There are all types of vehicles on the roads, from massive commercial trucks to small electric vehicles. Motorcyclists are in a more precarious position than most drivers.
With very little to protect them during a collision, injuries suffered by motorcyclists can be catastrophic and life-changing, if not deadly. Being aware of common causes of motorcycle collisions may help to prevent future crashes.
1. Cars making left-hand turns
Motorcycle accidents often happen when cars turning left fail to see the motorcycle attempting to pass them, or fail to see them attempting to continue through an intersection. Motorcycles are smaller and easily missed on a cursory glance of mirrors. Practicing the habit of looking twice before turning may prevent a crash and all the pain and suffering that follows.
2. Lane-splitting
When a motorcycle drives between two lanes of stopped traffic or slow traffic, they are lane-splitting. This often happens in traffic jams as motorcyclists weave through stopped vehicles. Lane-splitting leads to crashes because the motorcycle is maneuvering through a tight space they are not meant to be in. They drive too closely to other vehicles that are not expecting them to be there.
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5,014 motorcyclists died in 2019 in fatal crashes. Every driver must look out for other drivers on the road, especially whenever they make a turn or otherwise deviate from the direction they were going in. It is the responsibility of every driver to share the road safely and make sure they are not going to drive into someone else.
