Top Five Motorcycle Crash Causes

Driver error, in one form or another, causes over 98 percent of the motorcycle crashes in California. The causes are varied, as outlined below, and the common denominator is driver inattention.

Most motorcycle riders who have gone down probably heard the tortfeasor (negligent driver) say something like “I never even saw you” or “You came out of nowhere.” Tortfeasors say these things hoping to shift blame for the crash onto the victim. Usually, however, they’re just admitting their own negligence.

If negligence, or a lack of care, causes injury, a Carlsbad motorcycle accident lawyer can obtain substantial compensation in court. This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. Additional punitive damages may be available as well, in some extreme cases.

Failure to Maintain a Proper Lookout

The failure to maintain a proper lookout is understandable. Many California motorists drive large SUVs, pickup trucks, and other such vehicles. These vehicles often don’t have very good sight lines. Additionally, it’s very hard for someone driving a Toyota Camry to see around a Toyota Tundra.

However, poor visibility doesn’t excuse negligence. If anything, poor visibility means that drivers should slow down and look even more closely for small motorcycles.

If a tortfeasor doesn’t see a motorcycle, the tortfeasor is usually traveling at or near top speed at the moment of impact. No amount of protective clothing, including a crash helmet, can possibly protect a motorcycle rider from such extreme force.

Alcohol

This substance is a depressant that clouds a driver’s judgment and adversely affects motor skills. So, intoxicated or impaired drivers often misjudge the distance between their vehicles and nearby motorcycles. Then, they’re unable to react quickly enough to correct the problem.

There’s a difference between intoxication and impairment. Most people are intoxicated after they consume three or four drinks. Impairment begins with the first drink.

An Oceanside personal injury lawyer can obtain compensation in both situations. Intoxicated drivers might be liable for damages as a matter of law. Impaired drivers are liable for damages if a lawyer presents enough evidence to make a negligence case.

Speed

Excessive speed causes about a third of the fatal motorcycle wrecks in California. Speed is especially dangerous around curves.

Frequently, speeding tortfeasors oversteer into curves. They forget that a light touch of the wheel causes extreme direction changes in these situations. Then, they overcorrect to reverse the situation. The result is an out-of-control crash.

Distraction

Hand-held devices get most of the attention in this area. These gadgets combine all three forms of distracted driving, manual (hand off the wheel), visual (eyes off the road), and cognitive (mind off driving).

Hands-free devices aren’t any safer. They’re visually and cognitively distracting. Furthermore, these gadgets give drivers a false sense of security.

Non-device distraction is much more common than device distraction. Examples include eating while driving, drinking while driving, and arguing with passengers while driving.

Substance Use

Marijuana, which is legal to use in California for most purposes, is the leading cause of drugged driving. The impairing effects of marijuana begin with the first puff. Other legal drugs, like Nyquil, Sominex, and even caffeine, cause driver impairment as well.

Count on a Diligent San Diego County Lawyer

Injury victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Oceanside, contact the Pursley Law Firm. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we start working for you.

Source:

drivethru.gsa.gov/DRIVERSAFETY/DistractedDrivingPosterA.pdf