Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

There are many different causes of motorcycle accidents. Some are caused by the person riding the motorcycle, and some are caused by the motor vehicles that share the roads with them. What is certain is that motorcyclists are vulnerable to injury. They lack the protection that people inside motor vehicles experience. It is for this reason that motorcyclists should take extra care and be extra vigilant when they are out on the roads. In fact, an accident lawyer in Illinois would recommend that a motorcyclist should pay extra attention to the traffic around him and be prepared to take defensive action if necessary.

Motor Vehicle Drivers Fail to Observe Motorcyclists

One of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents is that motor vehicle drivers just fail to notice or pay attention to motorcyclists. It is not unusual for a motorist to claim that they never saw the motorcyclist until they hit him with their car. In fact, most often these drivers hit the motorcycle head on rather than from behind. This is a dangerous situation, and very often the motorcyclist is killed in this type of collision. If this happens to you or someone in your family, residents can call on an Illinois accident lawyer to help recover damages from the negligent driver.

Left-Hand Turns Pose a Danger for Motorcyclists

Another dangerous situation posed by a motor vehicle is when a car is making a left-hand turn. It is a common danger for a motorcyclist when a car making a left-hand turn fails to see the motorcycle crossing an intersection and turns into it. In addition, a motorcyclist can put himself in the path of the car if he is trying to pass as the car is turning. In both situations, it is the motorcyclist who will most likely be injured and may even lose his life. In large cities like Chicago, residents can seek professional legal representation from motorcycle accident lawyers.

Motorcyclists Take Unnecessary Risks

In fact, it is not uncommon for a motorcyclist to put himself in danger if he is not careful on the roads. Something as simple as throwing caution to the wind, and taking a corner too fast can separate a rider from his motorcycle very quickly. Often motorcyclists take risks and put themselves in danger. For example, if a motorcyclist is speeding to catch up with and possibly pass a car, he is at risk of the car stopping suddenly, sending him flying over the top of the car. This type of risky driving is not unusual because the very nature of motorcycle riders is often one of fun and freedom without taking into consideration the dangers of the road.

Take Precautions and Drive Defensively

Furthermore, motorcycle accident lawyers know that both motorcyclists and people in motor vehicles often act without thinking and put others in danger. For instance, it is not unusual for an impatient motorcyclist to ride between lanes of stopped cars or cars moving at a slow speed. On the other hand, even a parked motor vehicle driver can be a danger to a motorcyclist when they open the car door to exit the vehicle directly in the path of the traveling motorcycle.

The bottom line is that motorcyclists are in the most danger on the road and should practice driving defensively as well as cautiously. If you’re a resident of Illinois and have been a victim of a motorcycle accident, seek advice from an Illinois accident attorney to ensure that you are protecting your rights.