Stay Safe on the Road: How to Avoid Common Motorcycle Accidents

Riding a motorcycle can be an adrenaline rush, but unfortunately, there are always more risks involved while riding a motorcycle. Most of these risks come from common accidents that motorcyclists can unintentionally create. 

Below are three of the most common motorcycle pitfalls and ways to avoid being the next victim. 

Head-On Collisions 

Any lawyer would agree that head-on collisions are extremely dangerous for a motorcyclist. This type of motorcycle accident causes 56 percent of motorcycle passenger deaths. 78 percent of the time, the car will hit the motorcycle from the front. 

Avoiding accidents like these requires a motorcyclist's full attention. At a busy intersection in Salt Lake City, don't plunge through yellow lights or immediately speed up when the light turns green. 

Left-Hand Turns 

When cars make left turns, sometimes motorcycles take a hard hit. This generally occurs when a motorcycle is going straight through an intersection, a motorcycle is passing the car or trying to overtake the car. An accident like this accounts for 42 percent of motorcycle accidents. 

There are three things a motorcyclist should do in order to prevent this type of accident: be alert, do not pass cars while in the same lane and do not overtake cars while they are turning. A lawyer may agree that in most cases it is the turning car's fault. However, if the motorcyclist is speeding or in the wrong lane, it becomes his or her fault. 

Motorcycle Lane-Splitting 

One of the most dangerous habits of motorcyclists that can cause an accident is lane-splitting. This is when a motorcycle drives between two lanes of slow or stopped traffic. It may seem like the perfect way to weave through that traffic jam downtown in Salt Lake City, but it is incredibly risky. 

When riding a motorcycle, be aware of these three traps. However, if you or a loved one has been in an accident at the fault of another car contact a personal injury lawyer in Salt Lake City or a location near you. 

Shauna Holdaway is a legal writer reporter for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Robert J Debry.