Motorcycle Accidents

 At Shoar Law Group, we are as passionate about riding on the open road as you are, but we also understand that our passion comes with risks. Riding a motorcycle can be dangerous. Even if you wear all of the recommended safety gear, it’s possible that you could end up in an accident with serious injuries. Most motorcycle accidents involve a vehicle, however, it’s possible for motorcyclists to collide with another motorcycle, a pedestrian, bicyclist, truck, or bus.

Many of these accidents have one thing in common—negligence. It is all too common for riders to feel invisible in a sea of cars and trucks. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by negligence, speak to a personal injury attorney at once to discuss your legal options.

Most Common Causes Of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

Head-On Collisions

Many accidents involving a motorcycle and a car are head-on collisions. Unfortunately, motorcyclists often suffer very serious injuries in these accidents because they do not have much protection.

Left Hand Turns

Nearly half of all accidents involving a motorcycle and a car occur when the car is attempting to make a left hand turn and collides with the motorcyclist. This is because motorcycles are smaller than cars, so many drivers may not see a motorcyclist approaching them from the side. In most cases, the motorcycle is trying to pass the car or is going straight through an intersection at the same time the car is trying to turn left.

Lane Splitting

A motorcyclist who drives in between two lanes while traffic is at a stop or moving slowly is said to be lane splitting. Although it can be fairly dangerous because of how little space there is between the motorcycle and other cars on the road, lane splitting is legal in the state of California.

Lane Changes

Motorcycles often fall into drivers’ blind spots, which means they are often involved in crashes where the driver was attempting to change lanes before colliding with the motorcyclist.

Rear End

Motorcycles can also be involved in rear-end collision if another driver fails to stop in time to prevent a crash. Even a minor fender bender that causes very little damage to a car could seriously injure a motorcyclist.

Road Hazards

If you’re driving a car, you may not even notice if you drive over a pothole or between two uneven lanes. However, these road hazards are much more dangerous for motorcyclists. Many motorcycle accidents are caused by these dangerous conditions. If you are injured because of a road hazard, you may be able to file a claim against the city, county, or state that is responsible for maintaining the road.