Motorcycle Riders: Watch Out for These Hazards

By Jason Bottlinger on June 1, 2022

When you’re riding a motorcycle, you are exposed to a lot more hazards than people in cars. Your bike doesn’t offer the same type of protection as a motor vehicle because you aren’t secured by seatbelts and a metal frame.

According to the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), only three percent of registered vehicles are motorcycles, but motorcycle riders make up 14 percent of motor vehicle accident fatalities. Watching out for hazards on the road can help make you safer on your motorcycle.

Staying Safe on Your Bike

In addition to providing less physical protection than a car, motorcycles are also more difficult to see than passenger vehicles. To protect yourself, always follow the law in Nebraska by wearing a helmet when you ride. For additional protection, make sure to have a face mask, eye protection, over the ankle footwear, heavy pants, a good jacket, and full-fingered gloves.

Stay aware of your surroundings when you’re on the road and try to avoid situations that may cause accidents. Some of the more common hazards that motorcycle riders face include:

• Cars making left turns are very dangerous. In fact, the NHTSA reports that almost half of the fatal crashes that occur between a car and a motorcycle result when a car is turning left. Cars that are turning left are supposed to wait until it’s safe before completing the maneuver. But the person operating the car is often impatient or distracted. Motorcycle riders can reduce the number of collisions by being cautious as they enter intersections.
• Unsafe lane changes. Many drivers neglect to signal before making a lane change or they don’t look carefully enough to notice if another vehicle is already in the lane. Cars have blind spots on both sides near the rear of the vehicle, so that’s where motorcycle riders should be especially alert for unexpected lane changes.
• Car doors on the driver side of the vehicle are dangerous for motorcycles because drivers and their passengers don’t always look before they open them.
• Speeding is a leading cause of accidents. Drivers and motorcycle riders who go too fast have reduced reaction time, and accidents that result from speeding are often deadly.
• Distracted drivers who are texting, talking, or performing some other activity while driving only need to drift partially out of their lane to cause tragic consequences for a motorcycle rider, so watch out for them.
• Sudden stops by drivers ahead of you may cause motorcycles to lose control and crash. It’s important to give yourself as much room as possible to react.
• Dangerous road conditions such as potholes, crumbling pavement, and loose gravel increase riders’ chances of losing control of their motorcycle.
• Driving while intoxicated by drugs and alcohol impairs the driver’s vision, judgement, and reaction time. There is no reason why a person should operate a motor vehicle when they are under the influence.
• Mechanical issues such as poor brakes, broken safety lights, and worn out or underinflated tires can lead to deadly crashes. Have your bike serviced regularly and keep an eye out for drivers who don’t properly maintain their vehicles.

Injuries Caused by Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle riders who get in a collision are more vulnerable to injuries than automobile drivers. Many of these injuries can be severe, leading to expensive medical care that may include ambulance rides, doctor’s office visits, surgery, rehabilitation, and time missed from work.

Your motorcycle accident attorney will investigate your accident and calculate the full extent of your expenses. Then they will file a claim against the negligent driver who caused your injuries.

Common injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents include:

• Road rash
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Biker’s arm
• Spinal cord injuries
• Bone fractures
• Internal organ damage

We You Injured in a Motorcycle Accident?

At Bottlinger Law L.L.C., we are driven by a passion to achieve justice for people who are injured by the wrongful acts of others. Our personal injury law team has years of experience and knowledge.

If you or a loved one has been harmed in an accident caused by another person’s negligence, we’ll fight to get you a settlement that will provide the money you need to put your life back together. Call (402) 505-8234 to learn more today.