Accidents involving a bicycle, left-turn collisions, speeding and driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
It is important for cyclists to stay alert and cautious when riding to avoid road hazards and potential accidents. Regularly checking and maintaining the equipment can also help prevent accidents caused by faulty equipment. Additionally, it is recommended to ride at a safe speed and be aware of the surroundings to reduce the risk of collision with fixed objects.
Speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol lead to many avoidable accidents. For example, speeding when approaching curves in the road can cause a rider to lose control of the bike or misjudge the curve, corner too far and end up in the path of oncoming traffic. About 37 percent of the motorcyclists who died in motorcycle accidents in Texas in 2011 were driving while intoxicated (BAC of 0.08 or higher), according to NHTSA.
These accidents are due to the fact that motorcycles are often difficult to spot in heavy traffic. Further, some motorists may misjudge a motorcycle’s distance or speed from the intersection, or simply attempt to rush through the intersection in hopes of overtaking the motorcycle.
Violation of the right of way and accidents with reduced visibility caused by distracted driving
Sometimes a vehicle may cross the path of a motorcycle when entering or exiting a side street or roundabout. In all these cases, the motorcyclist’s right of way can be violated by the other vehicle and lead to a collision. These violations can be due to difficulty seeing a motorcyclist entering a road or roundabout.
A motorcycle can already be more difficult to spot than cars and other larger vehicles on the road, but the problem can be exacerbated if the motorist is distracted and/or fails to check their blind spot before changing lanes or merging.
Common causes of distracted driving include:
• mobile phone use;
Adaptation of vehicle technology such as GPS or stereo system; and
• Conversations with passengers in the vehicle.
Contact an attorney for help with a motorcycle collision claim
Unfortunately, many motorcycle accidents are the result of a motorist’s negligence on the road. Motorcyclists involved in an accident caused by the negligence of another party are entitled to compensation by filing a personal injury claim. An attorney can help accident victims review the details of the accident, establish liability for the accident, and recover reasonable damages related to the accident.