While you rely on your motorcycle to get around, it is important to be aware of the potential dangers of riding one. You have a good chance (98% or 96% for multiple or single vehicle collisions, respectively) of sustaining an injury. Many such incidents lead to severe injuries, disabilities, and even death.
It is important to be a cautious driver, use defensive driving techniques, keep your motorcycle in a good state of repair, and avoid reckless and dangerous behaviors, such as drunken driving or weaving in and out of traffic. If your motorcycle accident is the result of negligence on the part of the motorist who collided with a motorcycle, then you will need the services of the best motorcycle accident attorney in your area.
With annual motorcycle accident deaths reaching beyond 5,000 a year, 28 times more often when a motorcycle is involved compared to other vehicles, surviving family members may need a personal injury attorney with experience in wrongful death cases.
Here at Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys, we have recovered over $150 million for victims of accidents just like this. In our experience, and using recent data, here are the most common causes of motorcycle accidents.
Failing to See the Motorcycle in Time
In 50% of motorcycle accidents, the motor vehicle operator simply doesn’t see the motorcyclist because they aren’t paying attention. This led to them not seeing the motorcyclist in time to prevent an accident. You can take measures to increase your visibility on the road by:
- Wearing the appropriate protective gear
- Putting headlights on
- Signaling
- Avoiding a motorist’s blind spot
- Wear bright colors with reflective material
The most common site for motorcycle accidents is at intersections (70%) with motorists claiming not to have seen them. Car drivers also make the assumption that the motorcycle is traveling at a lower speed than it actually is due to its small size. Another frequent site for these incidents is the freeway during lane changes or when traffic comes to a standstill. Multiple vehicle pileups often occur when a motorcyclist is tailgated in traffic that is slowing down.
If you are injured in an accident, a personal injury accident lawyer can assist you by investigating the accident and determining if the driver of the other vehicle is to blame. Contact Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys for a free consultation.
Inclement Weather
Unpredictable bad weather can contribute to motorcycle accidents. It is a time when you should exercise great care due to slippery road surfaces or encounter obstacles that can cause you to lose control of your motorcycle. Motorists have a duty to drive safely according to road and weather conditions. This duty of care is towards other road users, such as motorcyclists. You should contact us if you need a motorcycle accident lawyer to examine your case. We care about getting you the compensation you deserve to deal with the costs and suffering caused by a motorcycle accident.
Driving When Under the Influence
Both motorcyclists and other drivers on the road need to avoid negligence by operating a vehicle when under the influence of drugs or alcohol, which impairs the ability to drive safely. Even a small quantity of alcohol can cause major impairment.
Mechanical Problems with Motor Vehicles
Many incidents are the result of a failure to fix mechanical problems on a vehicle, such as a car, bus, or truck. Motorcyclists should ensure that they are not guilty of this. Give the best motorcycle accident lawyer a call if you have been injured in an accident so that we can determine if you have a claim.
Left-Turning Cars
The most frequent reason that cars collide with motorcycles is that they do not see them or misjudge their speed when the driver is turning left. This type of incident does happen between two cars as well. However, a person on a motorcycle is more vulnerable to serious injury as their bodies are largely unprotected.
Switching Lanes
Motorcyclists are more easily hidden in a driver’s blind spot due to their smaller size. Be aware of cars moving into your space and look out for a quick exit from the situation. This does not remove a driver’s onus to exercise a duty of care.
Being Tailgated by a Car
Being tailgated by a car is the typical fender bender that occurs all too often. The driver is coming up behind you as you slow down and come to a halt in compliance with a traffic light or stop sign. However, their failure to pay attention caused them not to realize that they also had to reduce speed and stop their vehicle. In some instances, the cause was that they lost control of their vehicle.
Many motorcyclists meet their demise when they are tailgated in these situations, while others may suffer the fate of becoming disabled for life or needing months to years of hospitalization and loss of income with massive expenses. This is when you need a personal injury accident attorney from Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys to take up the baton for you and get you all the compensation that will help you to get your life back.
Head-on Collision
A head-on collision is the exact opposite of tailgating. It is also a frequent cause of death for motorcyclists.
Opening a Car Door
A motorcyclist riding past a line of stationary cars may feel that it is safe to do so. However, what sometimes happens is that one of these cars suddenly opens their car door without first checking that it is safe to do so. The motorcyclist gets hit by the door and may be thrown off their bike and injured.
Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys have offices in California, Texas, and Nevada. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact us for a free consultation to assess the merits of your case. You only pay us when you get paid out.
