What are the most common types of motorcycle accident?
While motorcycle accidents occur statistically less than other types of automobile accidents, a motorcycle crash can still prove to be very dangerous. Due to the minimal amount of protection offered by motorcycles, an accident on these vehicles are far more likely to result in serious injury or death. While taking a ride on a motorcycle can be an exhilarating experience, one might find themselves in an inconvenient, expensive, or even fatal accident if caution is not taken.
More often than not, motorcycle accidents involve a motorcycle and another passenger vehicle. Among the most common types of motorcycles accidents are head-on collisions. As is the case with other automobile accidents, a head-on collision can have seriously dangerous consequences to the rider’s head if they are not wearing the proper form of protection. Even with the recommended safety wear, a head-on collision involving a motorcycle is far more likely to result in potentially deadly head trauma. In fact, more than half of all deaths involving a motorcycle are head-on collisions.
When another vehicle is making a left-hand turn, they may come into contact with a motorcyclist. Accidents involving vehicles making contact with a motorcyclist are the most common motorcycle accident besides head-on collisions and may be caused by a variety of circumstances, including poorly executed passing or traveling through an intersection. The motorcycle’s small size makes a left-hand turn accident all the more likely due to the fact that they are less visible in a driver’s blind spot. Usually the vehicle making the left-hand turn is at fault in this kind of accident.
Lane splitting might also lead to a severe accident. Lane splitting is the term used to describe when a motorcyclist drives between lanes of tightly spaced vehicles. These accidents occur due to the close spacing among vehicles. in many states, lane splitting is not permitted, so it is possible that fault may lie with the cyclist themselves. It is often difficult for other vehicles to react to a motorcycle in their immediate vicinity, and lane splitting can very likely lead to a collision because of this.
It is important to note that the likelihood of an accident varies based on the kind of motorcycle involved. A high-performance motorcycle such as a sports bike is far more likely to be involved in an accident due to the fact that they are lightweight vehicles that are built for speed. The likelihood that a cyclist on a high-performance bike is involved in a serious or deadly injury is four times higher than that of a conventional motorcyclist.
It is important to follow the laws of motorcycle safety in order to build a strong case should you be involved in an accident. If you are involved in a motorcycle accident, an experienced attorney can help you receive the largest possible payout.
