What Are the Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?

There’s nothing like cruising down one of Florida’s scenic coastal highways on a roaring motorcycle. In fact, the entire state is a rider’s dream; not only is it temperate enough to ride year-round, but it also offers breathtaking views of either the ocean or lush wildlife at every turn.

When drunk, distracted, or drowsy drivers are involved, though, riding in Florida can quickly become a nightmare. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Florida leads the country in motorcycle accident fatalities.

Collisions involving motorcycles are often devastating for the riders involved because bikes offer no protection from the force of impact. Even when riders manage to survive such accidents, they are likely to sustain debilitating injuries that have a lasting impact on all aspects of their life.

If you were hurt in a motorcycle crash with a negligent driver, contact Probinsky & Cole. A compassionate attorney on our team will review the details of the incident to determine if you have grounds for a claim. Call 866-805-8947 to schedule a free case evaluation with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Sarasota.

Read on to learn about some of the most common causes of motorcycle collisions:

1. Improper Lane Changes

Because motorcycles are so much smaller than other vehicles, they are a lot easier to miss. For this reason, sideswipe collisions are common on streets and highways that have multiple lanes of traffic traveling in the same direction.

When motorists fail to check their blind spots before changing lanes, they can end up striking someone on a motorcycle. Drivers can reduce the risk of causing a sideswipe accident by using their turn signal whenever they change lanes.

This will give riders a chance to act defensively and maneuver around them if necessary. Likewise, riders can reduce the risk of such a collision by staying out of a vehicle’s blind spots.

2. Unexpected Car Doors Opening

Car doors opening into moving traffic are a serious hazard to both motorcycle riders and cyclists. Whenever you are on two wheels instead of four and traveling alongside parallel parking, assume that the car doors to your right will open, and leave plenty of room for them to do so as a preventive measure.

3. Left-Turning Vehicles

According to RideApart, vehicles that cut across traffic in order to turn left are the leading cause of motorcycle collisions. A passenger vehicle motorist who checks for oncoming traffic before turning left is likely to perceive the absence of cars but may not necessarily register the presence of any approaching motorcycles.

When riders know some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents, they can take certain safety precautions to avoid them; however, the only surefire way to prevent such crashes is to stay off the roads entirely. Of course, for many riders, this is not an option.

If you were hurt in a motorcycle accident despite driving defensively and following all the rules of the road, turn to Probinsky & Cole. We have won several multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for our clients.

Call 866-805-8947 to schedule a free consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney in Sarasota. If you want to learn more about motorcycle accident claims in Florida, visit usattorneys.com/motorcycle-accident/florida.