Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Many motorcyclists crave the adrenaline rush that comes with riding a motorcycle through an open landscape. However, that rush comes at a cost; motorcycle accidents tend to be deadlier than motor vehicle accidents. The Insurance Information Institute estimates that in 2020 there were 1.3 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in the United States, but a whopping 31.6 deaths per 100 million motorcycle miles traveled. This is not totally unexpected, as motorcycles offer far fewer safety features than motor vehicles, but motorcycles also tend to be involved in different types of accidents than other vehicles. Drivers and motorcyclists who are injured in motorcycle accidents should consider speaking to a Tifton motorcycle accident lawyer. 

Inexperience 

Motorcycles are not most riders’ primary form of transportation, even for those who own their own motorcycles. For many, motorcycling is merely a weekend hobby. As a result, many motorcyclists have much less experience on their bikes than they do in their cars and therefore lack the risk-assessment and accident-avoidance instincts that drivers build up over many years. 

“Dooring” Accidents

Car doors pose similar risks for motorcycle accidents as they do for bicycle accidents. Dooring accidents occur when a motorcyclist is riding on the far right of a roadway and crashes into a door opened by a car that is parallel parked on the roadway. Such accidents can cause motorcyclists to be thrown forward from their motorcycles. While Georgia has a dooring law on the books, drivers continue to lack awareness of the dangers of opening doors without checking their surroundings. 

Left Turns 

Left turn accidents occur when a motor vehicle turns left across the path of an oncoming motorcyclist, causing a t-bone accident. While left turn accidents also affect motor vehicle drivers, they are more dangerous for motorcyclists because motorcycles offer less protection than vehicles. Approaching motorcycles also may be more difficult for turning drivers to see, increasing the risk of an accident. 

Lane Splitting

Lane splitting is the practice of riding a motorcycle between lanes of slow-moving or stopped traffic. While lane splitting is illegal in Georgia, it is nonetheless a common tactic for motorcyclists to bypass traffic jams. Accidents can occur when a vehicle suddenly switches lanes across the path of a lane-splitting motorcyclist. 

Blind Spot Accidents 

Blind spot accidents are not exclusive to motorcyclists, but motorcyclists are at a greater risk of suffering injuries from them. Due to their small size, motorcycles can more easily become completely obscured in a vehicle’s blind spot. Drivers also tend to look for other passenger vehicles when checking their blind spots, making motorcycles easier to miss. 

Road Conditions 

Poor road conditions — such as uneven lanes, gravel on pavement, and potholes — generally are inconveniences for motor vehicle drivers. However, they can be deadly obstacles for motorcyclists. Motorcycles are smaller and less stable than motor vehicles, thus increasing the risk of crashes due to irregularities in road surfaces. 

Get on the Road to Recovery With a Tifton Motorcycle Accident Lawyer 

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, whether as a motorcyclist or a driver, you may be able to recover for your injuries if the accident was due to negligence. To find out more, please contact a Tifton motorcycle accident lawyer at the Hudson Injury Firm by calling 229-396-5848 or using our online form.