Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accident are not unusual. While they don’t occur more frequently than other vehicle collisions, they are perhaps more fatal than others. According to the U.S. government, for every mile traveled in 2006, there were more deaths from motorcycle accidents than any other type of accident.

Because of these statistics, motorcyclists are urged to reduce their level of risk. In order to do this, knowing the top causes of motorcycle accidents is helpful. Here are the things that cause the majority of these crashes.

1. Head-On Collisions

When a motorcycle collides head-on with another vehicle on the road, there is more than a 50 percent chance that the motorcyclist will be killed. While the vehicle’s driver may be injured, they are less likely to be killed in the crash than the person on the bike.

2. Left-Hand Turns

When cars make left-hand turns, motorcyclists should be extra vigilant. In all of the motorcycle versus car accidents recorded, 42 percent occurred because a car was making a left hand turn. In many cases, the motorcyclist was traveling straight through an intersection at the time of the accident.

3. Lane Splitting

The practice of lane splitting can be a dangerous one. This occurs when a motorcyclist decides to drive between slow-moving or stopped vehicles. This maneuver makes it more difficult for the motorcyclist to navigate traffic. In addition, drivers of cars and other vehicles are not expecting to see a motorcycle next to them and may not be as attentive before they attempt to move in or out of traffic.

4. Speed and Alcohol

Speed and alcohol are also contributing factors in motorcycle accidents. About half of all single-motorcycle crashes can be attributed to speeding or alcohol use. Because a driver is less protected than one in a vehicle, these crashes most often lead to serious injury or death.

5. Fixed Objects

Accidents involving fixed objects account for about 25 percent of all motorcycle deaths. When a motorcycle collides with a stationery object, the driver is likely to be thrown from the bike. This results in a higher rate of death than for drivers of vehicles who hit fixed objects.

Motorcyclists face a variety of hazards on the road. If you are involved in a motorcycle accident in North Carolina, call our team of personal injury attorneys. We will review the details of your case at no cost to you. Call now.