Can Motorcycles Be Safe?

Riding down the freeway on a motorcycle bears little similarity to driving that same stretch in a car. No matter how you spin it, motorcyclists always face a higher risk of sustaining an injury while out on the road. Unlike the occupants of large cars and trucks, cyclists do not have a strong outer shell surrounding them in a serious crash. Instead, cyclists experience direct exposure to their surrounding environment. If they become involved in a serious accident, they might fall to the ground—or onto another vehicle—and suffer debilitating injuries.

Many different factors affect rider safety. Many of which come back to the behavior of other drivers. As a rider, you always want to make the right decision for yourself, and you should always prioritize your safety.

What types of dangers do motorcycles pose? If you or someone you love has sustained a serious injury or died in a motorcycle accident, contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney.

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Why Do Motorcycle Accidents Happen?

Like any other type of accident, motorcycle accidents don’t just happen. They most often result from someone’s actions, inactions, or negligence. All drivers need to use care and take action to prevent motorcycle accidents. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

Blind Spots

All drivers on the road should remain aware of other drivers. Motorcycles are smaller than passenger vehicles, which makes them more difficult to see. That said, arguing that you didn’t see a motorcycle is not a valid excuse for causing an accident. Drivers don’t just come out of nowhere; if you pay attention, you’ll see as a rider approaches. All drivers have a responsibility to remain aware of their surroundings. This means checking their mirrors and turning their head to clear their blind spots.

Following Too Closely

We’ve all heard of the three-second rule, which constitutes the minimum amount of space you should allow between you and another vehicle. To calculate a safe following distance, observe when a vehicle in front of you passes a fixed object (a sign or another landmark). Then count the time it takes you to reach that same landmark. If you count less than three seconds, you should slow down and give the car more space.

A vehicle traveling at 60 miles per hour takes 304 feet to come to a complete stop. The faster you travel, the longer time and distance you will need to stop. Drivers traveling too closely increase the likelihood of a rear-end collision if the driver in front has to come to a sudden stop.

Driving Under the Influence

Every day in the United States, drunk driving kills 28 people. Driving under the influence is reckless – plain and simple. After just one drink, a person can experience diminished decision-making skills, decreased visual acuity, and reduced multitasking ability.

Whenever a driver has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher, they are legally intoxicated. Drivers who are minors—or under 21—may not have any alcohol in their system. Commercial drivers, including big rig and tractor-trailer operators, must not have a BAC of 0.04 percent or greater.

If a driver violates one of these per se laws, a police officer can arrest them for DUI on the spot. However, some drivers are subject to arrest if their mannerisms, speech, and other faculties demonstrate alcohol impairment.

These laws are in place because of the serious consequences of driver impairment and intoxication. Alcohol is a depressant that severely slows a driver’s concentration and reaction time. Consequently, drunk drivers may not stop their vehicles in time to avoid crashing with cyclists. Alcohol can also blur a driver’s vision, preventing them from seeing an approaching cyclist.

In addition to incurring criminal penalties, drunk drivers and their insurance companies may be responsible for damages if the accident causes another driver or passenger to suffer serious injuries.

Speeding

Speeding is a serious problem that takes thousands of lives every year. Many different factors make speeding dangerous. Remember, the faster you drive, the longer it takes to stop. A speeding driver also has less time to respond to hazards and faces a higher risk of losing control of the vehicle.

One of the biggest dangers of speeding, however, is the impact of a crash. Research shows that speeding exponentially increases the severity and likelihood of serious injury or death in a collision. If a speeding driver hits a motorcyclist, the consequences can prove catastrophic.

Failure to Yield the Right of Way

Traffic laws dictate who has the right-of-way. When drivers obey the law, they save lives. Unfortunately, failure to yield the right-of-way constitutes one of the leading causes of accidents.

Failure-to-yield accidents are especially common at traffic intersections, where a driver runs a red light, stop sign, or yield sign. They also frequently occur near highway merge lanes, where a driver fails to stop and yield the right-of-way to through-moving traffic.

These accidents can happen because drivers may think they have more time at an intersection or fail to pay adequate attention. Other issues, including speeding and distracted driving, can compound failure to yield the right-of-way accidents and result in more severe injuries.

Distracted Driving

We’ve all seen a driver too engulfed in their phone to realize a light turned green. Another example involves a driver trying to eat a cheeseburger as he or she drifts in and out of one lane. Whatever the distraction, distracted driving poses serious dangers to others on the road. It just takes a few seconds of having your eyes off the road for an accident to happen.

The CDC reports three types of distracted driving: (1) taking your eyes off the road, (2) taking your hands off the wheel, and (3) taking your mind off the road.

Common causes of distracted driving include:

• Cell phone use
• Talking to other passengers
• Adjusting the radio
• Eating
• Rubbernecking

A serious accident can happen even when a driver turns their head away from the road for a second. When distracted driving accidents occur at high speeds, they may lead to serious injuries—and sometimes fatalities—for drivers and their passengers.

Where Do Motorcycle Accidents Happen?

In its most recent report, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that 61 percent of rider fatalities happened in urban areas. In urban and rural areas, most accidents occur on non-interstate major roads. The Governors Highways Safety Association recently reported that Florida had the most motorcycle fatalities in one year, with 574 deaths. This accounted for over 10 percent of all motorcycle fatalities nationwide.

Seven Ways Other Drivers Can Help Keep Motorcyclists Safe

Motorcycle riders face increased risks when out on the road. The design and size of the vehicle leave riders more vulnerable, but other drivers on the road need to do more to increase rider safety.

Drivers can reduce the chance of an accident when they:

1. Always drive sober: No excuse exists to drive under the influence. Drivers always have the option to call a ride service or use a designated driver. Drunk drivers put everyone at risk. Some consequences of drunk driving include blurry vision, poor judgment, slower reaction time, and poor coordination.
2. Allow extra room: Drivers should monitor their following distance at all times. However, taking this precaution proves particularly important when in the presence of motorcycles. A motorcyclist doesn’t stand a chance against a passenger vehicle in a collision. A minor bump can drag the bike under the vehicle and pin the driver. When this happens, the motorcyclist can suffer life-threatening or fatal injuries. At higher speeds, the force of the collision can easily throw the rider off the bike.
3. Be aware of blind spots: Every vehicle has blind spots. Drivers must check their paths for other vehicles before changing lanes, backing up, or making a turn. All drivers should get in the habit of checking their mirrors to increase their awareness of approaching vehicles.
4. Minimize distractions: Forty-eight states, including Florida, prohibit texting and driving. Drivers should take these laws seriously. Distractions constitute one of the leading causes of accidents. When drivers take their eyes off the road, they limit the time they have to react. If a motorcycle enters the roadway or the light turns red, the driver may not have enough time to stop.
5. Slow down: Drivers continually think that they can get away with speeding. Despite laws and extra patrols, drivers continue to drive too fast every single day. Speeding simply makes it difficult to drive safely. When drivers speed, they greatly reduce their ability to prevent an accident.
6. Use caution during unfavorable conditions: Cars can handle certain road and weather conditions better than motorcycles. Conditions like loose gravel or construction can prove very dangerous for motorcyclists. Drivers on the road need to remain aware of these dangers and allow riders extra space. When it comes to bad weather, all drivers should modify their behavior. Rain can make the roadway slick and affect how long it takes both passenger vehicles and motorcycles to stop.
7. Change lanes safely: Drivers can make many mistakes when changing lanes. These mistakes can cause an accident and put motorcyclists’ lives in danger. When changing lanes, drivers should always use their turn signals to warn other motorists. Drivers also need to allow enough space and only enter the adjacent lane when adequate room exists.

Your Rights After a Motorcycle Accident

The law may entitle you to financial compensation if you or someone you love has sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident. Personal injury awards can help victims recover costs and get the care they need to begin to move forward after a serious injury. Every case involves a different set of facts, and it can prove difficult to calculate the exact value of your accident claim.

Certain factors will affect nearly every motorcycle accident claim, including:

• Medical bills: Motorcycle accidents can cause severe, life-altering injuries. The financial impact of these injuries can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars or more. During a personal injury case, victims want to recover all medical costs associated with their accidents. This may include doctor visits, hospital stays, medications, surgeries, and rehabilitation.
• Lost income: A serious injury can temporarily or permanently put you out of work. If this happens, it’s natural to wonder how you will pay your bills. When someone else’s negligence causes you to lose time from work, you shouldn’t have to suffer. Depending on the circumstances, the law may allow you to recoup lost wages for any time lost due to your injuries.
• Pain and suffering: Accidents cause physical and emotional pain. When you go through a trauma, the law considers this pain. Pain and suffering typically covers most non-economic costs that come with an injury. This may include physical pain, disfigurement, anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Wrongful death: Sadly, far too many motorcycle accidents result in fatalities. Losing a loved one can prove difficult and even life-changing. You shouldn’t have to worry about how to pay for medical bills and funeral costs while you grieve. When a loved one dies in an accident, a wrongful death claim can help you recover these costs. Expenses may include funeral and burial costs, medical debt, lost income, loss of companionship, and pain and suffering.

Common Injuries that Motorcycle Accident Victims Suffer

The injuries that motorcycle crash victims suffer can be devastating and deadly. The extent of the injury will typically depend upon the impact force, how the accident victim falls, how they land on the ground, and whether or not they were wearing a helmet and other protective gear. Although protective motorcycle gear, including sturdy helmets, can help lessen the blow, serious injuries may still occur when cyclists wear the necessary equipment. Even well-made motorcycle helmets can crack if a cyclist falls to the ground in a serious accident.

Some of those common injuries that motorcycle accident victims suffer include:

• Traumatic head and brain injuries – A traumatic head or brain injury can happen when a cyclist lands on their head or back in a motorcycle crash. The force of this impact might cause the accident victim’s brain to move around inside their skull, causing a concussion or other serious head injury. Concussions and other TBIs can result in both short and long-term symptoms. Short-term symptoms include nausea, dizziness, confusion, lack of concentration, and headaches. However, long-term consequences may include permanent loss of memory and coma. In the most serious TBI cases, the accident victim can wind up in a permanent vegetative state or dead.
• Road rash – Road rash is a burn injury that occurs when a cyclist’s body skids along the pavement at high speed. Severe bleeding and deep lacerations can occur, and the accident victim may need stitches. Road rash injuries may also cause unsightly scarring on the affected body parts.
• Broken bones – When a cyclist falls on their arm, hand, knee, or leg, the impact may be so severe that they sustain one or more broken bones. In many instances, cyclists who suffer broken bones might undergo surgery and physical therapy after their fracture heals.
• Soft tissue injuries – Soft tissue injuries are arguably the least serious injury that a cyclist may sustain in an accident. A soft tissue injury is a muscular sprain or strain that causes pain. Even though soft tissue injuries are less serious than a fracture or broken bone, the injured cyclist may experience prolonged symptoms requiring ongoing medical treatment and physical therapy.
• Spinal cord injuries – When an accident victim strikes their head or back on the pavement, they may suffer damage to their spinal cord. Cyclists who suffer spinal cord injuries might also need to undergo one more surgeries. However, the damage is irreversible in some instances, and the cyclist will suffer from full or partial paralysis. A paralysis injury prevents an individual from moving one or more body parts. They may also have limited —or no— functionality in the affected areas.

If you suffer injuries in a motorcycle accident, you must seek prompt medical treatment at a local hospital emergency room or urgent care facility. You should seek this treatment even if you are unsure about the severity of your injuries. This is because injuries that go untreated for a significant time may worsen the longer an accident victim waits. Therefore, the best action is to seek treatment for your injuries as early as possible.

A medical provider can thoroughly examine you and take the necessary imaging studies to render an accurate diagnosis, including x-rays, brain scans, and MRIs. If you require emergency surgery or other treatment at the hospital, the responding doctor can provide that treatment. Finally, the hospital or urgent care doctor can recommend future care. For example, you may need to undergo surgery in the future, consult with your primary care doctor, or talk to a specialist, such as an orthopedic doctor or neurologist.

When you seek follow-up treatment, you should be sure to continue treating until the medical provider discharges you. Otherwise, you risk the injury flaring up again and causing painful symptoms.

Seeking prompt and continuous medical treatment is also beneficial for your injury claim. If the insurance company sees that you failed to treat your injuries immediately or did not treat them continuously, they will likely become skeptical. In particular, they may believe that your injuries were not all that serious or that you did not make medical treatment a priority following your motorcycle crash. Consequently, they may limit the monetary compensation they offer you to resolve your claim.

Your Rights Matter After a Motorcycle Accident

After a motorcycle accident, you may feel like your world has completely changed for the worse. During this time, you want security and confidence that you will get through this. While money won’t take away your pain or loss, it can make it easier to take care of certain things and focus on what matters the most: taking care of yourself. If you have questions after a motorcycle accident, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. To learn more about your rights and what to do after a serious accident, contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney.

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