Laurel Motorcycle Accident Attorney: Help When You Need It Most

While all forms of transportation come with inherent risks, motorcyclists are at particularly high risk of suffering injuries and death in accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that, while motorcyclists represent only 3% of the registered motor vehicle fleet nationwide, they account for 14% of all traffic-related fatalities. Motorcycles are dangerous because they lack virtually all of the safety features of passenger vehicles, such as airbags and seatbelts, which have been credited for saving thousands of lives. While helmets are a motorcyclist’s first line of defense against injuries, they are not 100% effective, and even the most conscientious motorcyclists can make deadly mistakes. What follows is a summary of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents. If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact a Laurel motorcycle accident attorney.

Why Motorcycle Accidents Occur in Maryland

Motorcycle accidents occur for many of the same reasons all traffic accidents occur, but the most serious motorcycle accidents tend to occur when motorcycles and passenger vehicles interact. Some of the most common cause of motorcycle accidents include:

• Failure to see the motorcyclist: Motorcycles are much smaller than passenger vehicles, which can make them difficult for other drivers to notice, particularly at night or in heavy traffic conditions.
• Blind spot errors: Again, due to their much smaller size than passenger vehicles, motorcycles can easily disappear in other vehicles’ blind spots and remain there for longer than larger passenger vehicles.
• Right of way errors: Motorcycle accidents frequently occur when other drivers violate the motorcyclist’s right of way, despite the same rules applying to both types of vehicles. These types of accidents can be caused, for example, when a vehicle turns right across the path of a motorcycle in the adjacent lane or turns left as a motorcycle is approaching in the opposite lane.
• Reckless driving: Some motorcyclists may feel justified in bending the rules of the road because motorcycles are not cars. This behavior can cause accidents, such as when motorcyclists ride on the shoulder of the road or engage in “lane splitting” — weaving between lanes of slowly moving or stopped cars.
• Distracted driving: Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of all types of traffic accidents, and that also holds true for motorcycle accidents. Because of their much smaller size, motorcycles are harder to see than passenger vehicles, especially for drivers who are not paying attention to their surroundings.

As a result of their lack of safety features, motorcycle accidents can often cause severe injuries and even death to riders, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and burns.

Contact a Laurel Motorcycle Accident Attorney as Soon as Possible

If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident that you believe was the result of another driver’s negligence, you should consider pursuing a personal injury action to recover for your damages. To get started, please contact a Laurel motorcycle accident attorney at the Law Offices of Thomas E. Pyles by calling 301-723-7076 or filling out our online form.