Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

You love to ride. The feel of the wind in your face and the sun on your body as you roll through Los Angeles is a delight. Although you take advantage of the many benefits of riding a motorcycle, you are not reckless. You understand the precarious situation that every motorcycle rider is in while on the road. Motor vehicles are much larger and more powerful. In the event of a crash, your motorcycle will offer you little protection. That is why you follow the rules of the road.

Unfortunately, many motor vehicle operators are not as conscientious. Crashes involving motorcycles and other motor vehicles constitute 56% of motorcycle accident deaths. A reckless, inattentive, rule-breaking motorist can put your well-being at risk, which makes it important for you to know the most common causes of motorcycle accidents.

What You Should Be Aware Of

Knowing the common causes of motorcycle accidents will enable you to avoid situations that lead to them. Here are some driver actions that can lead to disaster:

1. Left-hand turns
   Drivers who are in a hurry often make left turns without checking their blind spot right before they execute the action. Usually, the car strikes the motorcycle when it is going through an intersection, passing the car, or overtaking the vehicle. The motorcycle’s smaller size and faster speed make it harder for the motor vehicle driver to spot it in time to halt the maneuver.
2. Motorcycle lane splitting
   Lane splitting is one of the best ways for a motorcycle to get through traffic congestion. The size and agility of your motorbike allows you to drive through between two lanes of stopped or sluggish traffic. Although lane splitting is legal in the state of California, it should always be done with caution and alertness. Lane splitting accidents tend to be caused by the close proximity of cars to the motorcycle, the reduced space that you have to maneuver, and the fact that a car may try to pass into the faster moving lane and not see you.
   A lane splitting accident can be easily pinned on the motorcyclist. You should be especially careful about what you tell the officer who arrives at the scene of the accident. You may want to wait until you have spoken with a Sherman Oaks personal injury attorney before making a formal statement. A Sherman Oaks injury law firm will ensure that you don’t say anything that may amount to an admission of wrongdoing.
3. Speeding
   Everyone exceeds the speed limit from time to time. However, there is a world of difference between going a few miles over the limit and accelerating to a point of losing control. A motor vehicle driver who speeds to such an excess will not be able to respond to unexpected events or they may overcompensate in trying to avoid an accident and spin out of control. Either way, they can put you in danger.
4. Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol
   No one should drive under after drinking or doing drugs. Neither a motorcyclist nor any other type of driver should get behind the wheel after they have taken prescription drug medication. It is important to make the latter point. When people think of drugs, they only think of alcohol and illegal narcotics. The fact that legally prescribed medicines have many of the same effects on the human body as illegal drugs does not occur to some people, and they get behind the wheel after taking pills. This is becoming an increasingly common cause of motorcycle accidents and you should be aware of the danger.
5. Collisions with fixed objects
   When riding, your attention should always be on the road. Even a fixed and discernible object can be dangerous to a motorcyclist who is not alert. This type of accident accounts for 25% of motorcyclist deaths.
6. Road hazards
   As a motorcyclist, road hazards such as potholes, wet pavements, uneven roads, and dead animals present a constant threat to your safety. Your motorbike may be unable to absorb the shock of running over a pothole. An especially deep one can throw you off your bike. You may also be hurt when you swerve to avoid such an obstruction.It may be possible to hold the city accountable for such hazards. If you are thrown off your motorcycle because of a road hazard, you should discuss the possibility of suing the city with your motorcycle accident lawyer in Sherman Oaks. A motorcycle accident lawyer Sherman Oaks may be able to build a good case against the municipal agency responsible.

Holding People Accountable

You are unlikely to leave a motorcycle accident without injury. In the most severe accidents, your injuries can be serious enough to put you in the hospital for weeks and months. The situation can put you in the most difficult financial condition. Paying for medical bills and the treatment needed to restore you to health is not something you should be left to do on your own. If you are the victim of someone else’s negligence and recklessness, then you should hold them accountable.

As you recover from the accident, you should speak to a motorcycle injury lawyer. In fact, you should speak to a motorcycle injury lawyer before you speak to anyone else—other than your family of course. A Sherman Oaks motorcycle crash injury lawyer will sit down with you and ask you about the events that led to the accident. If you have a compelling case, the Sherman Oaks motorcycle bodily injury lawyer you brought in will investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident even further.

To get the money that you are entitled to, you will need to prove that the actions of the other driver led to the accident, that the accident caused you serious injuries, and that you are owed a certain amount of money in compensation. In pursuing such a case, you should leave all communication and negotiation with the other side to your attorney for motorcycle accident compensation. They will know how to shepherd your case through to success.

If you have been in a motorcycle accident, you should call an attorney for motorcycle accident compensation to better understand your options.