Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Do you own a motorcycle? Do you enjoy hitting the open road as often as possible?

Although you enjoy getting on your bike and taking a ride, you know one thing to be true: you could be involved in an accident at some point. If this happens, there is a good chance that you will suffer some type of injury.

With all this in mind, you need to be extremely careful any time you get on your motorcycle. This means following the rules of the road, wearing protective gear, and most importantly, watching out for others.

We provide a variety of information on motorcycle accidents on our website, with the following excerpt among the most important:

“Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents are extremely common and can often times lead to serious injury or even death. While the fear of an accident is no reason to sell your bike, you should be doing whatever you can to stay safe at all times.”

By understanding the most common causes of motorcycle accidents, it’s much easier to avoid trouble while you’re on the road – and that’s exactly what you’re trying to accomplish.

Here are some of the most common causes:

1. A Car Turns Left in Front of You

Not only is this common, but it’s something that many passenger vehicle drivers never think about.

As you travel down the road, especially at a high speed, you never want to see a vehicle make a left turn in front of you. There’s nothing wrong with this if there is enough space to safely do so, but that’s not always the case.

If you’re traveling fast and a vehicle turns in front of you, it’s possible that you’ll collide with the side of the car.

2. A Car Changes Lanes into You

A common cause of motorcycle accidents on the highway, this is exactly what it sounds like. You’re driving in your lane of traffic, following the rules of the road. Then, without notice, a driver changes lanes and strikes you.

There are many reasons why this happens. For example, the driver may not be paying attention to what is going on around them. Or maybe they didn’t see you due to a blind spot over their shoulder.

There is no guaranteed way to avoid this type of accident, but you can improve your level of safety by making sure you’re always visible to other cars on the road.

3. A Car Strikes You from Behind

This can happen at any time, but is most common when you’re stopped at a stop sign or traffic light.

Unfortunately, there is not much you can do about this. You’re on your bike, waiting to move again, and a car comes up too fast from behind. Sometimes you’ll see this coming. Other times, unfortunately, a car comes out of nowhere and strikes a motorcyclist from the rear.

This can be among the most dangerous type of motorcycle accident, especially if the car is traveling at a high rate of speed.

Along with the above, there are two other causes of motorcycle accidents to consider:

• Unsafe roadway. An example of this would be excess gravel on the road, such as on a turn or bend.
• Defective motorcycle. A defective part could cause an accident.

Conclusion

With all this information in mind, it’s easy to see that a motorcycle accident could happen at any time.

If you find yourself in this position, don’t wait to receive medical attention. Your health comes first, and the sooner you are treated the better chance you have of avoiding long term complications.

Also, don’t wait to learn more about your legal rights. For example, another driver may have acted in a negligent manner, such as by striking you from behind. Or maybe the manufacturer is negligent, as they used a faulty part that caused your accident.

At our law firm, we have helped many motorcyclists receive compensation after an accident. If you find yourself in this position and require assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will make sure you understand your situation. We will also make sure that your legal rights are protected at all times.

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Stephanie Thompson, Estate Planning Attorney of Krueger Hernandez & Thompson SC

As the owner of Krueger Hernandez & Thompson SC, it is Stephanie’s mission to address each client’s goals for their estate plan. By identifying their wishes and concerns she can educate, guide, and counsel on the different tools and options that will effectively and efficiently accomplish those goals.

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