The vast majority of motorcycle accidents involve collisions with other vehicles. Motorcycle accidents are the most dangerous because they involve a much higher risk of serious injuries or fatalities. Head-on motorcycle-car accidents often result in fatal injury to the motorcyclist. Often, those accidents are caused because of a motorist's failure to notice a motorcyclist, yield to a motorcyclist and other forms of negligence.
More than 56 percent of all motorcycle accident fatalities involve motorcycle-car accidents. More than 75 percent of these fatalities involve front-impact accidents. Several different motorist behaviors contribute to accidents. A motorist can be held negligent if he or she engages in any behavior that increases the risk of a collision. Below are several ways that show how drivers are negligent towards motorcyclists.
Speeding
More than half of all motorcycle accidents involve speeding. A motorist driving at excessive speed may be unable to stop in time, even when he or she spots a motorcyclist. The resulting high-impact, high-speed accidents often have catastrophic consequence
s. If you were injured in an accident involving a speeding motorist, discuss your claim for compensation with a motorcycle accident lawyer.
Alcohol
A high number of motorcycle accidents involve motorists driving under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol impairs judgment and the ability to spot and avoid accident cues on time. A motorcyclist is easy to miss even fully sober, but a person under the influence of alcohol or drugs is more likely to miss the motorcyclist, with serious consequences.
Failure to Notice Motorcyclists
After a typical car-motorcycle accident, the motorist may claim he or she never saw the motorcycle. There has been a visible increase in the number of motorcyclists on roads over the past decade, so there’s no excuse for any motorist to miss spotting a motorcyclist, unless he or she is willfully negligent. Motorists must take an extra moment to look out for motorcycles, especially when changing lanes or turning at an intersection.
Other Types of Motorist Negligence in Motorcycle Accidents
When a motorist fails to maintain adequate distance between his or her car and the motorcycle ahead and has to brake quickly, it can cause a rear-end accident. A motorcycle can come to a complete stop much more quickly than a car, so maintain a distance of at least two car lengths between a car and motorcycle. A motorist may fail to interpret a motorcyclist’s signals correctly or miss them altogether, causing an accident.
If you have suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident, you are likely eligible for compensation for lost income, medical expenses and disability. Speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer about your legal options for compensation and for help filing a claim.
