How Do Most Motorcycle Accidents Happen?

Although insurance companies like to argue otherwise, most motorcycle accidents occur when riders have their right of way violated by inattentive or reckless drivers. Because the design of motorcycles inherently provides no protection to a rider in the event of an accident, motorcyclists often lose their lives or suffer devastating injuries when they are involved in a collision. Motorcyclists who have been hurt because of the actions of a negligent driver can and should take action to hold them accountable for their actions.

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) 793-2010.