Car and Motorcycle Accident Causes
Drivers must look out for one another when they’re sharing the same road. The feature that most entices motorcycle riders is the very feature that places a motorcycle rider at extreme risk for serious injuries. This is the feeling of openness or “being free”. And, as long as car drivers and motorcyclists look out for one another and drive in a responsible manner, motorcycle riders can experience safe travels, just like everyone else. This blog answers the question of “What is the most common type of collision between cars and motorcycles?”
When drivers fail to look out for motorcycles or when they engage in reckless driving behavior, the results can lead to catastrophic injuries for motorcyclists.
If you were involved in one of these catastrophic car and motorcycle accidents caused by another negligent driver, a Houston motorcycle accident lawyer at Reich & Binstock may be able to help you seek financial compensation for your injuries. Every personal injury attorney at Reich & Binstock operates on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t owe us anything unless your personal injury claim is successful. Call our law firm today at 713-622-7271 for your free consultation.
How Do Many Motorcycle Crashes Happen?
Many motorcycle crashes occur due to a combination of factors, including driver error, road conditions, and interactions with other vehicles. Common causes include failure to negotiate curves, collisions with other vehicles at intersections (often due to the car driver not seeing the motorcycle), speeding, and impaired driving due to alcohol or drugs.
Adverse weather conditions and road hazards like potholes or debris also contribute significantly. The vulnerability of motorcyclists, who lack the protective enclosure of a car, often leads to more severe injuries in these accidents.
Most Common Cause of Car and Motorcycle Accidents
The most common cause of motorcycle crashes is driver negligence. When car drivers fail to exercise proper care when driving, they place everyone, especially motorcycle riders, around them at risk for serious injuries.
According to various studies, motorists are at fault in over half of all multi-vehicle accidents involving cars and motorcycles. Additionally, a motorcycle rider is 27 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle accident and 5 times more likely to sustain serious injuries than regular passenger car drivers or occupants.
In the state of Texas, a driver’s license is a privilege, not a right. Drivers, in no way, have the right to ignore, bully, or engage in reckless behavior on public roads.
Here are a few examples of how a negligent driver can cause a car and a motorcycle accident:
Left-Turn Accidents in Intersections
Left-turn collisions at intersections are a common type of collision between cars and motorcycles. These accidents often occur when a car driver, turning left, fails to see an oncoming motorcycle or misjudges its speed and distance.
Motorcycles’ smaller size makes them less visible and harder to judge for speed, leading drivers to mistakenly think they have enough time to complete the turn. This results in the car crossing the path of the motorcycle, giving the motorcyclist little time to react and avoid a crash, often leading to severe injuries for the rider.
Motorcycle Accident Caused By Failure to Yield
A car driver may not see a motorcycle as they’re turning their car. This will often result in a catastrophic intersection accident.
Intersections are one of the most dangerous places for motorcyclists. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), intersections are the most common locations for accidents involving cars and motorcycles.
When a car driver is turning left at an intersection, they often will fail to yield the right-of-way simply because they don’t see the motorcycle.
Accidents that occur between a car and a motorcycle can result in severe or even life-threatening injuries, including broken bones, back and spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.
Motorcycle Accidents Caused by Blind Spots
While most vehicles are equipped with side and rear view mirrors, there are still several blind spots on most vehicles. Many vehicle safety experts say that at least 40% of a car’s perimeter isn’t visible from the driver’s seat. This makes lane changes dangerous for those driving a motorcycle.
Negligent drivers who make sudden lane changes without turning on their signal leave motorcyclists with little to no time to react.
Motorcycle Accidents Caused by Lack of Distance Perception
Since many drivers have never driven or ridden a motorcycle, many fail to properly judge the distance of an approaching motorcycle. Many times, drivers will pull out in front of a motorcycle without understanding how fast the motorcycle is going.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that drivers wait for any motorcycles to pass before entering any busy street.
When a driver fails to wait before pulling into an intersection or into traffic, in general, this puts the motorcyclists at risk of needing to brake immediately. This emergency braking can throw the motorcycle rider over the handlebars. It can also cause motorcyclists to lose control of their motorcycles, causing their bikes to slide out from underneath them.
In either one of these scenarios, the motorcyclists will more than likely land on the road or on another car, which could result in catastrophic injuries or death.
Motorcycle Accidents Caused by Distracted Driving
As we have access to more technology in our cars and on our phones, the concerns surrounding distracted driving grow. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 96% of those surveyed said that distracted driving was a serious threat, but half of those same people admitted they engaged in this type of behavior. According to these numbers, nearly half of Americans are distracted drivers.
Every day in the United States, around 9 people die due to distracted driving. Driving while distracted goes well beyond the use of a smartphone and, according to the Centers for Disease Control, can include the following types of behavior:
Cognitive Distractions
Anything that takes a driver’s mind off the road is considered a cognitive distraction. This can include thinking about work or relationships, replaying conversations internally, what the weekend plans are, etc.
Visual Distractions
A visual distraction is anything that causes a driver to take his or her eyes off of the road. Visual distractions can include your phone, a passenger, or something, like a car accident, that happens outside of your vehicle.
Manual Distractions
A manual distraction is anything that takes the driver’s hands off of their steering wheel. This can include eating or drinking in the vehicle, passing toys to a child in the backseat, putting on makeup, or of course, texting and driving.
Motorcycle Accidents Caused by Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs
Over the years, we’ve seen numerous public safety campaigns surrounding the dangers of drinking and driving, as well as driving under the influence of drugs. However, many drivers continue to drive under the influence.
While the legal limit for BAC in most states is 0.08%, the negative effects can begin as soon as the first drink. Driving under the influence of drugs, like opioids or amphetamines, can also increase the risk of harming those on motorcycles. And obviously, when a person mixes both drugs and alcohol while driving, the results can lead to devastating or fatal motorcycle accidents.
Drivers under the influence may not even notice that a motorcycle is sharing the road with them. They may complete a lane change without so much as looking in their mirrors, or they may simply misjudge the amount of space between their car and a motorcycle.
Any of these simple mistakes can lead to serious motorcycle collisions.
Drugs or alcohol can affect someone’s ability to drive in the following ways:
- Visually: drivers driving under the influence may experience blurred or double vision
- Slower reaction time
- Less ability to distinguish colors
- Less ability to make rational decisions
- Lower concentration
- Slower reflexes
Motorcycle Accidents Caused by Drowsy Driving
Thanks to the National Sleep Foundation, we’ve known for some time now that drowsy driving can have the same effects as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A drowsy driver will have impaired judgment as well as a reduced reaction time.
Drowsy driving can happen due to a lack of sleep, undiagnosed medical conditions, fatigue from work or a new baby, or can be caused by depression.
If you’re a motorcyclist, you cannot read the person’s mind who is driving next to you. There’s no way for you to know if the car driver just left a long shift, if she is a new mom who hasn’t slept much, or if the person has thrown a few back at a local bar. This is the harsh reality for motorcyclists.
The failure of other drivers to stay alert can change your life in the blink of an eye. Unfortunately, there are negligent drivers everywhere, and regardless of how well you drive, encountering a drowsy driver is bound to happen.
Rear-End Accidents Between Car Drivers and Motorcycle Riders
Rear-end accidents often occur between cars and motorcycles when cars follow motorcycles too closely. Motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars, and if the car driver is not paying close attention or underestimates the motorcycle’s stopping power, they may be unable to stop in time, resulting in a collision.
Additionally, distractions, sudden stops, or slippery road conditions can exacerbate the likelihood of these rear-end crashes. Due to the lack of protection for motorcyclists, even minor rear-end collisions can cause significant injuries to the rider.
If you are a motorcycle rider who was injured in an accident, it is imperative that you contact an attorney with considerable experience in personal injury law. Contact the team at Reich & Binstock to schedule a free consultation with a rear end accident attorney in Houston.
Sideswipe Accident Between a Car Driver and Motorcycle Rider
Sideswipe accidents between cars and motorcycles often occur when vehicles travel side by side in adjacent lanes. These collisions are particularly common when a car driver fails to check blind spots or misjudges the space needed to change lanes. Lane splitting, where motorcyclists ride between lanes of slow-moving or stopped traffic, can increase the risk of sideswipe accidents.
Drivers may not anticipate a motorcycle passing between lanes, leading to sudden, unexpected movements that result in sideswipes. This lack of awareness and the close proximity of vehicles during lane splitting heighten the risk of these potentially dangerous collisions.
Most Common Injuries for Motorcycle Riders
Motorcycles don’t have sturdy frames, airbags, or the protective gear that cars and trucks have. And, since motorcycles don’t have seat belts, when you’re involved in a motorcycle accident, being ejected from your bike is more likely than not.
While wearing protective gear like gloves, a helmet, or special clothing can help. There is only so much that this additional gear can do.
When a motorcyclist is involved in a motorcycle crash, the following injuries can occur:
Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury includes a blow, bump, or jolt to the head, or a penetrating head injury that affects a person’s normal brain function.
While helmet laws help to ensure at least a certain layer of protection in motorcycle crashes, the force of a car and motorcycle collision can still lead to a traumatic brain injury.
These injuries can lead to consistent headaches, seizures, memory loss, and more. And, if you get into a motorcycle accident, never remove your helmet until medical assistance arrives. Working with a Houston brain injury attorney can give you a better chance at securing the compensation you deserve for your suffering.
Back or Spinal Cord Injury
Apart from a traumatic brain injury, back and spinal cord injuries are some of the most devastating and catastrophic injuries that a motorcyclist can experience. These types of injuries result from direct trauma to a person’s back or spinal cord. This serious injury can stem from head-on collisions, a direct hit from one or more other cars, or directly hitting your back after a car and motorcycle accident.
Many motorcyclists who have sustained a serious back or spinal cord injury must rely on a wheelchair or, at very minimum, assistance with their day-to-day activities. Working closely with a Houston spinal cord injury lawyer is crucial, as these cases can be extremely complex and difficult to navigate alone.
Road Rash
Road rash is the abrasion caused by a person’s skin scraping along a hard surface, such as pavement. During traffic accidents, if a car hits your motorcycle, you can be thrown from your motorcycle and slide across the road. This friction can result in serious road rash that leads to intense pain, potential infections, and permanent scarring.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries include damage to your vital organs or any internal bleeding caused by either blunt force trauma or penetrating trauma. Because traditional motorcycles don’t offer any protection for the driver’s body, a motorcyclist’s body suffers intense bodily trauma.
Internal injuries can lead to seizures, organ failure, and hemorrhagic shock in some cases.
Where Do Most Car and Motorcycle Collisions Happen?
Most car and motorcycle collisions happen in areas with high traffic complexity and interaction between vehicles. The following are some areas in which you are more likely to see a motorcycle and car crash.
Highway Exit and Entrance Ramps
Highway exit and entrance ramps are also common sites for motorcycle and car accidents. Merging traffic can lead to sudden stops or lane changes, increasing the risk of accidents with motorcycles, which may not be as visible.
Intersections
Intersections are a primary location for these collisions, where cars often fail to see or yield to motorcycles, particularly during left turns. If a car driver does not see or fails to yield to an oncoming motorcycle, a serious crash could occur.
Construction Zones
Construction zones present another significant hazard due to altered traffic patterns, reduced lanes, and debris. This makes it difficult for cars, motorcycles, and other motor vehicles to navigate safely.
Urban and Rural Roads
Urban roads see a high frequency of accidents involving motorcycles due to dense traffic, frequent stops, and numerous intersections. Conversely, rural roads, while having less traffic, often involve higher speeds and limited visibility due to curves and hills, which can lead to severe crashes when they occur.
Highway Interchanges
Highway interchanges, with their complex merging and lane-changing requirements, are also common sites for collisions between cars and motorcycles. The high speeds and frequent lane changes increase the likelihood of accidents, particularly if drivers are not vigilant about checking blind spots and signaling intentions properly.
Sometimes, we see what is known as a “no-contact motorcycle accident.” This type of collision occurs when a motorcycle rider ends up crashing to avoid a direct collision with another vehicle. These accidents often occur when car drivers are negligent and, for example, fail to use turn signals before changing lanes.
Why Do You Need a Motorcycle Accident Attorney For Your Motorcycle Accident Case?
A motorcycle accident caused by one or more other drivers is a serious legal matter. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of active public safety campaigns advising drivers to “share the road” or “give motorcycles a second look.” Unfortunately, these campaigns don’t do much when the approaching vehicle is a distracted driver, a drunk driver, or simply a driver who doesn’t care to follow basic traffic rules.
When you sustain severe injuries from a motorcycle accident, you may have to endure a lengthy hospital stay, surgeries, follow-up treatments, and missed time from work. Both the financial and emotional stress from the accident will require rest. However, the constant thought of unpaid bills makes proper healing extremely difficult.
Many times, the insurance company makes an initial settlement offer very soon after the motorcycle accident claim emerges. And, for many drivers, the settlement may seem like a huge amount. The truth of the matter is, if the amount were enough to completely cover your damages, they wouldn’t have offered it without any pushback. That simply is not how insurance adjusters work.
It takes a seasoned professional to understand what future medical needs you will have, as well as the associated costs of these future medical needs.
It’s important to remember that while your insurance adjuster may be extremely helpful and kind, they are looking out for their boss’s bottom line, not your best interest. Insurance companies must limit your settlement in order to increase profits.
Speaking with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney is the best thing to do after an accident. It is actually better that you speak with a personal injury attorney before you speak with any insurance company representative.
Contact the Houston Motorcycle Accident Attorneys at Reich & Binstock Today
At Reich & Binstock, our Houston personal injury attorneys provide free case evaluations. So, you won’t owe us anything unless your motorcycle injury claim is successful. If you have your own pictures and evidence, you can call to schedule an initial consultation. Or, if you aren’t able to leave the hospital, one of our Houston motorcycle injury lawyers can come to you!
The right motorcycle injury attorney will help you while keeping the lines of communication open. When you work with Reich & Binstock, you’ll never need to worry about the status of your case. A Houston car accident lawyer will be on your side throughout the entire process.
Call our office at 713-622-7271 for your free consultation with a compassionate and experienced personal injury lawyer.
