Common Motorcycle Accidents in Jonesboro
Motorcycles offer an economical and practical alternative to commuting in a car. But they are physically small and have a narrow visual profile, which means drivers in other vehicles often do not see them. This could lead to crashes. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, bikers are 27 times more likely to be killed in a crash than occupants of closed vehicles.
Motorcyclists who survive accidents often suffer severe injuries.
If you sustained injuries in a motorcycle crash that resulted from someone else’s negligence, a passionate motorcycle accident attorney could help you pursue compensation. There are a number of common motorcycle accidents in Jonesboro that you should prepare for.
Other Drivers Cause Most Motorcycle Accidents
Many motorcycle accidents are the fault of vehicle drivers who do not allow motorcyclists the right-of-way, either because they do not see them or because they do not respect the biker’s right to be on the road. Lack of attentiveness is the reason for a significant percentage of motorcycle accidents.
The causes of traffic accidents apply equally to motorcycles. Distracted driving, speeding, reckless driving, and operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs are all factors that frequently contribute to motorcycle wrecks. Some types of local motorcycle accidents are fairly common.
Vehicles Making Left-Hand Turns
Many motorcycle wrecks happen because a vehicle makes a left-hand turn in front of an oncoming biker. Motorcycles, like any other vehicle, have the right-of-way in this situation.
Head-on Collisions
More than half of all collisions between enclosed motor vehicles and motorcycles are head-on. Many of these happen at night when a driver might not see the motorcycle’s headlamp. Alcohol is a factor in many of these accidents, as is speeding and reckless driving. Head-on collisions account for the majority of biker fatalities.
Rear-end Collisions
Motorcycles can stop quicker than other vehicles can, and their small size means that an inattentive driver might not notice illuminated brake lights. Drivers who are careless in this way might collide with a motorcycle from behind.
Collisions at Intersections
Many accidents happen because drivers do not see or adjust to the presence of motorcycles at intersections. A driver might make a right turn into a biker’s path or merge lanes, cutting off a motorcyclist.
Single Vehicle Accidents
Motorcycles are much more vulnerable to weather conditions and poor road surfaces than other vehicles, and they might skid out on a roadway that is wet, icy, or covered in loose gravel. Motorcycles could go airborne if they hit potholes or other road defects. Sometimes these accidents result from a biker’s carelessness, but sometimes the local government responsible for maintaining a road bears at least some of the responsibility. An experienced lawyer could determine whose negligence might have contributed to the crash.
Lane Splitting
Motorcyclists might try to move through slow or stopped traffic by passing between cars traveling in the same direction. The Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 40-6-312(c) prohibits this practice, called lane-splitting. This practice might position a biker in a vehicle’s blind spot, creating the potential for an accident.
Swift Action is Necessary
Someone who has been injured in a common motorcycle accident in Jonesboro has two years from the date of their injury to file a lawsuit seeking damages. However, it is in a biker’s best interest to secure legal representation soon after a wreck so that their lawyer could investigate the circumstances while evidence is fresh.
If the State of Georgia or a county within the State has potential liability for a motorcycle accident, an injured biker must serve a notification to the government within 12 months of the injury. For claims against a city or town, the injured person must file the notice within six months.
Speak to a Jonesboro Attorney About Common Motorcycle Accidents
If you have suffered injuries in an accident, you might need help getting the compensation you deserve. Insurers often try to blame bikers for accidents, even when another driver clearly has responsibility. A lawyer could hold the negligent parties accountable. Schedule a case review as soon as possible after your motorcycle accident in Jonesboro.
