Motorcycle accidents can happen very quickly and for many different reasons. Over the course of our careers, we have helped clients who have been involved in a variety of motorcycle accidents. Many times, our client is not at-fault, however some times a motorcyclist may be ruled at-fault for a percentage of the accident.
Here are 5 common causes of motorcycle crashes we see in our firm:
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Speeding Drivers.
Speeding increases both the reaction and braking distanced needed to avoid a crash. When a person who is speeding crashes into a motorcycle, the injuries are often more life threatening than a passenger vehicle due to the motorcycle having less protection than cars, trucks, or other passenger vehicles.
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Distracted Drivers.
Statistics tell us that 8 people in the US are killed each day due to distracted drivers. Texting or talking on the phone, focusing on passengers or other drivers, and even reaching for a drink are all different examples of distracted driving. When a motorcyclist is involved in a distracted driving accident, the distracted driver may not even be aware of the motorcyclist until after the impact.
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Left-Hand Turns.
According to the NHSTA, 61% of crashes involving an intersection are a result of a driver turning left. While the fault may lie with the person turning left, that doesn’t make the recovery easier for a motorcyclist caught in that left turn. Sharing a left lane that merges can often keep the motorcyclist in another driver’s blind spot. Whether the motorcyclist was injured from a head-on collision or side-swiped while in the blind-spot, the at-fault driver needs to bear the responsibility.
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Driver Didn’t Check The Blind Spots.
Have you heard of SMOG? No, we are not talking about the air quality – we are referring to the acronym widely used when changing lanes. The acronym stands for: “Signal, Mirror, Over-the-shoulder, and Go!” Drivers who don’t check their blind spots can cause a life-threatening injury to motorcyclists and not be aware until after the impact.
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Drunk Drivers.
Ride shares, Uber, Lyft, Designated Drivers… there is no excuse for drunk driving. If you are riding your motorcycle and are involved in an accident involving a drunk driver, the police will be able to administer a test, which will prove blood alcohol content. The results of the test will be available to the motorcyclist and all insurance companies involved.
Chong Ye is a member of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Lawyer and is an active Eagle member of the Washington Association for Justice. The Ye Law Firm is recognized as 10 Best Law Firms by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys. Chong is a first generation South Korean American and watched family and friends taken advantage of in legal situations. He was motivated to become a personal injury attorney to provide honest and trustworthy representation to anyone who suffered a personal injury through no fault of their own.