The Unique Risks of Motorcycle Riding

I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Attorney. Vroom! Riding a motorcycle is one of the quickest and most exhilarating ways to get from point A to point B in Sacramento, but it does not come without risks. There are a number of challenges facing motorcyclists on the roadway.

Challenges of the Open Road

Motorcycle riders have a peculiar place of their own on the road. While they savor the immense sense of freedom and thrill that comes from this powerful mode of transportation, they are also vulnerable to some unique risks that are not applicable to other motorists and vehicle drivers.

To begin with, a motorcycle does not provide any significant protective barrier or shield between the rider and the road. Secondly, other motorists on the road will find it relatively more difficult to anticipate and spot a motorcycle on the road. This leaves the motorcycle rider more vulnerable to serious road accidents and injuries.

For these reasons, it becomes all the more important that a motorcyclist should have a fair knowledge and understanding of their legal rights as well as remedies in the event of a motorcycle accident in Sacramento.

Road Risk Statistics for Motorcycle Riders

A quick review of the statistics related to motorcycle accidents will reveal the kind of risks a motorcycle rider faces everyday on the road, and why it is fundamental to protect their legal rights if they are involved in an accident.

In two out of three accidents involving a motorcycle and another vehicle, the other vehicle’s driver violated the motorcyclist’s right of way, which resulted in the accident.
The probability of a motorcycle rider dying in a crash is nearly 26 times higher than that of a passenger car driver. Motorcycle riders are also five times more likely to get injured.
While the number of fatal crashes for drivers as well as passengers of cars and light trucks has steadily gone down since 1999, during the same period the rate of fatalities in motorcycle accidents has doubled.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, from 2013 to 2014, motorcycle fatalities in the state increased by 12.1 percent. In terms of per 100,000 registrations of motorcycles, the number of motorcycle fatalities jumped from 54 to 60 during the same period. The number of motorcycle riders killed with a 0.08 BAC or higher increased from 23 percent to 28 percent during the same period.
In California, riders and passengers in the age group of 25 to 34 were killed or injured most often in motorcycle crashes. The second age group with the high risk of death or injury was 15 to 24, followed by age groups 45 to 54, 35 to 44, and 55 to 64 in that order.

Specific Challenges Faced by Motorcyclists

Some of the unique challenges that motorcycle riders face on the road include:

Less Visual Recognition: The size of a motorcycle typically makes it a smaller visual target, which is often obscured by the dominating presence of other vehicles, or due to the weather and road conditions. This is particularly a concern at intersections, where nearly 70 percent of collisions involving a motorcycle and another vehicle occur.

Road-Related Hazards: A hazard that may be just a minor irritant for an automobile could be a serious hazard for a motorcyclist. These may include debris, puddles, oil slicks, potholes, or stray objects on the road.

Risk of Wobble: When a motorcycle is running at a high speed, its front end may tend to become unstable and start to “wobble” or shake. This issue may arise because of misalignment of the motorcycle tires in the front and rear. If an accident occurs because of a high speed wobble, it may become a case of product liability, with the motorcycle manufacturer being potentially held financial liable for any injury resulting thereof.

Skill of Riding: Contrary to what many people might like to believe, operating a motorcycle requires a much higher level of skill, familiarity, and physical coordination than operating a car. But you do not have to be as skilled as Aaron Cross was in Jason Bourne 4 or his deadly pursuer in the Philippine scene to be able to operate a motorcycle. Hopefully no one is ever in that situation!

Overconfidence: A significant percentage of motorcycle accidents and traumatic injuries occur entirely or in part due to the rider’s inadequate operating skills, or a lack of understanding of the key operating strengths and limitations of the motorcycle.

Legal Responsibility

Claims related to motorcycle accidents are almost always categorized under the legal definition of negligence. In case the motorcycle rider was partly at fault, they might not be able to receive damages under the principle of contributory negligence. If the concept of comparative negligence is applicable, the damages could be determined according to the amount of fault attributed to each party. For a consultation on the specifics of your personal injury or wrongful death claim, contact an experienced Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Sacramento today.

Defects of Manufacturing or Design

In some cases, the motorcycle accident may be attributed to a manufacturing or a design defect in the motorcycle. A defect of design is a fundamental flaw in the design of the vehicle, while a manufacturing defect indicates a deviation from the design that occurred during the assembly of the motorcycle.

Insurance Requirements for Motorcyclists in California

Under the law in California, every registered vehicle, including a motorcycle, must be insured. This law is in place to help ensure that all motorcycle riders and other drivers are in a position to pay for the injuries or damages that they may cause to another individual in a road accident. Prior to going ahead with seeking quotes from insurers for your motorcycle, it will help to learn about the basic requirements that must be fulfilled according to insurance laws in California. If you have additional questions, contact an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in Sacramento.

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Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Sacramento

I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Attorney. Were you or your loved one injured in an accident caused by another party? I can help. Please contact me right away at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice with no obligation. You can also reach me online at AutoAccident.com.

Since 1982 I have worked hard to help injured motorcyclists and their families get back on their feet after being involved in an accidents with a negligent driver. Some of my valued clients have left comments for your review on sites like: Yelp, Avvo, and Google.

As a member of the Million Dollar Forum, my work has been recognized for the million-dollar proceeds that I have won for my clients.

You can read up on my past Verdicts and Settlements by visiting my website.

The Unique Risks of Motorcycle Riding