Single-bike motorcycle accidents, left- and U-turn collisions, distracted driving, and violating the cyclist’s right of way are common types of motorcycle crashes.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 4,612 motorcycle accident fatalities in 2011. Nearly half of all motorcycles that were involved in fatal motorcycle crashes collided with another vehicle. Texas had the second most fatalities involving motorcycle collisions in the country with 411 behind Florida (426). Some of the most common types of motorcycle accidents are briefly described below.
Single-Bike Accidents, Left-Turn Collisions, Speeding and Riding Under the Influence of Drugs and/or Alcohol
Sometimes road hazards cause a bike to hit an obstruction and the driver to lose control of the vehicle, especially if the driver is speedin
g. Faulty equipment may also cause a biker to lose control. Further, motorcycles are more likely than other vehicles to be involved in a fatal crash with a fixed object according to the NHTSA.
Speeding and riding under the influence of alcohol leads to many preventable accidents. For instance, speeding while approaching road bends may cause a rider to lose control of the bike or misjudge the bend, take too wide a turn, and end up on the path of oncoming traffic. Roughly 37 percent of the motorcyclists killed in motorcycle crashes in Texas in 2011 were riding intoxicated (BAC of .08 or above), according to NHTSA.
These accidents can be attributed to the fact that motorcycles are often hard to spot in dense traffic. Further, some motorists may misjudge a motorcycle’s distance or speed from the intersection, or may simply try to rush through the intersection hoping to beat the motorcycle.
Violation of Right-of-Way and Limited Visibility Accidents Caused by Distracted Driving
Sometimes it may happen that a vehicle crosses a motorcycle’s path when it enters or leaves a side street or at a roundabout crossing. In all these instances, the motorcyclist’s right of way may be violated by the other vehicle and lead to a collision. These violations may stem from difficulty seeing a motorcyclist who is entering a roadway or roundabout.
A motorcycle can already be more difficult to spot than passenger vehicles and other larger vehicles on the road, but the problem may be exacerbated if the motorist is distracted and/or fails to check a blind spot before changing lanes or merging.
Common sources of distracted driving include:
• cell phone use;
adjusting in-car technology like GPS or stereos; and
• talking with passengers in the vehicle.
Contact an Attorney for Help with a Motorcycle Collision Claim
Unfortunately, many motorcycle crashes are the result of a motorist’s negligence on the road. Motorcyclists who have been involved in an accident caused by the negligent act of another party are entitled to recover compensation by filing a personal injury claim. An attorney can help accident victims review the details of the crash, establish liability for the accident, and pursue appropriate damages related to the accident.
