5 Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents | Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Wheaton MD
When you need a motorcycle accident lawyer Wheaton MD residents know and trust, it is important to know that not all car accident lawyers understand the complexities of motorcycle crashes. At Cohen & Cohen, our legal team knows that anyone looking for an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in Wheaton MD may be facing both physical and psychological injuries from a traumatic crash.
Each accident case is unique and each case will have different factors affecting a person’s claim for receiving injury coverage. No motorcycle accident lawyer Wheaton MD has to offer can guarantee that every single client will receive compensation for their injuries. That being said, here are some of the most common reasons why motorcyclists seek and win accident injury claims:
1. Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions are some of the most common types of motorcycle accidents, especially when two or more motor vehicles are involved. According to the NHTSA, 51% of all fatal motorcycle accidents involve another type of vehicle and 74% of these accidents are head-on collisions. Only 6% of fatal crashes involving multiple vehicles occur when another car strikes the rear of a motorcycle.
Head-on collisions are known to be some of the most severe types of car accidents, regardless of what types of vehicles are involved. When two vehicles collide into each other while moving at a high speed, the effects can be catastrophic. As any experienced motorcycle accident lawyer Wheaton MD can provide will attest, motorcyclists may face even greater risks when they are involved in head-on collisions. Motorcycles offer little protection to drivers and passengers, (compared to other passenger vehicles).
2. Lane Splitting
Lane splitting is a unique type of driving hazard for motorcyclists and it occurs when a motorcycle drives on the dotted line in between two lanes of cars. Many states do not have any specific laws prohibiting lane splitting, but as a good motorcycle accident lawyer Wheaton MD can provide will know, the exact legality of lane splitting often depends on each case.
It’s possible for motorcyclists to use lane splitting safely, especially when traffic is completely stopped or is moving a slow speed. When lane splitting occurs at higher speeds, the risk of a collision may increase. Other drivers may not be able to see a motorcyclist as he or she drives in between two cars, or they may not anticipate any vehicles to move if the traffic has stopped.
3. Cars Making Left-Hand Turns
Decreased visibility is also a big factor in accidents where cars make left-hand turns and collide with a motorcyclist. These types of crashes account for 42% of all fatal accidents involving a motorcycle and other type of vehicle. An experienced Wheaton MD motorcycle accident lawyer is likely to see injury cases where this type of accident has occurred.
Although the details of these collisions can vary, crashes often occur when the motorcyclist attempts to pass another vehicle going in the same direction, or when a vehicle from a side road turns left onto a main road and collides with an oncoming motorcyclist.
4. Collisions With Fixed Objects
Motorcycle accidents involving no other vehicles can potentially cause a great of damage. Compared to drivers of passenger vehicles and light trucks, motorcyclists are the most likely to be involved in a fatal accident involving a collision with a fixed object, such as a telephone pole or tree. Data from the NHTSA shows that approximately 22% of motorcycle fatalities are fixed object collisions (fixed object collisions account for 18% of passenger car fatalities and 14% of light truck fatalities).
As any motorcycle accident lawyer Wheaton MD trusts will know, a driver involved in a single-car collision may still be able to make personal injury claim if another driver was indirectly involved and caused the crash. If a motorcyclist swerves off the road to avoid hitting another car — but winds up crashing into a tree just off the shoulder of the road — it may be possible to argue that some of the responsibility lies with the other driver.
A driver who is not fatally wounded in a collision with a fixed object may still face severe personal injuries and property damage to their vehicle.
5. Speeding
Speeding can easily be an extenuating factor in accidents involving motorcycles.
Similar to bicyclists and pedestrians on the road, motorcyclists have far less protection from debris and flying objects, compared to anyone riding inside a passenger vehicle. Unlike bicyclists and pedestrians, motorcycles are capable of moving at the same high speeds as passenger vehicles that are shielded from the external environment. Driving at a high speed may increase the risk of spitting up dust and stones through the wheels, which may cloud the rider’s vision.
Motorcycles are also typically less stable than passenger vehicles, making it possible for an inexperienced motorcyclist to lose control of the vehicle at a high speed. Inclement weather may increase this risk.
A seasoned motorcycle accident lawyer Wheaton MD can provide will know that speeding may be just one factor in an accident case. Even if a motorcyclist was speeding when a car accident occurred, other factors could potentially decrease the significance of this single factor. If a motorcyclist is injured in a serious crash that was caused by another driver, the motorcyclist may still be entitled to receive monetary damages for his or her injuries.
For a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Wheaton MD Trusts, Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident, regardless of what caused it, the lawyers at Cohen & Cohen may be able to help. Our legal team understands that the roads of Wheaton MD can be very dangerous for all drivers, but motorcyclists may face an especially high risk of severe injury during a crash.
For more information about how we may be able to help you through an injury claim after being involved in a motorcycle accident, contact our firm today by calling our Maryland office at (301) 250-1957. Cohen & Cohen is proud to be a motorcycle accident lawyer Wheaton MD drivers can turn to for assistance with accident injury claims.
The attorneys at Cohen & Cohen are extremely thorough and always look out for their clients best interests. They have a professional and friendly staff, and are a pleasure to interact with.
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