Safely Driving a Motorcycle Means Knowing How Accidents Can Occur
Motorcycles offer an exciting way to explore the road. However, this thrill also comes with its own set of dangers that aren’t as present for passenger cars. To highlight the importance of safe, sober, and mindful motorcycle riding, let’s explore some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in Colorado.
4 Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Colorado
Motorcycle accidents tend to stem from a few common causes. While these aren’t the only reasons crashes occur, they are the four most common factors that lead to motorcycle accidents, injuries, and deaths:
1. Low Motorcycle Visibility
Motorcycle accidents stemming from low visibility can take several forms. One of the most common occurs when other cars attempt to change lanes or merge, unaware they have a motorcycle in their path. This type of accident, which could result in nothing but minor damage for a car, can knock a rider off their bike and cause life-threatening injuries.
As motorcycles are smaller than cars, they don’t always get the same consideration on the road. This is particularly true on highways, where sightlines were designed primarily for large passenger vehicles rather than small motorcycles. On these high-speed roadways, drivers may not look out for motorcycles in the same way that they would watch for other traffic.
Unaware drivers can also cause accidents when opening car doors in front of oncoming bikers. Since this commonly happens on crowded two-lane city streets, motorcyclists might not have much time—or room—to react.
While motorcyclists can’t simply make other drivers more situationally aware, they can be mindful and proactive when riding near other vehicles. When in doubt, assume other drivers can’t see your bike and ride defensively.
2. Unsafe Turns
Turning at four-way intersections is especially dangerous for motorcycle riders. As motorcycles are much smaller than cars and trucks, other drivers frequently fail to see them coming toward an intersection. When a car turns left without yielding to an oncoming motorcycle for any reason, the collisions that result are high-speed and often life-threatening.
In the vast majority of these cases, the left-turning vehicle is at fault for the motorcycle accident.
3. Reckless Driving
While motorcycles are hardly the only vehicles endangered by negligent, distracted, or drunk driving, they’re uniquely vulnerable to it. As motorcycles are already less visible to other motorists, the risk of a driver utterly failing to notice a nearby rider increases if they’re distracted or impaired.
Motorcycles driving recklessly can also pose a major danger. It’s hard to deny the adrenaline of tearing up the open road on a high-end motorcycle, and some riders take this to dangerous extremes. Needless to say, this isn’t safe. Riding at excessive speeds gives riders less time to react to potential collisions and makes those collisions more dangerous.
4. Dangerous Driving Conditions
Dangerous driving conditions can stem from the mechanical integrity of a motorcycle and the quality of the roads.
Mechanical issues with motorcycles tend to lead to accidents far faster than mechanical issues with a passenger vehicle. For instance, a flat tire on a car is bad, but likely won’t cause a crash, as the car has three more tires to rely on. A motorcycle, however, only has two tires, and if one blows, there’s a significant chance that it will cause an accident. This same risk is present for other parts of a motorcycle’s engineering.
Motorcycles are also more likely than cars to get into a crash because of poorly maintained roads. Their lower center of gravity and lack of ground contact points mean that poor roads can all throw a rider from their motorcycle.
Injured in a Motorcycle Accident? Call McDivitt Law
McDivitt Law Firm has been representing victims of motorcycle accidents in Colorado for over 50 years. Our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys understand the nuances of navigating insurance claims and will intervene to ensure you’re able to focus on recovering from your crash.
Don’t wait a second longer to get help. Schedule your free consultation with McDivitt Law today.