As the weather continues to heat up, more and more riders will pull their motorcycles out of winter storage. Unfortunately, while they are an exhilarating means of transportation, motorcycles are inherently dangerous and can be involved in horrific motor vehicle collisions.
The National Safety Council publishes data in an effort to educate both motorcycle riders and automobile drivers alike. According to the NSC’s research, motorcycles only make up 3 percent of all registered vehicles and still account for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities (2017 data set). This level of disparity is hard to ignore and requires cooperation across all vehicle types to reduce these deadly numbers.
What can drivers do?
Unfortunately, the reality is that motorcycles are so much smaller than cars, vans and trucks that they are harder to visually identify against all of the background interference a driver must account for. Drivers must pay special attention on both city streets and highways to ensure a safe ride. Take precautions, including:
- Avoid any sort of distraction (eating, personal grooming, texting, talking on a cell phone, etc.) while behind the wheel.
- Pay special attention to identify motorcycles when crossing a four-way-stop intersection.
- Watch for motorcycles when turning right on a red traffic signal.
- Watch for motorcycles when exiting a parking lot or parking structure.
- Be aware that motorcycles might be in your blind spot when you are merging or changing lanes at high speed.
It is not uncommon for motorcyclists to suffer devastating or even fatal injuries in a vehicle collision. Riders might struggle with brain injuries, multiple fractures, spinal cord damage, paralysis or road rash. It is wise to discuss your motorcycle accident with an experienced personal injury attorney to learn more about your options for monetary compensation.
