Frequent Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents are some of the most serious and life-changing there are. Even if you take all the necessary safety precautions before hopping on your bike and hitting the roads, there is a good chance another person’s negligence will leave you injured – or worse. While there is an inherent risk of riding a motorcycle, distractions, negligence, and weather conditions create even more obstacles for motorcycle riders. The truth of the matter is that motorcycles are dangerous by nature and come with a series of risks that no other motorists face. There are no seatbelts or external protective structures to keep you safe when riding a motorcycle, which is why it is even more important to proceed with caution and make sure you are aware of your surroundings and other drivers.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there are approximately 9 million motorcycles on our roads, which means that many people are at risk of sustaining an injury because of someone else’s poor judgment. With this, the Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) reports that more people are riding motorcycles in today’s modern age than ever before. To reduce your odds of being involved – and injured – in a crash, it is important to understand what some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents are. Because motorcyclists are 27 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in an accident, we encourage you to take the time to learn about the dangers that are out there today.

With that in mind, here are the most frequent causes of motorcycle accidents in the U.S.:

• Improper lane changes – When someone who is operating a motor vehicle decided to change lanes without taking the time to look and make sure there are no other drivers or motorcyclists in the lane, the chances of them causing an accident are quite high. In fact, unsafe lane changes are one of the leading causes of injury and death amongst motorcyclists.
• Speed – This should come as no surprise, but speed is another leading contributor to motorcycle accidents. When a motorcyclist or a driver is speeding, their chances of seeing and reacting to other drivers with enough time to prevent a collision are much greater.
• Driving under the influence – When anyone – a motorcyclist or operator of a car – makes the decision to get behind the wheel or on a bike while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the chance of an accident occurring is quite high.
• Reckless riding – According to the Department of Transportation, reckless riding and lack of experience are two of the leading factors contributing to motorcycle accidents. Those who ride with excessive speed, negate to take proper safety precautions, and ride with reckless abandonment have a much higher chance of being involved in an accident.
• Lane splitting – When a motorcyclist makes the decision to drive between two lanes of stopped or slowly moving cars, they may be at risk of accident or injury. This is a common – albeit very unsafe – practice that is one of the leading causes of death amongst motorcyclists.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident, please contact Rad Law Firm today. Our Fort Worth motorcycle attorneys have worked countless personal injury cases involving motorcyclists who have sustained injuries because of another rider or driver’s negligence or misconduct, and we are prepared to do the same for you.