10 Most Common Motorcycle Accidents and How to Avoid Them

by Panter, Panter Sampedro, P.A Personal Injury Law Firm.

Accidents that are related to motorcycles have higher rates of fatality when compared with other automobiles. It is thus important for people to know how to have a deeper understanding of different motorcycle accidents and learn how to avoid them before it is too late. Here is a list of 10 most common factors that may cause a motorcycle accident in Miami, Florida.

1. A vehicle judges your speed incorrectly or fails to see you and turns left in front of you at an intersection. You can avoid this accident by watching out for any car that is about to turn at an intersection or reducing your speed.

2. You misjudges a corner and negotiates it with excessive speed. Be watchful of sharp corners and only ride as fast as you can. You can also use visual signs like telephone lines and road posts to judge the road’s direction.

3. A group rider stops suddenly. Ensure other riders understand the group riding etiquette and know how to ride in a dense traffic.

4. You try to stop using the front brake. Never use the front brake when stopping if you are riding at a high speed. If you must use the brake, then learn how to apply it safely.
5. A car door suddenly opens in front of you. Avoid riding in between parked cars or in an active traffic lane. This is not only due to open car doors, but pedestrians may also step out and cars may pull out.

6. A car suddenly changes lanes and hits you, especially at a blind spot. Know where the blind spots are and do not spent a lot of time in them. Look into the side mirrors of the car in front. If you can see the face of the driver, then it means the driver can see you too. Also, look for signs indicating the car’s intention to change lanes. These could be the turn signals, wheels turning and the car wandering on its own.

7. You get hit by a car from behind. Avoid riding in the middle of the road and try to be defensive. Assume that the driver behind you is likely to make a mistake. Pay attention to what is behind and always be prepared to react should it appear that someone is about to hit you.

8. Slippery road and poor visibility. Be prepared for unfavorable road conditions by checking the weather forecast. You might need to postpone your ride in case of severe conditions.

9. Drinking and riding. Do not drink alcohol when you know you are going to ride a motorcycle. If you are drunk, but you still want to ride home, ask a friend who is not drunk to help you out. You can also hire a taxi instead.
10. You hit an obstacle at a blind spot. Ride at a speed that gives you enough time to react in case there is an obstacle in front of you. Do not negotiate a corner sharply. Instead, enter the corner widely to increase your vision.

If you have been involved in accident, you need to call a Florida motorcycle accident attorney to help you claim for damages. Contact an attorney even if you think you feel you are partly responsible for the accident.