Driving a motorcycle can be an extraordinary thrill. The fresh air all around you and the feeling of freedom are hard to beat. Compared with a passenger vehicle, motorcycles are more efficient and easy to maneuver. It should come as little surprise, then, that many times accidents involving a motorcycle were the fault of the other driver, not the person on the motorcycle.
If you or someone you love has suffered a motorcycle accident caused by the driver of a larger vehicle, you should speak with an experienced personal injury or wrongful death attorney as soon as possible after the accident.
Motorcycle drivers have a right to share the roads
People in larger vehicles often forget about the fact that they legally share the road with smaller vehicles, including bicycles and motorcycles. They may turn or merge without adequately checking around their vehicle. They may fail to signal when they are changing lanes or turning, increasing the risk of an accident. They may also fail to perform critical maintenance, such as ensuring brake lights are operational. All of these poor decisions can directly impact the safety of people who are traveling on motorcycles.
Distracted driving is common in passenger vehicles, not on motorcycles
Being enclosed in a large vehicle gives a driver a sense of protection. It is much easier to become distracted by the radio, your food or your cellphone. A motorcycle driver can not be distracted by any of these things, because they are not available. Simply put, people operating motorcycles must focus completely on operating their vehicles, watching for danger and changes in traffic while maintaining balance and a safe speed. It is nearly impossible to hold a cellphone and operate a motorcycle. It is incredibly easy to do so from the driver’s seat of a standard vehicle.
Because they have fewer opportunities for distractions, motorcycle drivers tend to be relatively safe. Motorcycle drivers are responsible for fewer pedestrian and bicycle crashes than standard vehicles.
No matter how well they drive, however, they are at the mercy of others on the roads. Distraction in the other driver can prove expensive or even fatal for a diligent motorcycle driver. Someone merging or turning into them could have devastating effects for the person on the motorcycle, while the person at fault runs minimal risk of injury.
An attorney can help following a vehicle-motorcycle crash
There is a cultural stigma against motorcycles that persists without any evidence to support it. People see leather clothing and motorcycles as aggressive or dangerous, while neither is inherently either of those things. Working with an attorney is the best way to present a respectable image to the courts, law enforcement and insurers. They can negotiate on your behalf, help you secure a better settlement or even file a lawsuit if necessary. If you have been in a motorcycle accident, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible.