Common Motorcycle Driving Errors Can Cause Serious Injury and Death

 Posted on August 04, 2022 in Motorcycle Crash Injuries

As Illinois summer moves into its hottest month, many motorcyclists will be on the road and trying to keep cool. While driving with the wind in your hair may seem like an excellent alternative to crawling into a piping hot car and waiting for the air conditioning to turn on, driving motorcycles has serious risks and limitations. 

Most obviously, motorcycles are small and difficult to see, making them easy victims of car and truck accidents. And while most motorcycle riders exercise caution, the few who take risks on the road contribute to more than their fair share of motorcycle accidents. Whether you are a motorcyclist or sharing the road with motorcycles, it is important to be aware of common driving errors that motorcyclists often make that end up causing accidents. 

Risky Motorcycle Driving Behaviors

The feeling of speed and small size can make it tempting to break more rules when driving a motorcycle. The behaviors that most often contribute to crashes include: 

• Driving on one wheel

• Lane splitting, or driving between cars in two adjacent lanes

• Running a red light or stop sign

• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

• Speeding 

• Texting and driving 

• Going around corners too fast

• Driving in poor weather 

• Mechanical malfunctions

• Poorly maintained roads 

Larger vehicles around risky motorcycle drivers may find themselves swerving to avoid collisions and, in doing so, crashing anyway. In these cases, even when the motorcycle may not have been involved in the crash, the driver may be responsible for the larger vehicle getting in an accident. Your best bet to avoiding accidents with motorcycles is to always be on the alert for motorcycles and to give reckless drivers plenty of room. 

Can I Sue a Driver if I Was Partially At Fault? 

Although motorcycle and car accidents are sometimes caused by only one party, fault is often shared between a larger vehicle and a motorcycle. For example, if a motorcyclist was speeding and a car did not signal before changing lanes, the car may hit the motorcyclist but both drivers may share fault. Illinois law allows one party to seek damages from another party as long as the partying suing is less than 50 percent responsible for the accident. 

Schedule a Consultation with a Will County Motorcycle Accident Injury Lawyer

Whether you are a car driver who was involved in an accident because of a motorcyclist’s carelessness, or a motorcyclist who was injured in an accident in which you were only partly at fault, getting the aid of an experienced Plainfield, IL personal injury attorney may be able to help you recover compensation. We offer free, no-pressure consultations so you can ask questions and explore your options. Call us today at 815-730-1977. 

Source: 

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/18064/18064.pdf