The Reasons behind Most Bike Wrecks

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that there are about 9 million registered motorcycles on the nation’s roadways, accounting for approximately 3% of all traffic. Unfortunately, motorcycles are involved in nearly 6% of all traffic accidents and are more than 30 times as likely to cause a highway-related fatality. Statistics show that about 80% of people who are involved in a motorcycle accident suffer significant injury or even death, whereas about one in five passengers in automobiles are hurt or killed.

What Are the Factors that Most Often Cause or Contribute to Motorcycle Accidents?

As a general rule, most motorcycle accidents result from carelessness or negligence of another person. In essence, negligence involves a failure to do the things a reasonable person would have done under the same circumstances. Specific examples of negligence that can cause a motorcycle accident include:

• Opening a car door in front of a moving bike—Too often, passengers in a parked vehicle open the door on the traffic side of a vehicle without looking to see if anyone is coming
• Distracted driving—Other motorists will frequently take their eyes off the road, whether to use a cell phone or handheld device, adjust the stereo, talk to a passenger, wolf down lunch on the run or take in a roadside attraction/distraction
• Violation of traffic laws—Excessive speed, failure to yield to the right of way of a motorcycle, illegal lane changes, rolling stops at a red light or stop sign
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol—Another driver may have diminished capacity behind the wheel because of the use of controlled substances
• Tailgating or other aggressive driving—Other drivers may fail to maintain a reasonable distance behind a motorcycle or otherwise drive to close to a bike

Contact the Law Offices of David J. Karbasian, PC

Send us an e-mail or call our offices at 856-667-4666 / 856-600-HURT to schedule an appointment to discuss your personal injury claim. Evening and weekend consultations are available upon request. We can come to your home or the hospital to meet with you, if necessary.