Do Passenger Vehicle Drivers Cause Most Motorcycle Accidents?
When motorcycle accidents occur, there’s often a lot of contention regarding who’s at fault. Many passenger vehicle drivers believe that motorcyclists are the ones at fault. They claim they are reckless because they drive too quickly and often weave in and out of traffic, instead of staying in one lane.
On the opposing side, motorcyclists sometimes believe that car drivers are the reckless ones. They do not look for motorcyclists and have a harder time seeing them. Many car drivers drive while distracted, especially with their cell phones. As a result, motorcyclists can get rear-ended easily.
The truth is that all of these stereotypes regarding who tends to drive with more recklessness do more harm than good. Motorcycle accidents can happen for a wide variety of reasons, and understanding who caused the crash and how it could have been prevented is often incredibly complex.
Who Causes More Motorcycle Accidents?
Stereotypes aside, it’s a simple fact that data shows that cars and truck drivers are generally more likely to be at fault when they’re involved in a motorcycle collision. This is often due to the fact that they fail to yield right of way.
There are a couple of reasons why this could happen. One, the driver may be driving aggressively and doesn’t want to share the road with the biker. They think that the motorcyclist should yield to them no matter what. In addition to failing to yield, there could also be instances of cutting bikers off or not letting them switch lanes. This is an extremely dangerous method of driving because it takes the motorist’s focus away from the road. They are more inclined to affect the motorcyclist. When their attention is diverted, they have a higher chance of making a mistake. They could swerve out of their lane and into a vehicle next to them, not see the vehicle in front of them has stopped, or run off the road.
The other reason is that motorists aren’t expecting to see motorcyclists, so they don’t look for them. Motorcyclists are considerably smaller and often may go unseen. As the weather starts to warm up, there will be more motorcyclists on the road. It’s likely that motorcycle accidents could increase during this time. Motorists need to be aware that they will likely be on a highway with a biker. When the motorist knows to look for them, then they reduce the chance of getting into an accident.
However, it’s also important to know that motorcyclists are more likely to be in single-vehicle accidents. Many bikers make mistakes when it comes to approaching curves in the road. If they don’t slow down properly, they can spin out of control. Different road surfaces can also affect a motorcyclist’s balance. Roads riddled with potholes, debris, or gravel roads are harder to navigate. Newer bikers or those not used to different surfaces may lose control.
Single-vehicle accidents are likely to be severe and may sometimes be fatal because it’s likely the person will be thrown from the bike. This isn’t to say that incidents involving a car or truck aren’t fatal. They can cause significant injury to the biker as well.
Collisions between cars and motorcycles usually occur when the car is making a left turn. They don’t see the motorcyclist going straight. When the pull in front of them, the motorcyclist may not have enough time to stop or will have to make an intense swerve to avoid a crash, but may lose control of the bike in the process. Motorists can have trouble with determining how fast a motorcyclist is traveling. In these instances, it’s always better to exercise caution than trying to beat the vehicle to a turn.
Belsky Weinberg & Horowitz, LLC Is Here for You
Drivers of any motor vehicle should always remain cautious and alert. Driving defensively gives you more time to react to situations on the road. This could give you the time to avoid a potentially horrible accident.
However, there will always be negligent or distracted drivers. If one of them has caused your injuries in a motorcycle vs. car crash in Baltimore or elsewhere in Maryland, you need representation that understands how to navigate the many complexities of a motorcycle accident claim. Belsky Weinberg & Horowitz, LLC is ready to assist however we can and has the experience your case deserves. Give in touch with us today so we can start putting you on the road to recovery.
