It’s summer. You own a motorcycle. What are you going to do? Ride it.
Accidents are more likely to injure motorcyclists than those in vehicles. You lack the protection of all that plastic and steel around you. You need to be more perceptive, skilled, and aware than vehicle drivers. Some of the accidents you’re more likely to suffer involve the following, according to RideApart
A Vehicle Turns Left in Front of You
It’s the most common motorcycle accident. The driver doesn’t see you or misjudges your speed and cuts in front of you. It could be in an intersection or the middle of the road. The driver turns into a side street or driveway and you crash into the vehicle’s side. It could be the driver’s inattention, distraction, or since the driver doesn’t see a car or truck, he or she assumes the way is clear.
You need to develop a sixth sense and be prepared for situations where this might happen. The vehicle may be at an intersection waiting to turn, or you may be approaching a driveway or parking lot. You should slow down, cover your brakes, and get ready to take evasive action.
Look at the wheels, not the car, to see where it might go. If you need to take evasive action, what’s behind and to your side? Don’t lay down the bike. Slow down as much as possible pre-collision. Though you may hit the vehicle, the loss of 10 or 20 mph could be the difference between bruises and internal injuries and broken bones.
Gravel in A Blind Corner
Gravel, sand, or leaves could be just around the corner. Will you lose traction and crash? Avoid the problem by slowing down. Ride at a speed where your ability to react fits within your range of vision. Enter the corner wide, increase your vision, and accelerate out of it at a relaxed pace.
A Vehicle Switches Lanes Into You
You’re riding in traffic and a car in the next lane veers into you. Are you in the driver’s blind spot? Drivers look for cars, not motorcycles. Be aware of blind spots and be in them as little as possible. Be aware of situations where lane changes are more likely to occur. Highway traffic is slowing, with one lane moving faster than others. Drivers will want to be in that lane, so avoid it. Look for signs a vehicle will change lanes: turn signals, turned wheels, the car wanders in its lane while the driver checks his/her mirrors and the driver’s head is moving.
An Opened Vehicle Door
Dangers from clueless drivers don’t end when their vehicles are parked. You’re riding down the street when a vehicle door opens in front of you. To avoid the situation, don’t ride between an active traffic lane and parked cars. You have more than doors to worry about. Pedestrians can step out and a car may pull out in front of you. Brake hard to slow down as much as possible before the collision.
Don’t Drink and Ride
The Insurance Information Institute estimates that a third of fatal motorcycle accidents in 2017 were alcohol-related. You have much less room for error than those driving vehicles. That room can fall to zero if you’ve been drinking.
As you can see, many of these situations are caused or made worse by negligent vehicle drivers. If you or a family member is injured in a motorcycle accident, call The Fleck Firm for a free consultation at (270) 446-7000. We can talk about the accident, the law, and your best options to obtain compensation for your injuries. Insurance companies have lawyers. You should have one too.
