Negligence Leading to Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle riders face many dangers every time they take to the road. Inclement weather and poor road conditions are far more dangerous for motorcycles than they are for cars and trucks. Additionally, motorcycle riders have to contend with negligent drivers who may fail to pay attention to motorcycles on the road. Because of the nature of motorcycles, any motorcycle accidents usually have serious consequences. 80% of accidents involving motorcycles result in injury or death, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Fatal motorcycle accidents often occur when car drivers turn left across the path of an incoming motorcycle without seeing the motorcycle. A 60-year-old Massachusetts man died when a woman driving a Ford Freestyle SUV westbound turned left across the path of the man's eastbound motorcycle, causing it to crash into her car. She suffered no injuries. Police subsequently charged her with motor vehicle homicide by negligence, negligent operation of a vehicle and failure to use care in turning.

A Colorado motorcycle rider died under similar circumstances. He was heading westbound approaching a green light when a woman driving a Nissan eastbound turned in front of the motorcycle, and the two vehicles collided. In this case, police believe that the motorcycle's speed was a contributing factor. A Boston injury lawyer can help you hold negligent drivers responsible if they have caused a motorcycle accident that injured you or a loved one.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

A failure to see the motorcycle rider is the most common reason for a crash between a motorcycle and car when the car driver is to blame for the accident. Car drivers need to be particularly careful when turning across traffic that there are no oncoming motorcycles. Research has shown that car drivers with motorcycling experience are more likely to see and avoid motorcycles. Other car drivers should show the same concern for motorcycles on the roadways.

Motorcycles are also involved in accidents on their own, and some of the leading causes of these accidents include:

• Collisions with barriers. Clipping a curb or some other type of lane divider can have serious consequences for a motorcycle rider.
• Hidden dangers. Motorcycle riders can crash if they fail to notice a parked vehicle or fail to identify an object on the roadway until it is too late to react to it. A study found that 90% of motorcycle crashes involve hidden dangers that were right in front of the driver.
• Poor weather. High winds, rain and snow are some of the weather elements that increase dangers for motorcycle riders. Riders should avoid going out in these types of conditions, and, if they are already out riding, they should seek shelter.
• Inadequate training. Studies have shown that riders with more training about dealing with dangerous motorcycle situations are more likely to take actions to avoid accidents, whereas untrained riders are more likely to crash without doing anything to prevent it.

While not a cause of accidents, it is also important to note that wearing properly fitted safety gear like helmets and protective clothing can mitigate the severity of injuries in the event of a motorcycle crash. If a negligent driver has caused a motorcycle accident for you, contact a Washington DC injury attorney at Pollack & Flanders, LLP to find out whether you can obtain compensation for your injuries.