Out of all vehicle accidents, you could say that motorcycle accidents are the most
dangerous ones. Although not necessarily more common than motor vehicles and other
types of accidents, motorcycle accidents are more likely to result in some degree of injuriesand even death. In almost 98% of all motorcycle accidents, injury is guaranteed, and in 45% of all motorcycle accidents, those injuries will be more severe. These alarming numbers are why motorcyclists should educate themselves on the most common types of motorcycle accidents and the correct behavior that will prevent them.
Head-On Collision
Perhaps the most dangerous type of accident involves another vehicle: a car, a truck, or God forbid, an eighteen-wheeler. Moreover, having a head-on collision with these types of vehicles can turn you into an organ donor in no time. The head-on part means that the
other vehicle strikes the motorcycle from the front, which happens 78% of the time. Only
5% of the time, the motorcycle is struck from behind. The force of the impact makes this
type of accident fatal to the motorcyclists in most cases.
What you should do:
In head-on collisions, you should remember the Four R’s Read the road ahead- always scan the road ahead for possible debris and hazardous situations; Drive to the Right- always be in the right lane when possible or keep to the outside of the lane.
Reduce your speed- if you notice other car driving uncontrollably and swerving, reduce
your speed Ride off the road- this means you slow down and just stop at the side of the road. This is why riding to the Right rule is so important.
Left-Hand Turns Collisions
This type of accident usually happens in intersections, and it occurs when a car is making a left-hand turn. The car strikes the motorcycle while the motorcycle is going straight through an intersection, or when it's passing the car or trying to overtake the car. Whatever the scenario is, the motorcycle is less visible while the car is making the turn. The fault for this kind of accident always falls to the vehicle that is making the left turn. If, by any chance, a motorcycle was speeding or in a wrong lane, the fault stays the same, but the motorcyclists may receive a much lower compensation.
The amount of the compensation largely depends on the extent of your injuries and all
subsequent situations you may find yourselves into because of those injuries. One thing is clear, you will get a lot less if you go with your insurance, but if you consult with a
motorcycle accident attorney, your chances for a hefty compensation increase. There are
many details in one motorcycle accident that only attorneys are aware of, and seeking legal help can prove to be the best decision you have ever made. What you should do: Car drivers are, by default, not looking for motorcycles while driving. That is just the way their brains are trained, and they will only notice and remember big vehicles present around them. This is why you, as a motorcyclist, have to exercise caution.
There are many indicators that someone will make a turn in front of you- there is a car at
the intersection waiting to turn, or there is a gap in the traffic in front of you, or the car
driver makes a last-second head-maneuver as if he is ;looking both ways ; If you notice any of these signs, slow down and move to the outside most lane, away from the car. It would help if you also tried to make eye contact with the driver and get them to notice you.
Lane Splitting
Yes, a motorcycle is a great and useful means of transportation, especially in traffic jams.
But if you are lane splitting, you are using the advantage that comes with motorcycles in
the worst and most dangerous way possible. For those who do not know, lane-splitting
means that a motorcycle is driving between two lanes, and this is mostly done in traffic
jams when the cars in both lanes are not moving. What is so dangerous about it is the
narrow space that the motorcycle has to maneuver and the proximity to the other cars. The other car drivers are not expecting something to pass by them when nothing around them is moving, and one opening of the driver door can lead to a High Side accident (a High Side accident is when the motorcyclists goes over the motorcycle and sometimes
motorcycle goes over the motorcyclist).
What you should do: If you ask the State of Florida- you should NOT lane split because it is illegal. And while that is a problem solved for Florida, anywhere else in the U.S., you should try not to lane split. If you do lane split, do it in the safest manner possible, look for extra room to pass but also mind the gaps in traffic as that also means someone is trying to merge into that lane. Try not to hit anyone's car or break anyone's mirror because that’s just rude.
Speeding and Alcohol Use
Of all motorcycle accidents, half are caused by speeding or alcohol use. Having a pint or two is understandable, but next time you decide to drink and hop on your motorcycle,
remember that, unlike other vehicles, you do not have four wheels for the added stability,airbags, seat belts, or any outer frame to soften the blow. So because your motorcycle is missing all that, the more you fly through the air upon collision, the higher your chances become of a fatal injury.
What you should do
Do not, I repeat, do not drink and ride. Or at least limit yourselves to two drinks. It may not be the best night of your life, but it will surely not be the last. If you just have to get more than two drinks, forget you have a bike and call one of the rideshare companies. Leave your bike at the parking lot, have someone else drive you home, and pick
it up safely tomorrow morning.
Fixed Objects Collisions
A pole, a tree, anything that cannot be moved and acts as a hard surface in your motorcycle accident counts as fixed objects. Again, because motorcycles have much less safe design than a car, these types of accidents can leave you with extensive injuries with fatal outcomes.
What you should do: As always, caution, caution, caution! Driving at high speeds may be
tolerated at highways, but there are many fewer objects you can slam yourselves into than in a populated area. Adjust your speed to the road and area you are driving in and make it so that you have a pleasant ride, but also that you are able to take note of everything potentially dangerous on the side of the road.
Road Hazards Accidents
Think about it this way- you only have two wheels to battle everything that you may find
on the road. Potholes, wet pavement, dead animals, uneven heights between lanes, and all sorts of debris and junk. All of these things can act as a banana peel for a motorcycle and can lead to severe injuries and fatal consequences. What you should do: Lower your speed and anticipate every possible scenario. It is less likely you will find a dead animal in the downtown than at the mountain road, so go over the possible dangers of your route in your head before you start your motorcycle.
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