight obscures an approaching motorcycle, the driver may need to wait until the oncoming lane is visible before turning. Whether the driver exercised reasonable care depends on the circumstances, not simply on a claim of being blinded by the sun.
Sun glare may explain a driver’s limited visibility, but it does not automatically excuse an unsafe driving decision.
How Seasonal Sunlight Affects Motorcycle Visibility in New Hampshire
Sun position changes with the season. During autumn and parts of winter and spring, low-angle sunlight may coincide with commuter traffic. Glare can also reflect from windshields, mirrors, and nearby surfaces.
Routes where riders and drivers should pay attention to turning traffic and changing sightlines include:
- Elm Street, with urban intersections and turning movements.
- South Willow Street, with businesses and frequent vehicle entrances.
- Bridge Street and Hanover Street, with intersections and city traffic.
- Roads connecting Manchester with Bedford, Hooksett, and nearby communities.
These are examples of roads where visibility matters, not verified locations of specific glare-related motorcycle crashes.
Can a Driver Blame the Sun for a Motorcycle Accident?
A driver may say that the sun blocked the view of your motorcycle. That statement is relevant evidence, but it does not settle fault. Under New Hampshire RSA 265:60, motorists must drive at a speed that is reasonable and prudent in light of actual and potential hazards. A posted speed limit is not permission to continue at a speed that is unsafe for the conditions.
Depending on visibility and traffic, reasonable precautions may include reducing speed, allowing greater following distance, using a visor, waiting before turning, or safely pulling over when forward visibility becomes inadequate. Investigators must assess which precautions were available and whether the driver’s choices caused your crash.
Common Types of Sun Glare Motorcycle Crashes
Left-Turn Collisions
A driver turning left may fail to notice an approaching motorcycle or misjudge its distance. The resulting impact can cause severe rider injuries.
Rear-End Accidents
A motorist facing glare may notice a stopped or slowing motorcycle too late. Following distance, speed, and driver attention are central considerations.
Intersection Collisions
Sunlight can make traffic controls and approaching vehicles difficult to distinguish. Drivers must still determine whether proceeding through an intersection is safe.
Lane-Change Accidents
Glare in mirrors or a driver’s direct line of sight may reduce awareness of a motorcycle in an adjacent lane. Proper observation before changing lanes remains necessary.
For another discussion of collision evidence, see the firm’s article on eyewitness testimony in motorcycle accident cases.
Read about eyewitness testimony in motorcycle accident cases.
Who May Be Responsible for a Sun Glare Motorcycle Crash?
Responsibility generally turns on whether a person owed a duty of reasonable care, breached that duty, and caused injuries or losses as a result. A driver could be negligent by making an unsafe turn, failing to yield, traveling too fast for the available visibility, or moving into an occupied lane.
Some collisions involve multiple drivers. Vehicle problems or roadway conditions may also require investigation when the evidence suggests they played a role. Neither the presence of bright sunlight nor the occurrence of a collision proves liability by itself.
How New Hampshire Comparative Fault Can Affect Your Claim
New Hampshire uses modified comparative fault under RSA 507:7-d. You may generally recover damages if your share of fault is not greater than the combined fault of the defendants, subject to the requirements of the law. Your damages are reduced according to the percentage of fault attributed to you.
For example, if a rider has $100,000 in compensable damages and receives 20 percent of the fault, the award would generally fall to $80,000. A rider found more than 50 percent at fault generally cannot recover under this rule.
An insurer might argue that you were speeding, following too closely, or otherwise contributed to the collision. Those assertions should be assessed against witness accounts, traffic evidence, and physical findings rather than assumed to be true.
What Evidence Can Help Establish Fault in a Glare-Related Crash?
The position of the sun changes rapidly, so accurate records of the time, location, and direction of travel can be valuable. Useful evidence may include:
- A police crash report and statements from those involved.
- Photographs of vehicles, road markings, intersections, and lighting conditions.
- Witness contact information and descriptions of what each person observed.
- Available surveillance recordings or dashboard camera footage.
- Damage patterns and other physical evidence used in reconstruction.
- Medical records showing the injuries and their relationship to the collision.
An investigator may compare the date, time, direction of travel, and solar position to evaluate whether glare was plausible. That analysis should be considered with the rest of the evidence. A low sun angle alone does not prove negligence.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Motorcycle Accident?
If another party is legally responsible for your motorcycle crash, the losses you may seek can include medical bills, future treatment costs, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, motorcycle or equipment damage, and pain and suffering. The damages available depend on your injuries, supporting records, applicable law, and insurance circumstances.
Motorcycle injuries may involve fractures, road rash, head trauma, spinal injuries, and damage to muscles or joints. Keep records of rehabilitation, time missed from work, treatment recommendations, and changes to daily activities. These details can help demonstrate how the accident affected your life.
What Should You Do After a Sun Glare Motorcycle Accident?
Your safety and medical needs come first. Seek emergency care when needed, and obtain a medical evaluation for symptoms that appear after the collision. If it is safe, take the following steps:
- Photograph vehicle damage, traffic controls, road conditions, and the general scene.
- Collect names and contact information for witnesses.
- Report the crash to law enforcement as required.
- Preserve medical records, repair estimates, and insurer communications.
- Avoid guessing about fault or accepting a settlement before understanding ongoing losses.
The firm also publishes guidance about motorcycle safety and related accident issues.
Read New Hampshire motorcycle safety tips.
How Long Do You Have to File a Motorcycle Injury Lawsuit?
Under RSA 508:4, most New Hampshire personal injury lawsuits must be started within three years of the act or omission giving rise to the claim. The statute contains a discovery provision for certain injuries that could not reasonably have been discovered earlier. Different rules or exceptions may apply to particular claims.
Prompt investigation is helpful because video can be overwritten, road conditions may change, and witnesses may become harder to reach. An attorney can assess the applicable deadline based on the facts of your case.
Speak With a Manchester Motorcycle Accident Attorney
If you were injured in a low sun glare motorcycle accident in Manchester, New Hampshire, Tenn And Tenn, PA can review what happened, examine available evidence, and explain your legal options. With a Manchester office and experience handling New Hampshire motorcycle accident claims, the firm serves riders in Manchester, Bedford, Hooksett, and nearby areas throughout the state.
To discuss your situation, use the firm’s online contact options.
Explore Tenn And Tenn’s practice areas.
This article provides general information, not legal advice. A lawyer can evaluate how New Hampshire law applies to your particular circumstances.
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