Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents happen frequently in San Francisco and the Bay Area. The injuries sustained by motorcyclists in these accidents tend to be more severe than those of a car or truck driver that hits them. Motorcyclists are more vulnerable to injury on the road because they are not protected by a vehicle frame. When a motorcyclist accident occurs, the rider and passenger on a motorcycle are hit directly, which often results in severe injury.
At The Barnes Firm, our team of motorcycle accident attorneys will ask questions about the accident to identify if a vehicle driver was ignoring the laws and rules of the road. More times than not, distracted driving or not following the laws that govern roads can be linked to the cause of most motorcycle accidents. We have helped many clients injured in motorcycle accidents and found the most common causes include:
Left Turn Accidents. A driver making a left turn in front of an oncoming motorcyclist is extremely dangerous. Vehicle drivers often fail to estimate the speed and distance of a motorcycle before turning, causing a motorcycle crash to occur.
Distracted Driving. Distracted driving causes over 1 million car accidents per year. Taking your eyes off the road, even just for a second, can cause a fatal accident. Distracted driving gives drivers less time to react. Given the smaller profile of a motorcyclist, delayed reaction time from a driver can cause a severe accident.
Speeding. Speeding endangers everyone on the road, but especially motorcyclists. A speeding car or truck requires more stopping distance. If a motorcycle stops suddenly and a speeding driver cannot slow down, it may result in a rear-end motorcycle accident.
Tailgating. Tailgating a motorcycle can lead to rear-end accidents. Drivers of cars and trucks should provide enough space between a motorcycle to avoid rear-ending them if traffic comes to a sudden stop.
Driving under the influence. Driving under the influence causes delayed reaction time and leads to impairments in vision and vehicle control. Motorcyclists have a higher chance of being hit by an intoxicated driver due to a smaller profile. All DUI related crashes are preventable.