Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in the United States

Law/Nuestro blog/Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in the United States

Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in the United States

29/05/2024

Whether due to size, or footprint of the motorcycle, or sheer stability, or a combination of these factors, motorcycles are much more likely to be involved in an accident than other automobiles. Certainly, in some cases, this is a visibility issue as well, with many drivers of other automobiles not looking in their blind spots before entering a new lane. Almost eighty percent of motorcycle crashes end up causing death or injury (with only twenty percent of passenger car accidents ending in the same result). Here are some of the most common causes of motorcycle
accidents in the United States.

Substance Use

Intoxication through the use of drugs and alcohol is a major factor when it comes to motorcycle accidents. Almost thirty percent of motorcycle riders who are involved in fatal accidents are over the legal limit in terms of blood-alcohol
concentrations. Almost forty-five percent of those bikers involved in fatal accidents had some alcohol in their system at the time.

  • The obvious solution: Don’t drink and/or use and
    then drive
  • If you drink before driving, wait for at least
    one drink per hour, though for some people the wait should be longer

Reaction time and judgment can be immediately affected after only one drink, so it isn’t worth the risk.

High Speed

Motorcycles are exciting for the
freedom they offer. Sometimes, that freedom seems like it needs a little extra gas. Unfortunately, if you don’t know when is appropriate to accelerate, or you don’t obey the legal speed limits, you put yourself at increased risk of a motorcycle accident. In 2017, about thirty-one percent of motorcycle riders in the United States who ended up in fatal accidents were going above the speed limit. Speeding can put you at risk of tipping your bike, or make certain road conditions extra dangerous – like seams in the road, gravel, rain, etc. Speeding also makes it harder to compensate for anything – or anyone – around the corner when you head around it at high speed.

Poor Attention and Inexperienced Riders

Getting your motorcycle license only gets you so far. Riding a long time is what increases your capabilities as a rider, which is why many inexperienced riders are the cause of accidents. This includes the twenty-nine percent of fatal motorcycle accidents that happen at the hands of motorcycle riders who don’t have a license. The other big cause of motorcycle accidents is a rider simply not paying attention. People often think of themselves as multitaskers, but that is scientifically impossible, and in doing too many things at once – especially at  high speed – doesn’t allow us to make good decisions fast or make fast decisions well.

Stay Protected After Your Accident

If you’re in the unfortunate position of finding yourself in a motorcycle accident, you’ll need to call RS
Law Offices to consult on everything surrounding your accident. Hold on to all of your paperwork and be sure to file a police report, and keep everything related to injuries and loss of property.

blogs

You might like

More Apps for Increased Rideshare Safety

If every ride you take is just you and an unknown driver, it doesn’t hurt to look into your safety options. And while any unsure situation could potentially turn dangerous, you can do yourself a favor by finding helpful methods for letting people know where you are and where you’re going to be, and generally […]

29/05/2024
Read more

Five Apps for Increased Road Safety

Staying safe on the road is more important as more and more cities become increasingly dependent on automobile transportation. Increasedroad safety is about diligence and attentive driving, but there are also ways to “gamify” or in other ways incentivize safe driving, through smartphone apps. Here are five apps designed to keep you less distracted and […]

29/05/2024
Read more

Winter Rideshare Safety Tips

Winter driving is no joke in general. Everyone needs to slow down and be sure to take the proper winter driving precautions, but if you drive a rideshare, your point-to-point driving makes you more vulnerable to getting in an accident than if you were simply driving to and from work. Add to this the dangers […]

29/05/2024
Read more

Tips for Avoiding Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycles as a mode of transportation are inherently moredangerous than others. Because of this, motorcycle drivers have an extra onus on them to be the safest drivers possible. Many motorcycle accidents are caused due to careless motorcycle driving, and while you may think you’re one of the safe ones, anyone can be caught off guard. […]

29/05/2024
Read more

Five Products for Increased Bicycle Safety

Bicycle accidents are unfortunately increasingly common in both California and Arizona, causing many to seek damages to compensate for their losses. Defensive driving and being aware of your surroundings are the best tools for safety, as is making sure your bicycle is properly maintained, making sure to wear a helmet, and obeying all street laws […]

05/06/2024
Read more

Five Apps Every Trucker Should Have

Driving a tractor trailer or any other large vehicle isn’t just about long hours, lots of miles and making sure you’re still driving safely after those lengthy days. It’s a lifestyle, and like any other connected lifestyle in the 21st century, there are plenty of apps to go around designed to help make a truck […]

29/05/2024
Read more

Five Apps for Bicyclists

Bicycle accidents happen all the time in the United States, and practicing bicycle safety is relatively simple – it just involves a lot of mindful riding and the safest possible equipment. Another part of safe bicycle riding is making sure you have your routes planned out and, in the case of an emergency, it doesn’t […]

29/05/2024
Read more

Common Causes for Tractor Trailer Accidents

There’s a good reason tractor trailers require a specialty license to operate them. They’re big, fast, heavy, and – in the wrong conditions – incredibly dangerous. It is estimated that 3.5 percent of all automobileaccidents each year involve tractor trailers. Around 4,600 of these result in some sort of fatality. This can be due to […]

29/05/2024
Read more

California Lemon Laws: How Exactly Do They Work?

Buying a car in California, whether brand new or slightly used is always an exciting experience. Even if you already have a few in your garage, the thought of painting the town red in a new ride is nothing but thrilling. So, it can be incredibly disappointing if your new or used car keeps on […]

07/06/2024
Read more

The Most Unsafe Era for Pedestrians in 40 Years

Pedestrian safety is of utmost importance right now, and not just because pedestrians legally have the right of way in most places in the United States. Being asafer pedestrian is always key to avoiding injuries by being aware of ones surroundings and avoiding distractions, but as it stands, North Americans are not stemming the tide […]

29/05/2024
Read more

formulario de contacto

Póngase en contacto

By providing your phone number, you agree to receive text messages from RS Law Offices. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. View our Privacy Policy.