Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in California

Motorcycle riding can be an exhilarating and efficient way to travel, especially on congested Southern California roads and freeways. However, the effects of a motorcycle accident can be devastating on the rider. Without the protection of a car’s walls, motorcyclists who are involved in a crash are far more vulnerable to severe or life-ending injuries than drivers of passenger vehicles. Sadly, motorcycle accident fatalities account for traffic deaths at a rate that is far out of proportion to the number of motorcycles on the road compared to other vehicles.

Help getting the funds you need after a motorcycle crash

If you’re a motorcycle rider who’s been injured in an accident in the Inland Empire, contact the Whittier motorcycle accident lawyers at Hanning & Sacchetto, LLP. Our esteemed Los Angeles County motorcycle accident attorneys will handle your claim for damages after a serious injury leaves you with mountains of medical debt and an inability to work. Contact Hanning & Sacchetto, LLP today for a no-cost consultation after a bike crash.

What are the most common reasons for California motorcycle accidents?

  • Unsafe lane changes: Drivers of passenger vehicles must check their mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes, especially in California, where lane-splitting is legal. Unfortunately, many drivers ignore this responsibility, putting motorcyclists at serious risk of injury when they’re side-swiped or forced to swerve to avoid colliding with a larger vehicle.
  • Road conditions: Motorcycles have a narrower base of support than passenger vehicles. This makes accidents more likely when there is loose gravel or debris on the road surface, or when weather conditions make roadways slippery.
  • Excessive speed: Speed is a factor in about a third of all fatal accidents in the US. Speed can make accidents more likely to occur by shortening the reaction time of drivers, and speed can make these accidents more deadly by multiplying the force of impact.
  • Vehicles turning left in front of motorcyclists: Many serious motorcycle accidents stem from drivers turning left too closely in front of oncoming motorcyclists. These drivers either misjudge the speed of the bike or don’t notice that the bike is oncoming before they turn. In these situations, the motorcycle is either forced to plow head-on into the turning vehicle or swerve to avoid a collision, possibly into oncoming traffic. Either way, motorcyclists can pay a tremendous price for the turning driver’s carelessness.
  • Rear-end accidents: When passenger vehicle drivers fail to notice that a motorcycle has stopped in front of them at an intersection, they may end up striking the motorcycle from behind. A rear-end crash involving two passenger vehicles is often minor, but when a passenger vehicle hits a motorcycle from the rear, the rider is at risk of suffering fatal injuries.

If you need compassionate and dedicated legal help after a Southern California motorcycle accident, contact the effective and aggressive Arcadia & Whittier motorcycle accident lawyers at Hanning & Sacchetto, LLP for a no-cost consultation on your case at (562) 698-6446, with additional offices in Irvine, Pomona, Ontario, Glendora, and Arcadia.

Related Links:

© 2024 - HANNING & SACCHETTO, LLP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Disclaimer | PRIVACY POLICY | Sitemap | LAWYERS SEO