Motorcycle riders face unfair social stigma. Many people judge riders and assume that they engage in unsafe behavior. Questionable riding habits they witnessed previously or depictions of motorcycle riders in popular media may influence how people perceive motorcycle riders.
Contrary to what some might assume, many riders make every reasonable effort to follow the law and prioritize their safety. However, they may end up seriously hurt because they cross paths with drivers who make unsafe decisions in traffic. The three issues below are among the leading causes of motorcycle collisions when four-wheeled vehicles are at fault.
1. Surveillance issues
People in enclosed vehicles are often complacent about traffic safety. They don’t monitor their surroundings as actively as they should. If drivers don’t intentionally look for motorcycles, they might fail to notice them even when they are plainly visible. Distraction caused by mobile devices may worsen the likelihood of insufficient surveillance.
2. Aggressive driving
Recent years have seen an uptick in aggressive driver conduct. Tailgating, unnecessary speeding and aggressive maneuvers have become more common. Drivers can cause motorcycle crashes by driving in aggressive and erratic manners. Simply failing to yield at an intersection when a motorcycle turns left can be enough to cause a catastrophic collision.
3. Chemical impairment
Drunk or drugged driving is dangerous for many reasons. Intoxication can make it more difficult for drivers to focus and may increase their chances of overlooking safety concerns in traffic.
Motorcycle riders hurt in car-motorcycle collisions often have costs that go beyond the liability insurance coverage carried by the driver at fault. Looking into every option for compensation can help motorcycle riders injured by drivers recover their losses.