According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) statistics from 2008, approximately 96,000 motorcycle riders and passengers were injured throughout the U.S. Although motorcycles make up approximately 3% of registered vehicles, they are involved in 8% of all traffic fatalities.
Common causes of motorcycle accidents
There are many potential causes of motorcycle accidents; when they are the fault of another driver, you could file a claim. These are some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents:
- Left turns: Motorcycle accidents often happen when drivers fail to check their blind spots before turning left and turning into the motorcycle.
- Dangerous road conditions: Roads are not always safe, and slippery surfaces, loose gravel, and uneven pavement could cause an accident.
- Rear-ending: If the driver of a vehicle is following a motorcycle too closely, they would not have enough time to stop. As a result, they rear-end the bike, resulting in serious injuries.
- Lane splitting: Many motorcyclists will lane split if traffic is slow or at a standstill. Unfortunately, this could create a dangerous situation as drivers often do not expect it and may not notice a motorcyclist near them.
- Dooring: When a motorcyclist drives near a row of parked cars, a door could open, resulting in an accident.
