Motorcycle riders often get a bad reputation. Many people think they are reckless and dangerous on the road. However, this is not always true. In fact, motorcyclists are often very careful and follow the rules of the road, perhaps because they know they are 27 times more likely to die in a crash than drivers in cars and trucks. Statistics show that motorcycle riders are not always the ones causing accidents. For example, in 2021, 83,000 motorcyclists were injured. Still, many of these accidents were not their fault, with only 40% of crashes involving a single vehicle.
Other motorists are often at fault
Other motorists cause most motorcycle accidents. Car and truck drivers often do not see motorcycles because they are smaller and less visible. Here are some common examples of how other motorists cause accidents with motorcycles:
- Left-hand turns: Many accidents happen when a car makes a left-hand turn in front of a motorcycle. Drivers often do not see the motorcycles or misjudge their speed, leading to collisions. This scenario makes up 43% of all fatal two-vehicle crashes involving motorcycles.
- Unsafe lane changes: Drivers sometimes change lanes without checking their blind spots, which can cause them to sideswipe a motorcycle or force the rider off the road.
- Distracted driving: When drivers are texting, talking on the phone, or not paying attention, they can easily miss seeing a motorcycle and cause an accident.
- Speeding: Speeding drivers have less time to react to motorcycles on the road. This can lead to dangerous situations where the motorcyclists cannot avoid collisions.
- Dooring: These occur when parked cars’ occupants open doors into the path of an oncoming motorcycle. The motorcyclists may not have enough time to avoid hitting the doors.
- Head-on collisions: These are some of the most dangerous accidents for motorcyclists. They often happen when a car crosses into the opposite lane and hits a motorcycle head-on.
These are some examples of how other motorists’ actions can lead to serious accidents for motorcyclists.
Victims have legal options in Alabama
If bikers are injured or killed in an accident caused by other drivers, they or their families have legal options in Alabama. In the case of a wrongful death, the family can file a lawsuit against the person responsible. State law allows the estate of the deceased person to pursue a wrongful death claim, which means that the families can seek compensation for their loss. Victims or surviving family members can file a lawsuit with the help of an attorney who has experience handling motorcycle injuries and deaths. Lawyers will help the families through the legal process and work to get them the compensation they deserve from insurers and negligent parties.
Subscribe To This Blog's Feed