Curious why motorcycle accidents lead to such catastrophic injuries?
Motorcyclists face dangers other drivers never have to consider. With little protection and little margin for error, it’s important for riders to be aware of how crashes happen.
Here’s the problem:
Thousands of motorcyclists are killed or injured every year in preventable accidents. Most of the time, the other driver simply doesn’t see them.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- The Most Dangerous Accident Scenarios For Riders
- Why Left Turn Accidents Are So Deadly
- Common Causes You Need To Watch Out For
- Your Legal Rights After A Crash
Understand The Real Danger
Motorcycle riding comes with risks other drivers don’t have to face.
Motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to die in a crash compared to a passenger vehicle occupant. Twenty-eight times. I’m not kidding.
Worse still…
Motorcycles only account for 3% of registered vehicles but 15% of all traffic fatalities. That’s a discrepancy that just shows how vulnerable motorcyclists really are on our roads.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle crash, experienced motorcycle accident lawyers can help. Legal experts who know the system and can guide you through the claims process while fighting for the money you deserve. It’s important to understand your legal options early after an accident, and motorcycle accident lawyers are the best way to do that.
But why do these motorcycle accidents happen?
I’ll take a look at the most common accident scenarios that put riders at risk. And how they can be avoided.
Left Turn Accidents: Number One Killer
The most dangerous situation for any motorcyclist?
The car in front of them making a left turn across their path at an intersection.
Left turn motorcycle accidents are the single biggest cause of crashes. In fact, 42% of all motorcycle accidents involve a car turning left right in front of a bike. Nearly half.
Here’s why it keeps happening:
Drivers who turn left often don’t see the motorcycle approaching from the other direction. The bike’s smaller size makes it less visible than a car, especially when there’s other traffic present. Drivers also make errors in judgment, like underestimating the motorcycle’s speed and overestimating how much time they have to complete their turn.
They don’t have enough time.
By the time the driver realizes they’ve made a mistake, the motorcyclist has nowhere to go. The impact is usually at the most dangerous angle, with the bike hitting the driver’s side of the car and the rider taking the full brunt of the collision.
These kinds of crashes are so severe because…
The motorcyclist usually crashes into the side of the turning vehicle at high speed. With no protective cage around them, riders suffer severe, life-altering injuries from broken bones to spinal cord trauma to traumatic brain injuries.
Speed: A Recipe For Disaster
Speeding makes every crash more likely and exponentially worse.
Approximately 34% of fatal motorcycle accidents involve excessive speed. A third of all deaths have speeding as a contributing factor.
Traveling at high speeds means you have far less reaction time. You can’t stop or swerve away from hazards nearly as easily. Your maneuverability is severely restricted.
Here’s the kicker.
And if you crash at that speed? The force of impact increases massively with every extra mile per hour. Crashes at 65 mph are far more likely to be fatal than ones at 45 mph.
Riders in the 25-29 age group are particularly at risk of speed-related accidents. Almost half of all fatalities in that age range involved speeding as a factor. Combine youthful inexperience with the extra risks of speeding and you have a deadly mix.
Driver Negligence: The Invisible Motorcycle
Most drivers don’t actively try and cause accidents for motorcyclists.
Drivers don’t mean to put you at risk, but they do.
Driver inattention is a major factor in motorcycle accidents. Cars pull out from side roads without looking. They change lanes without properly checking their blind spots. Or they just fail to see or process the motorcycle’s presence on the road in time.
This happens because…
Drivers see thousands of other cars and only a few motorcycles. After a while, the human brain just stops registering the same information. Combine this with other in-car distractions like phones, GPS, or passengers, and you have a recipe for disaster.
Unsafe lane changes are a particular issue. The driver might check their mirror, fail to see the motorcycle in their blind spot, and then merge directly into the rider’s lane.
Road Hazards That Cars Can Ignore
Motorcycles are far less stable than cars. This means the road hazards drivers can take in their stride can cause serious problems for riders.
Potholes, gravel, oil slicks, uneven pavement, and debris are just some of the hazards on our roads. They cause a loss of traction and the bike slides out from under the rider.
Cornering accidents also happen when riders hit unexpected hazards mid-turn. The front tire comes off the road and the bike goes down.
Weather makes everything worse. Rainy days create slippery road surfaces, and that means less traction. Low light and inclement weather also make it harder for other drivers to see the motorcycle in the first place.
Alcohol and Impairment
You shouldn’t need me to tell you this one, but…
Riding while impaired is exceptionally dangerous. Alcohol and drugs impair reaction times, balance, coordination, and judgment. Three things you need to ride safely.
Motorcycle crashes where the rider was impaired accounted for 27% of fatalities in 2020. Even a little alcohol can make a crash significantly more likely.
And it’s not just about booze. Riding while tired is just as dangerous. Exhaustion and fatigue lead to gaps in attention and slower reactions. If you’re tired enough to need a break from driving, you’re too tired to ride.
Your Legal Rights After A Motorcycle Accident
As I said at the beginning, most motorcycle accidents are someone else’s fault.
When a driver causes your crash, you have rights. Legal rights to pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage.
But here’s what you need to know…
Insurance companies make this as hard as possible. Trying to place the blame on the motorcyclist or downplaying the severity of your injuries. The best way to level the playing field is with experienced legal representation on your side.
Motorcycle accident attorneys have the knowledge and skill to handle every aspect of your case. Investigating the crash, gathering evidence, negotiating with insurance companies, and fighting for maximum compensation. They understand the nuances of motorcycle accident cases, and what it takes to prove the other driver was at fault.
Don’t wait to contact legal help. Evidence gets lost or disappears. Witnesses forget details or are harder to track down. There are strict deadlines and statutes of limitations on every claim. The sooner you get an attorney on your side, the better your chances of a positive outcome.
Final Thoughts
Motorcycle accidents happen for predictable reasons. Left turn accidents, speeding, driver negligence, road hazards, and impairment are the cause of the majority of crashes.
The best way to protect yourself is to understand these risks and ride defensively. But even the most careful riders can’t prevent every accident.
If you’re injured in a crash, don’t make any of these common mistakes. Seek medical attention. Document everything at the scene. Get law enforcement involved. Contact a lawyer.
Your recovery and compensation depend on getting the right medical attention and treatment, and the money you need to make a full recovery. Don’t try to handle it on your own. Experienced motorcycle accident lawyers know how to protect your rights and fight for the settlement you deserve.
Be safe out there.
