Motorcycle accidents are among the most dangerous to a person’s health and well-being. Without any protective barrier around a person when riding a motorcycle, a rider (and passenger on the back) could suffer traumatic injuries or even death.
In 2018, a total of 4,985 motorcyclists lost their lives in crashes, according to the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA). While the amount decreased from the previous year, it is still an unwelcome number for those looking to ride motorcycles on the roads of your city or town.
Read below to see some different types of motorcycle accidents that lead to personal injuries.
Types of Motorcycle Accidents
How common are motorcycle accidents? Highway traffic and safety researchers have looked at enough data to see threads of commonality in motorcycle accidents. Here are some of the most frequent crashes involving motorcycles.
Cars Turning Left and Hitting Motorcyclists
Cars turning left and hitting motorcyclists is quite common. Forty-two percent of U.S. motorcycle accidents occur from a collision with a left-turning car, often at lighted intersections, according to the NHTSA. They occur when the driver turning left either does not see an oncoming motorcycle coming full speed through the green light, or feels that the car has the right of way and turns left.
If you were on your motorcycle lawfully going the right speed through the intersection and the car suddenly pulled out to turn left directly in front of you, then you can seek legal help to try to bring a lawsuit against the at-fault driver to recover damages.
Motorcycles Driving Between Lanes
Another common type of motorcycle accident is when a motorcycle chooses to drive in between two lanes, often when both lanes are backed up with cars headed in the same direction.
We have all seen this motorcycle rider, surprising the cars as it passes in between the lanes. This is a driving violation in some states – it’s called lane splitting, and a motorcycle rider can get into trouble making this kind of reckless move.
However, in other states, lane splitting is legal, as they see it helping to lower congestion on the roads. That still doesn’t mean that it’s a safe maneuver. A motorcycle driver can get seriously hurt in a lane splitting accident. A car may make a sudden lane change in an opening, and the motorcyclist might slam right into the car.
Reckless Motorcycle Riding
Reckless motorcycle riding is also considered among the types of motorcycle accidents that lead to serious personal injuries. While many motorcyclists are responsible drivers, wearing helmets regularly and obeying the rules of the road, other motorcyclists are still addicted to the thrill of freedom that motorcycles represent. They feel that the roads are theirs to own, and this can lead to some poor decisions when it comes to safe motorcycle riding.
Here are a few of the types of reckless motorcycle driving that can lead to accidents with other vehicles:
- Speeding over the posted limit
- Driving in between lanes
- Impaired motorcycle riding
- Showing off on a motorcycle (doing a ‘wheelie’)
- Skidding out from leaning too far down on curves
- Speed Racing other motorcyclists on straightaways
- Driving without a helmet
- Distracted Driving
- Driving without proper light signals
- Driving too fast in between lanes
- Disregarding stop signs
- Speeding or riding too closely near other vehicles
These kinds of reckless behaviors are the reason why motorcyclists end up in hospital rooms with serious personal injuries. It often happens with young, new motorcycle drivers who may drive over-excitedly or while inebriated, and their driving inexperience can lead to crashes with vehicles.
Poor Road Conditions
In a car, you might be able to withstand hitting a large object, bump in the road, or a pothole without a serious accident occurring. But when a motorcyclist hits a large pothole, it can completely upend the driver, flinging the driver over the steering column. In an instant, a motorcyclist can experience poor road conditions and cause an accident.
With only two wheels to stabilize the motorcycle, balance is very important. When that balance is conflicted, it can throw a cyclist off the bike.
Riding on two wheels, of course, is less stable than a car, bus, or truck, in some cases. Anyone who has tried to ride a motorcycle knows how tricky it is to maintain balance on a motorcycle.
This instability can lead to suffering injuries when a motorcyclist hits these kinds of poor road conditions:
- Uneven roads, with dangerous ruts and ridges
- Unseen speed bumps
- Large objects in the road dumped from a truck
- Slippery roads from poor weather conditions
In these types of motorcycle accidents, motorcycle drivers clearly must adhere to best practices when riding, in order to avoid serious vehicle accidents.
If you have been involved in a motorcycle crash like those described below, reach out to our legal pros at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. Contact us today for a free evaluation at (800) 223-5115.