There are many factors that can determine who is at fault in motorcycle accidents. These factors can include other drivers on the road, the motorcyclist, and even road conditions. In the event of a collision, the injured party must seek compensation. To determine the responsibility of all parties, a fact-specific inquiry is necessary.
Who is at-fault in most motorcycle accidents? Read on to find out.
Car drivers
A car driver’s negligence can lead to a motorcycle accident. While motorcyclists can be at fault in some situations, most accidents are caused by the car’s driver. For example, car drivers should check their blind spots before merging onto a road, and motorcyclists must be cautious and stay alert to avoid being hit by cars.
A Florida Department of Transportation study found that motorcycle crashes are more likely to involve a single vehicle than a vehicle with four wheels. The study found that motorists fail to yield to motorcycles and other vehicles in many crashes. The study was carried out by Chanyoung Lee, a senior researcher with the University of South Florida Center for Urban Transportation Research.
Truck drivers
Motorcycle accidents are often the result of a truck or passenger car colliding with a motorcycle. The reason this happens is not always obvious, but trucks have wider blind spots than motorcycles do, making it easy for a truck driver to miss the motorcyclist, or to make a lane change that can cause a collision. These accidents can be life-threatening or traumatic for a motorcyclist.
If you are involved in a truck or motorcycle accident, it is important to maintain your cool and stay calm, even if the other party admits fault. It is best to take pictures of the accident scene, and record any statements from the other party. Also, try to collect the names and phone numbers of any eyewitnesses to the accident. These witnesses may be able to provide important testimony for your claim.
Passenger van drivers
While most motorcycle accidents are the fault of one or more drivers, some incidents are not the fault of either. In some instances, a passenger van driver may be at fault. These accidents can occur when the passenger van does not maintain its brakes or tires properly. When this happens, the van owner or driver can be held liable.
Passenger vans are notoriously dangerous. Their size and weight make them extremely difficult to stop, and failing to stop in time can result in a serious rear-end accident. Also, their raised engines make them more likely to rollover. When they do roll over, they can topple over onto other cars and cause serious injuries.
Motorcyclists
A majority of motorcycle accidents are caused by other drivers who fail to yield to motorcycles. Unfortunately, these collisions often result in life-threatening or even fatal injuries. In most cases, the fault lies with the other driver, but in many cases the motorcycle rider is at fault.
Many motorcycle accidents are the result of distracted driving. Distracted drivers do not always have the right of way and can easily miss a motorcycle on the road. This can lead to a lawsuit, even if the motorcyclist is not seriously injured. The ramifications of these accidents can be severe, and it can be very expensive to deal with them.
Inattentional blindness
Most motorcycle accidents are the result of a driver not paying attention to the road. Because motorcycles are smaller than cars, drivers may not notice them until the motorcycle is too close for them to avoid. This often leads to drivers wrongly believing that they have enough space to change lanes or turn around. Another common cause of motorcycle accidents is inattentional blindness, when someone looks directly at a motorcycle but fails to notice it. This occurs when the brain is processing a large amount of information at once.
Although inattentional blindness may be the cause of most motorcycle accidents, other factors can also contribute to the crash. Motorcyclists are less stable than cars, so their movements can’t be predicted. This makes it easier for drivers to miss a motorcycle, particularly at intersections or when making a left-hand turn. In fact, more than 40% of fatal two-vehicle motorcycle accidents involve other vehicles turning left, and this is especially true when the driver does not look at the road.