Have you been in a motorcycle accident? Unlike being involved in a car accident where the two drivers are inside of their respective cars, a motorcycle driver is much more exposed. This makes these accidents dangerous and likely to result in some type of accident. Whenever there is a motorcycle accident, a Phoenix motorcycle accident attorney should be consulted to help with the case.
Depending on the type of accident, it may be unclear who is at fault or what injuries were sustained because of the crash. Below are just a few of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents.
1. Lane changes
One common cause of collisions is lane changes. This can be caused by both the driver of the other vehicle and the motorcyclist. It is important to always put signals on before changing lanes. That way, all drivers on the road know precisely what is about to happen. Even if the signaling driver does not see a vehicle, the motorcyclist can see that the other driver is changing lanes.
Since motorcyclists can often be in blind spots or not seen on the road by vehicles that are more frequently looking for larger vehicles, signaling may make all the difference in preventing an accident.
2. Speeding
Similar to crashes caused by other cars, speeding is one of the more common reasons motorcycle accidents occur. As a motorcyclist, you must still drive according to conditions. Even if the speed limit is 75 miles per hour, rain, sleet, or fog are reasons to decrease your speed for your safety and for the safety of others on the road.
If another vehicle is speeding and it results in a crash, the injuries sustained may be worse for the motorcyclist than if everyone had been driving the speed limit.
3. Not respecting proper distance between vehicles
This last common cause of motorcycles accidents is very important. As a motorcyclist, you may feel as though you can ride closer to others car, pass other cars by riding in the middle of two lanes, or merge into another lane very close to another vehicle. You should, instead, follow proper driving rules to avoid accidents that occur from riding too close to another driver.
If you are too close to another car, you may be in their blind spot increasing the risk of an accident. You may also startle the driver of the other vehicle causing an accident.
As the driver of the other vehicles, you must still respect a motorcyclist’s boundaries when driving. If you drive too closely, you increase the risk of an accident, as well. Try giving the motorcyclist even more space than you would another car to reduce the change of a crash.
Getting Help After Your Motorcycle Accident
If you have been involved in a car accident as a motorcyclist, always consult with a Phoenix personal injury attorney, especially if you were injured. Lorona Mead can be a great resource. Call today for more information or to schedule an appointment.
