For motorcyclists, being on the road often means freedom. However, it can also be a dangerous endeavor. Even if you are following the speed limit, obeying traffic laws, and wearing all of the necessary safety equipment, it may not always be enough to avoid injury out on the road. This is because in most cases, negligent and distracted drivers cause motorcycle accidents, not the riders themselves.
How do distracted drivers increase motorcycle accident risk?
A study from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that the average driver takes her eyes off the road for four to five seconds when reading a text. If a driver is traveling at 55 miles per hour, she will take her eyes off the road for long enough to cover the length of an entire football field.
While traveling this distance, she might swerve into your lane, cut you off, run through a stop sign or a red light, or simply not see you in time to hit her brakes.
While this would be a danger to all road users, any of the above can be deadly for motorcyclists who are already at a disadvantage due to their small size and lack of protection.
Motorcycles are Smaller and Harder to See
Motorcyclists are already difficult to see, even when drivers are keeping an eye out. When drivers are paying less attention, their ability to see a motorcycle is even further diminished. This means a distracted driver might not see you until it is far too late.
This is especially true in left-turn accidents that occur at intersections. Left-turn motorcycle accidents are common because drivers often neglect to check twice for motorcycles.
This can be especially problematic if the driver was using a cell phone at the light, as this can affect a driver’s attention for up to 27 seconds after putting the phone down, reports the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. This means that the driver does not even have to be using the phone at the time of collision to be distracted.
Motorcycles Offer No Physical Protection
Accidents can be dangerous for all drivers; however, motorcycle accidents are often deadly because riders have absolutely no protection from a collision.
They do not have a metal cage surrounding them which means they feel the full brunt of the impact. They do not have seatbelts which means the impact often throws them from the bike.
Unless they are wearing boots, gloves, leather pants, and a leather jacket, their skin has absolutely no protection from friction burns.
This lack of protection result in serious or fatal injuries, such as road rash, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, or head trauma.
Call Max Meyers Law Today at and Let Us Help You
When it comes down to it, motorcyclists face a lot of dangerous circumstances whenever they hit the road. But having to deal with accidents caused by negligent or distracted drivers should not be one of them. Unfortunately, recovering compensation is more difficult than many think due to the bias against motorcycle riders.
However, you have a legal team on your side that has your best interests in mind.
Max Meyers and his team know that there is no way they can heal your pain or the stress and anguish a motorcycle wreck causes you. But what we can do is make sure you get the financial help you need to get your life back on track.
This means helping you cover the costs of expensive medical bills, damage to your motorcycle, and even lost wages you may experience while you recover.
If you live in Washington State and have been involved in a motorcycle accident caused by a distracted or negligent driver, then give Max Meyers Law PLLC a call today for a consultation. The initial consultation is free and we do not receive payment until we win your case, so you have nothing to worry about. We want you to focus on healing while we help you hold the distracted driver accountable.
Give us a call today: 425-399-7000.
