When the Blacktop Betrays the Beautiful Freedom

All Practice Areas

 – by Michael J. Epstein 

 

Every once in a while, I get that same tingle in my gut—not from excitement, but quiet dread—as another biker rolls into my office on wheels made of steel, not for joy, but for grief or bloodied gear and broken spirit.

Take Route 47 in Maurice River Township, just weeks ago: a man on his bike—a regular guy, heading home—was struck when a car turned left without warning. He didn’t make it. State police tell us that more than 2,500 motorcycle crashes happen every year across New Jersey, often the result of the sort of surprise turns and visibility issues that seize a moment—and a life—away before anyone even has time to react. 

Then there was Salem County, late April: a Harley rider rear-ended another motorcycle—and died. His passenger survived, critically injured.  In early May, on the Route 9 bridge between Woodbridge and Sayreville, “multiple downed motorcycles” and several injured riders painted a grim scene.  Also in May, a motorcyclist collided head-on with a pickup in East Amwell; he was killed instantly.  Days later, a 23-year-old rookie cop was killed after rear-ending a pickup while changing lanes.  These events aren’t old news—they’re happening now, too close, too frequent.

Let me be clear: these are not merciful anomalies. They’re proof that it’s not slower speeds or fewer riders that spell disaster—it’s how we share the road. 

In fact, as the Bergen Record reported on Friday, between 2014 and 2023, New Jersey recorded 6,037 traffic fatalities, with motorcyclists accounting for 13% of them, according to NHTSA data. Nationwide, motorcyclist deaths have risen almost every year, dipping only briefly between 2017 and 2019.

These headlines we’re seeing far too often in New Jersey aren’t just headlines and they aren’t limited to our state. These new stories are about people—fathers, mothers, friends, off-duty officers, riders who started their days with promise, not doom.

When tragedy strikes a rider, I don’t just file paperwork. I bear witness. Survivors face heartache, hospital visits, mounting costs, the endless ripple of doubt and dimmed futures. And if negligence—whether distracted driving, dangerous infrastructure, or a bad break in the pavement—played a part, the law gives those left behind a way to seek accountability. Not vengeance, but justice.

So, What Can We Do—Right Now?

Drivers: Slow down and don’t just drive—actually look and see. Look into your mirrors like you mean it. Give bikers the benefit of the doubt. That flash of reflective gear? It’s not a fashion statement—it’s a plea.

Riders: Gear up like your life depends on it—because it does. High-vis jackets, DOT-approved helmets, boots, gloves, layers that protect tired joints on impact. Stay sober, stay awake, re-up your training every season—never assume you’ve “been there, done that.”

Communities and policy folks: make it safer out there. Better lighting, clearer markings, smoother pavement, faster pothole repairs. Let safety be the baseline, not an afterthought.

Stay Alive. Ride Smart. Fight for Others

If you’re out on two wheels, you want every return trip to be as exhilarating as the first ride in spring—fresh, clean, electric. Let’s keep those rides legendary for joy, not tragedy.

To every driver out there: check twice. To every rider: be seen, be prepared, be wise. To every community member reading: protest neglect. Demand safer roads.

Because all of us in New Jersey who help injured motorcycle riders would much rather spend the day drafting thank-you cards—for riders who made it home—not condolence letters.

 

— Michael Epstein, Motorcycle-Injury Lawyer, Rochelle Park, NJ