How Motorcycle Accidents Usually Happen

Thousands of fatalities and nearly a hundred thousand injuries are caused annually by motorcycle accidents. Despite their relative rarity on the road, bikers are over 30 times more likely to be killed in an accident than other drivers and face a variety of risks unique to motorcyclists. Regardless of what vehicle you operate, knowing how and why motorcycle accidents happen will help you avoid potentially fatal collisions and stay safe on the road.

Left-hand Turns

Nearly half of all motorcycle collisions involve a larger vehicle making a left-hand turn, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s motorcycle traffic safety facts. This happens most frequently at intersections or while the rider attempts to pass a car, usually due to a mixture of unaware drivers and bikers staying too close to the automobile in front of them.

Lane Splitting

A significant percentage of motorcycle accidents in Nevada are caused by lane splitting, and as such, the practice has been outlawed in the state. Unfortunately, many bikers illegally choose to drive between other vehicles regardless; lane splitting is inherently dangerous and causes accidents frequently in all states for a variety of reasons.

• Motorcyclists have nearly no room to maneuver and are frequently unable to get out of dangerous situations while between other vehicles.
• Bikers are far closer to other cars while lane splitting, causing them and other drivers to have little to no time to react if something goes wrong.
• Lane splitting in dense traffic, while tempting, is especially inadvisable. Other drivers are commonly less attentive at low speeds and won’t expect a motorcycle to pass them suddenly, on top of the fact that vehicles are even closer together in a traffic jam.

Note that lane splitting and lane sharing are different from one another, and have individual limitations by state. Nevada permits lane sharing (driving alongside one other motorcycle in the same lane) but does not allow lane splitting (biking between stationary or moving vehicles).

Unnoticed Motorcyclists

Most motorcycle accidents share the theme of drivers struggling to see motorcycles on the road, and for good reason. Bikers are almost never hit from behind (rear-end collisions account for only five percent of all motorcycle accidents), as riders are easiest for drivers to notice when directly in front of them. Given their low profile and motorcycles being a minority among roadway vehicles, many people don’t notice them until it’s too late.

Recovering From a Motorcycle Accident

Between catastrophic injuries, biased insurance companies, and a mountain of paperwork, things can seem overwhelming after getting into a motorcycle accident. Your first priority should be your recovery, not worrying about whether you’ll be compensated properly for medical costs and property damage. A Las Vegas accident lawyer can shoulder that burden on your behalf, giving you peace of mind and the knowledge that you’ll receive the best settlement possible, one which accounts for both your tangible expenses and your pain and suffering. Our experienced, compassionate attorneys can help. If you’ve been caught in a motorcycle accident, call us at (702) 550-1111 to schedule a free consultation and learn more about what you can gain from the settlement process.