Those who don’t ride motorcycles often assume that the risk comes from the riders themselves. They imagine motorcyclists riding aggressively, breaking the speed limit and causing single-vehicle accidents.
While all of this does happen, it’s important to note that many motorcycle accidents are simply caused by other drivers. The motorcyclist doesn’t make a mistake at all. Even so, it’s often that rider who suffers more severe injuries. This is why it’s so important for motorcyclists to understand how these crashes could take place.
1. Turning left
First, the most common accident occurs when another vehicle turns left in front of the motorcycle. One of the most oft-cited reasons for this is that the driver of the other vehicle just didn’t see the motorcycle at all. They thought they were executing a safe turn, but they cut the bike off and the motorcyclist hit the side of the vehicle.
2. Rear-end accidents
Motorcyclists also need to be wary when waiting at red lights. Rear-end accidents sometimes happen because drivers are just looking at the next large vehicle – an SUV or a pickup truck, for instance – in line. They don’t even see the smaller motorcycle sitting behind that vehicle. As a result, they don’t stop in time and they rear-end the bike.
3. Merging accidents
Finally, motorcycle riders face significant danger when driving on the interstate. Other drivers may not see a motorcycle in their blind spots, or they may never check their mirrors when changing lanes. If they merge into the side of a motorcycle, it can force the bike off of the road and cause a crash.
Have you been injured in a motorcycle accident that someone else caused? You may be able to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages and the like.