Motorcycle accidents can happen for so many reasons. Every accident involving a motorcycle is a tragedy. Driving safely is paramount, yes. But, even if you’re the safest, most conscientious motorcyclist, you can be in an accident through no fault of your own. Here at the LA Injury Group, we’ve represented many who were hurt in motorcycle accidents. If that happens to you, you may be eligible for compensation.
Below are some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in Los Angeles. Additionally, these are some of the most preventable causes of motorcycle accidents. These are behaviors which, as a motorcyclist, you can either refrain from or manage properly. If you ever find yourself in an unfortunate situation, consulting a reliable motor accident attorney can help you navigate the legal complexities and secure the compensation you deserve.
If you’ve consumed any alcohol or marijuana, don’t get on your motorcycle. Don’t get behind the wheel of a car. It seems so simple and yet, unfortunately, so many do not follow this advice. Studies show that, on average, basically one person in America dies in an accident involving a DUI. That’s far, far too many.
That’s especially galling in a time when there are so many safe transportation alternatives. Rideshares, cabs, AirBNBs, and more - if you’ve had any alcohol or cannabis, don’t operate a vehicle. That’s safest for you, everyone else on the road, and the people you care about.
There’s truly nothing like being behind the wheel of a motorcycle. It’s an incredible feeling of freedom, just you and the road. It can be tempting to go over the speed limit, to go faster than you should. Don’t. Speeding is, by far, one of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in Los Angeles as well as anywhere else.
Speeding, even if you’re in a hurry, even if you’re late, is never really worth it. It may not seem like it, when you’re speeding, it doesn’t just make driving more difficult for you - it also makes it more difficult for all the other drivers on the road as well.
Since you’re on a motorcycle, they may not be able to react in time. Driving the speed limit gives you as well as everyone else on the road a better opportunity of getting to your destination safely. Speed limits exist for a reason.
Lane splitting isn’t legal in all of the states. It is, however, legal in California. You should only lane split with extreme caution. As with everything else, use your common sense. If you feel like you’re going too fast or doing too much, the odds are good that you are.
To “lane split” means that you’re driving between vehicles that are in adjacent lanes or you’re attempting to share a lane with another vehicle. As you can tell from the description, this isn’t the safest practice.
One significant reason is that this can be risky behavior: you can’t predict what the other driver is going to do. Frankly, many who don’t ride motorcycles are unaware that lane splitting is legal here in California. So, they very well may not expect to have a motorcycle share their lane. As such, this could cause them to react in such a way that causes an accident. Here at the LA Injury Group, we’ve seen this exact scenario far too many times.
Yes, lane splitting is legal. But, use your discretion. You can avail yourself of the rights but you always want to be as safe as possible when you're on your motorcycle.
When someone’s on a motorcycle, sometimes, they may feel like they’re invincible. As if they can do anything. That’s not the case, however. Many motorcyclists are in accidents due to a mistime lane change.
When you’re changing lanes, be sure to signal well in advance. Before you switch lanes, be sure to check your blind spots and be 100% certain that they are clear. Only ever change lanes one at a time, never trying to do two at once. Don’t speed up when switching lanes.
The truth is that, if you’re on a motorcycle, you will be a bit harder to notice for other drivers than, say, a car would be. As such, you need to be extra cautious when changing lanes.
After all, for all of the freedom that riding a motorcycle provides, you don’t have an airbag. You don’t have nearly the protection that someone in a car has. As such, it makes all the sense in the world to drive smartly and defensively.
The above constitute only some of the most common causes of crashes involving motorcycles. There are many others, including vehicle defects, environmental conditions, and so much more. If you or someone you love are injured in an accident involving a motorcycle, whether you were on a motorcycle or hit by one, you may have a case. You can reach out to a motorcycle accident attorney in Los Angeles for a free consultation.