When you get a driver’s license or your motorcycle license, you understand the risks you are taking when you get on the road. In a car, you may not have personal safety gear to wear, but you know that your seat should be positioned in a certain way and that your seatbelt should be on at all times. Similarly, when you get on a motorcycle you understand that the risks of getting into an accident are even greater and the best way to remain safe is by abiding by the rules of the road and wearing proper safety gear. However, even if you are doing everything in your power to remain safe, attorneys know that accidents can still happen, and when they do, they want to help you hold the person who caused the accident responsible. If you were recently in a motorcycle accident and are wishing to pursue legal action, please call a law office now to see how they can help.
What are the most common ways motorcyclists get hurt on the road?
There are many ways that a motorcyclist can get hurt while they are commuting. Below, we have outlined some of the most common causes of these accidents.
- Cars and Left-Hand Turns. This can be an incredibly dangerous situation for a motorcycle and accounts for many accidents. When a car makes a left-hand turn, it can hit a motorcycle if the motorcyclist is attempting to pass the car or attempting to go straight through an intersection. Because a motorcycle is smaller and not seen as well, a car may not see them or they may believe that they can speed up and avoid the motorcycle. When this happens, a motorcyclist can become seriously injured.
- Head-On Collisions. Another common type of accident that can occur between a motorcyclist and a truck or a car is a head-on collision. When this occurs, the damage done to the motorcyclist is usually extremely severe and in many cases, even fatal. If a motorcyclist is alive after this type of accident, they will usually have months or years of physical therapy in addition to high medical bills.
- Lane Splitting. When a motorcyclist drives in between two lanes of cars—this is often seen in heavy traffic—a motorcyclist can get seriously injured. If you are seeking legal action after someone else injured you while you were lane splitting, how much compensation you get can depend on whether lane splitting is legal in your state and what you and the other driver were doing immediately prior to the accident.
Motorcyclists are at a higher risk for injuries when they get out on the road because of how vulnerable they are without the same type of protection that a car affords. Thus, when they get into an accident, their injuries can be severe. If you were recently involved in a motorcycle accident, attorneys can help you determine who is at fault and what type of compensation may be awarded in your case. For more information, speak with an attorney today.