Motorcycle Accidents: 20 Common Causes
Motorcycles offer a freedom that other vehicles simply cannot. Their streamlined design, sportiness, and performance provide an exhilarating feeling that is unmatched. The thrill of riding a two-wheel machine on the open road makes motorbikes functional and fun.
Yet it is often what attracts people to buy a bike that can cause severe to fatal injuries if ever in an accident.
What Can Cause a Motorcycle Accident?
If you accept the knowledge of what causes a motorcycle accident, you may learn ways on how to prevent them.
Without a supportive or protective structure, the level of harm increases for riders. Thus, the more you know about how to avoid and ward off what can cause a collision, the safer you will be.
20 of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents:
1. Unsafe Lane Changes
Check your blind spot and always signal when changing lanes.
2. Driving Under the Influence
Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs may face civil and criminal court. As their impairment can cause severe harm or even death.
3. Sudden Stops
Most rear-end accidents result from following too close to the vehicle ahead of you. If the vehicle’s driver abruptly stops, it can cause severe injury or death to a motorcyclist.
4. The Weather
Powerful winds can cause a bike to wobble as it is being operated. Changes in weather can cause crashes too. Snow, ice, or heavy rain can make it unsafe for riders to drive. If you can, stop and find a dry, warm place until the bad weather passes.
5. Car Doors
Pay attention to parked cars, if a driver opens their car door; it can hit oncoming motorcyclists.
6. Motorcycle and Part Defects
If a manufacturer designs a defective motorcycle or part, it can cause the bike to spin out and crash. If the bike stops working while in operation, it can result in injuries or deaths.
7. Inexperienced Drivers
Inexperienced drivers do not have enough training and are likely to make risky moves on the road. Their shortage of experience can compromise their safety and the safety of others. Novice riders need to spend many hours in training before operating a motorcycle.
8. Lane Splitting
If you drive between two lanes of traffic, you are doing what is called “lane splitting.” This is dangerous, and drivers need to avoid doing it.
9. Speeding
Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to detect and react in time to prevent an accident. The higher the speed, the more significant the impact, and the more severe the damage will be.
10. Left-turn Collisions
The cause of many left-turn crashes is “right of way errors” or driving misjudgments. Be vigilant when making left turns to prevent a collision from happening.
11. Dangerous Road Conditions
Not all roads, paths, or highways are safe. Many have crumbling pavements and potholes. Some of these are not always visible and can force a motorcycle to lose control and wreck.
12. Distractions
Other motorist distractions also apply to motorcyclists, which is why planning ways to avoid or eliminate potential distractions like phone usage, texting, etc. to keep you from causing a potentially devastating situation.
13. Corner Turning
Corners are not the safest place for motorcyclists. Although most motorcycles have a lot of control by design, it is difficult to compensate, especially when turning on a corner. If a motorcyclist turns a corner too hard and an accident happens, they are at a higher risk of injury or death from other cars and road hazards.
14. Loss of Traction
The initial loss of traction can result from the rear wheels of the motorcycle locking from excessive braking or incorrect downshifting techniques. If you apply too much throttle when exiting a corner, it can also cause you to lose traction.
15. Engine Seizes
When the motorcycle's engine seizes, some parts of the engine have lost lubrication, and the moving parts no longer work. If they cause friction, heat, or mechanical failure, the engine may stop turning and crash.
16. Chain Breaks
If a motorcycle chain breaks while riding, you will immediately lose the driving force that the engine applies to the rear wheel. Ultimately, your motorcycle will lose power, and an accident will occur.
17. Lack of Visibility
One of the contributing causes of an accident is often that the motorist could not see the rider until it was too late. Although it is often not the fault of the motorcyclist, the cause is usually caused by the motorist's lack of alertness to see the rider.
18. High-Performance Motorcycles
Even though few high-performance motorcycles are on the roads, they are often involved in a higher percentage of accidents. These crashes also result in significantly more deaths of motorcyclists.
19. Road Debris
If a motorcycle rides over gravel or slick roads, they can suddenly result in a crash. Fallen tree limbs or road construction cones can cause severe accidents if the rider does not see the debris before it is too late.
20. Driver Fatigue
Extensive work or driving hours can cause a motorcyclist to become drowsy. A lack of sleep can also cause riders to feel sleepy, which can cause traffic fatalities. Driver fatigue is severe and can cause significant harm if the rider falls asleep while on his or her bike.
Conclusion
Most motorcycle accidents can cause riders, motorists, or pedestrians acute injuries or death. The more you know about the laws of your state and accident prevention can save lives. If you do not know where to gain this information, consult an attorney. Motorcycle crashes can cause brain injuries, disabilities, spinal cord trauma, and more. They can be life-changing and may need a lifetime of medical care. Treatment can end up costing patient’s money they cannot afford. Tens of thousands of dollars can quickly add up, which many do not have.
If you or a loved one were in a motorcycle accident, you should file a claim after receiving medical care. If you want to file a lawsuit for financial recovery or damage compensation, contact a qualified lawyer soon after the crash.