Motorcycle riders are at a disadvantage over those who drive cars and trucks because they don’t have any real protection other than a helmet. Even though car accidents can cause major injuries and even death, it doesn’t take much of a hit to send someone flying off of a motorcycle. The same type of hit against another car would barely scratch the bumper.
While many accidents are truly accidents of circumstance, a significant number are the result of drivers breaking traffic laws. It’s unfortunate, but if you ride a motorcycle, you need to compensate for bad drivers to stay safe.
You Can’t Control How Other People Drive
You can’t control other drivers on the road, and no matter how poorly they drive, your presence isn’t going to change their habits. The only control you have is over your motorcycle. If you see someone driving irresponsibly or too aggressively, stay away from them. Don’t get involved in a situation where you try to force someone in a car or truck to obey traffic laws. It’s not going to work and will only put yourself in danger.
For example, if someone won’t let you pass or they refuse to let you move up to the front of the line at a red light, don’t get aggressive toward that driver. Some people have an irrational negative disposition toward motorcycle riders and aren’t going to be nice. If you trigger them, the situation could get worse and turn into a road rage scenario. Mind your own business and give them a wide berth.
If you do end up injured in a motorcycle accident, don’t hesitate to contact an attorney. When you file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver, there’s a good chance you can recover more than enough financial compensation to cover your medical and household bills. If you have to take time off work to heal, having that extra compensation for lost wages will go a long way, especially if you have dependents.
Bad Driving Habits Likely To Cause A Motorcycle Accident
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2021, 5,932 motorcyclists died from injuries they sustained in a crash. This is the highest number of fatalities on record since 1975, when they started collecting data. The numb2021 Data: Motorcycleser of injuries and fatalities each year is still rising.
The following habits put motorcyclists at risk on the road:
Tailgating. Motorcycles stop much faster than cars, and when cars are used to tailgating other vehicles, that driver is more likely to hit a motorcycle.
Speeding. In general, speeding is dangerous because a speeding car requires more time to stop. If a speeding driver doesn’t notice stopped traffic in time, and there’s a motorcycle in front of them, they can seriously injure the rider.
Distracted driving. Distractions are bad enough when there’s an accident involving two cars. However, motorcycles are already hard to see, and being distracted just makes it harder.
Unsafe Turns And Lane Changes
Disregarding the right of way. Depending on the situation, a motorcyclist might have the right of way just like any other vehicle. If drivers don’t yield to them, it can result in an accident.
Driving under the influence. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is always unsafe, but the consequences can be far worse when a motorcyclist gets hit.
Sometimes drivers don’t know how to drive when a motorcycle is nearby. For example, if it’s a small motorcycle, an uninformed driver might not realize they need to pass them by first moving into an adjacent lane. Some drivers are used to swerving around bicycles and might feel like it’s appropriate to do the same with a motorcycle.
Other drivers might have equally dangerous driving habits, like changing lanes or turning right on a red light without looking in their mirrors. That’s extremely dangerous for motorcyclists and as a result, you’ll need to be on alert anytime you think a car might turn right in front of you.
Sometimes cars turn right on red at the last second from the lane that should go straight ahead. All you can do is look for a blinker and glance at the direction of the front tires to see if there’s an indication they might turn.
Motorcycles Aren’t Inherently Dangerous
Although motorcyclists are at higher risk of suffering catastrophic injuries and death from motor
vehicle accidents, it’s not the motorcycles that are dangerous. It’s the general disregard for traffic laws and people who drive unsafely. It might be inconvenient, but staying safe requires obeying traffic laws in addition to compensating for bad drivers.
