Riding a motorcycle does give you thrills and an adrenaline rush. However, with the thrills also come the dangers of getting into an accident and injuring yourself. Even though modern motorcycles come with extra safety features, they remain more dangerous than cars.
To be safe and prevent accidents, it is important to know exactly what causes these accidents in order to take precautionary measures. Motorcycle accidents can result in serious consequences such as financial instability and long-term or permanent disability. Contact a motorcycle accident attorney today to discuss your case.
Common causes of motorcycle accidents
- Unsafe switching of lanes.
Sometimes drivers do not check their blind spots or signals when changing lanes. They often do not see a motorcycle or misjudge the distance between them and cut in front of you. One way to avoid such collisions with other vehicles is to look into the vehicle’s mirror. If you can see the driver, they can see you too.
- Suddenly opening car doors.
Imagine you are riding fast on your bike and suddenly a parked car in front of you opens their car door. The only thing you can do to save yourself during this time is pressing your brakes as soon as possible to avoid the collision, but there is often not much time left to stop, and you are likely to have an accident. Therefore, the slower you are going, the better.
- Speeding.
Speeding can prevent a significant number of motorcycle accidents. Going at a safe speed gives you enough time to make an emergency stop and also gives you enough judgment time. The extent of accident damages is directly related to the speed of the vehicle.
- Not wearing a helmet.
The most basic and easiest thing one can do for protecting themselves is to wear a helmet. Many people suffer from death or permanent head injuries that impact them for life. Wearing a helmet does not guarantee you 100% safety from hazards, but at least it can protect you from deadly head injuries.
- Gravel in a blind corner.
Gravel is often difficult to see on the road. You may be turning a corner and meet with a patch of gravel that causes you and your motorcycle to collapse. To avoid this, avoid going close to the area of gravel, especially when turning a corner. If you are unable to avoid the gravel or if there is no clear space around it, you need to go slow until you cross that area and reach a clear road.