Any motor vehicle crash can be awful, but motorcycle accidents can be incredibly devastating. They often result in the most extreme and severe injuries, including loss of limbs, paralysis, head trauma, and loss of life.
The biggest issue for motorcyclists is the drivers of regular passenger vehicles are dismissive or unaware of motorcyclists and often carry an unkind judgment towards them. This attitude and behavior leads to roadway problems,where automobile drivers just assume the lanes were created for them and that they do not have to share.
Most drivers assume that motorcyclists are careless and reckless on the road, but the facts show something very different. Most motorcycle crashes occur because of a passenger vehicle driver’s actions.
In Most Accidents Between a Car and a Motorcycle, Who Is at Fault?
In the majority of crashes, the most common cause of motorcycle accidents is careless and inattentive passenger vehicle drivers. Automobile drivers are at far less risk of injury than a motorcyclist when in a collision. The effects on the motorcyclist can be life-threatening and incredibly traumatic. There often seems to be a dispute about who had the right of way, with automobile drivers often unaware of the motorcycles.
Motorcycle crashes are not always the result of colliding with another vehicle. Sometimes these crashes occur due to the poor maintenance of roads or unclear or absent road signage. While motorcyclists have no control over road conditions or bad signage, they should always drive safely and be fully aware of traffic, or they could risk losing their life.
The following includes some examples of the more common motorcycle accidents that involve passenger vehicles:
- Failure to yield
- Door opened into an oncoming motorcyclist
- Distracted drivers
- Brake-checking
- Reckless or unsafe lane changes
- Left-turn accidents
Nearly half of all motorcycle collisions are caused by left-turn accidents. These crashes occur at intersections where motorcyclists attempt to pass on the left side of a vehicle when it is turning left. Motorcycle riders must be aware of their surroundings at all times. Unfortunately, motorcycles easily fall into the blind spot of most passenger vehicles.
What Percentage of Motorcycle Accidents Are The Riders Fault?
There are a variety of reasons for a motorcycle accident to occur.
Recent data from the National Highway Traffic Administration found that more than 3/4 of motorcycle crashes are due to rider error. These errors include:
- Not wearing the correct gear
- Applying brakes too late
- Taking a curve too widely
Sadly, alcohol is commonly implicated in almost half of the motorcycle crashes that result in death.
How Is Fault Determined in Motorcycle Crash Cases?
In the majority of motorcycle collisions, car drivers are often held liable. However, the actions of both the car driver and the motorcyclist are considered when determining the final liability. If the cause of an accident is roadways deemed unsafe, the local government entity responsible for road maintenance may be held liable.
Motorcycles are typically considered to be less of a threat on the road to other passenger vehicles. If the evidence proves that a motorcyclist is partially at fault for the accident, the court takes that into consideration and deducts damages from their final settlement.
Motorcycle accidents happen quickly, and it can be difficult to determine what and who caused the crash. A motorcycle accident attorney will investigate what occurred and collect several forms of evidence including:
- Traffic citations
- Traffic or security video of the crash
- Testimony from eyewitnesses
- Photographs of the damaged motorcycle and accident scene
- Medical records and imaging scans of injuries sustained
- The official police report
Anyone who is using the roadways has a responsibility to act with care and prudence. They should drive with other people’s safety in mind.
If another driver acts poorly or fails to act at all, they have breached their duty of care (responsibility to keep others safe). A driver’s breach of duty of care may include the following circumstances:
- Driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs
- Disregarding motorcyclists
- Distracted driving, such as texting
- Drowsy or fatigued driving
- Running a stop signal or red light
- Tailgating
- Failure to yield
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one have been the victim of a motorcycle accident, our knowledgeable accident lawyers can help you fight for your legal rights and recover the compensation you deserve.
Our attorneys understand that this is a difficult time and you should not have to face it alone. Contact our attorneys today for a free consultation via our secure online form.
