Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

 Posted on March 14, 2017 in Personal Injury

With spring quickly approaching, many motorcycle riders are gearing up for rallies, runs, and good old-fashioned cruises. Sadly, the nearing season also means headlines will soon feature motorcycle crashes. The “lucky” ones will suffer injuries that will one day heal. Others will suffer serious and life-altering injuries. Still others will experience a crash that ends tragically in death.

What is most devastating about these crashes is that many will be the fault of another driver—a person who acted in a negligent way and, as a result, cost a family or rider a life, a limb, mobility, money, or employment. In such situations, the victim may be owed compensation, and it is important to know how to protect your rights.

Negligence Is a Common Factor in Motorcycle Accidents

Despite all the campaigns to “look twice and save a life,” the failure of a driver to see a motorcyclist or to register the rider’s presence are among the most common factors in motorcycle crashes. Another major issue and contributing factor in motorcycle accidents is a driver’s failure to yield when the motorcyclist has the right of way. An intersection where the motorcyclist is turning left is the most common situation in which this issue occurs, but it can also happen when the motorcycle is on a straightaway and the other driver must enter the motorcyclist’s path to merge into traffic.

Defensive Driving and Helmets Can Only Do So Much

Every motorcyclist should know how to be a defensive driver. They should also wear helmets and proper gear to provide themselves with the most amount of protection as possible. Yet, when involved in a crash with a vehicle, these measures are not always enough to save a life or prevent serious injury. Unfortunately, helmets can and sometimes do fail. Additionally, helmets do not protect from internal injuries, such as ruptured organs, which can certainly be fatal for rider. In these situations, it is critical that victims and their families understand their right to pursue a wrongful death suit or personal injury lawsuit for serious injury.

Pursuing Compensation for Yourself or a Loved One

If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident, our experienced Kane County personal injury attorneys can help. Call 630-907-0909 for a free consultation at Kinnally Flaherty Krentz Loran Hodge & Masur, P.C. today. We will meet with you to discuss your case and help you make the best decision about how to move forward.

Sources:

http://www.randolphcountyheraldtribune.com/news/20170211/one-dead-in-motorcycle-accident

http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~john/vfr/hurt.html

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/motorcycles/fatalityfacts/motorcycles