Failure to Yield a Common Factor in Collisions
Although there are fewer motorcycle accidents than motor vehicle accidents, the results of a motorcycle accident can be just as devastating. Here are seven factors that may help cause a motorcycle accident — but perhaps not as often as you think.
1. Weather
Motorcyclists are vulnerable to bad weather because they are much less protected from the elements than the occupants of four-wheeled, hooded vehicles. Even so, weather “is not a factor in 98% of motorcycle accidents” according to a report prepared for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures” by H.H. Hurt, Jr. and others, also known as the Hurt Report. One reason is that bikers, conscious of their greater exposure, are less likely to venture forth on a motorcycle during bad weather.
2. Road Conditions
The Hurt Report also concluded that road defects like uneven pavement, potholes, loose gravel, and poor road design account for only about two percent of all motorcycle accidents. Animals in the road account for just one percent of such accidents.
3. Vehicle Failure
Vehicle failure is the culprit in less than three percent of all motorcycle collisions. Most of these are single-vehicle accidents caused by a punctured or flat tire. Vehicle failure is likely to be due to inadequate maintenance.
4. Hostile Actions by Motorists
Hostile actions by a motorist rarely cause a motorcycle accident. But it can happen. In November 2019, a motorcyclist trying to exit the freeway was injured when he was caught in the middle of a road-rage incident.
5. Passengers
Motorcyclists carrying passengers are no more likely to crash than those riding solo. But according to a 2018 study published by JAMA Surgery, passengers are not as likely as drivers to wear helmets. And that makes passengers more likely than drivers to suffer traumatic brain injuries in a collision.
6. Long Rides
Many people think that riders embarking on long motorcycle trips are more likely to have an accident. However, most motorcycle accidents happen during a short trip to go shopping, run errands, visit friends, or engage in some form of recreation. The accidents typically happen soon after the excursion begins.
7. Excessive Speed
The average speed of a motorcycle before an accident is 29.8 mph and 21.5 mph at the time of the impact. Excessive speed at the time of impact was found in only one of 1,000 cases. About two-thirds of all motorcycle accidents are caused by such rider error as running wide on a curve due to excessive speed.
What really causes motorcycle accidents?
One of the most common reasons for motorcycle accidents is a violation of the motorcyclist’s right of way by a driver who turns into the path of a motorcycle at an intersection. Alcohol is a factor in 43 percent of all fatal motorcycle accidents result from alcohol involvement. Distracted driving is also a major cause of motorcycle accidents.
Contact an Experienced Colorado Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact personal injury attorney Dan Rosen at (303) 454-8000 or (800) ROSEN-911 to schedule your free initial consultation to discuss the details of your case.