- May 12, 2016
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Personal Injury

Statistics provided by the Office of Highway Safety and Planning, which conducted the most thorough motorcycle accident causation study in the U.S. together with the Hurt Report, reveal the following information about motorcycle accident causes:
- The most frequent single cause of motorcycle/passenger vehicle accidents is an automobile turning left in front of a motorcycle driving straight.
- The median pre-crash speed of motorcycles is below 30 mph. Only about 1 in 1,000 crashes involved motorcyclists driving 80-90 mph.
- Intersections are the most common location of motorcycle accidents, with other vehicles tending to violate a motorcyclist’s right-of-way.
- The cause of most motorcycle accidents is the failure of motorists to detect motorcycles on the roadway.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Drug or alcohol use, distraction, fatigue, and cell phone use by drivers of trucks and passengers are some of the many dangerous driving behaviors that result in motorcycle accidents. However, 40 percent of motorcycle accidents are single-vehicle collisions, which means the motorcyclist was the only one involved in the crash. While this may seem to cast blame solely on the biker, there are a number of circumstances outside of their control that contribute to these numbers.
Other common causes of accidents include roadway hazards like:
- Unsafe work zones
- Potholes and uneven road surfaces
- Debris or substances on the road
- Lack of signs or confusing signs
- Shoulder drop off
Michigan motorcycle accident victims should immediately get in touch with a Detroit motorcycle accident lawyer at Goodman Acker P.C. No matter what caused your accident, you may be eligible for compensation to cover the costs of medical bills, rehabilitation, lost wages, and more. Our experienced team has more than 75 years of collective legal experience fighting for the injured since 1994.
Call today to schedule a free case evaluation: (248) 286-8100.