What You Need to Know about Common Motorcycle Accidents
Now that spring is here and motorcycle season is upon us, many of you will be bursting with excitement at the chance to dust off those bikes and hit the highways of America again. Once again, the open road has been laid out for your enjoyment, but you must always take great measures to protect yourself from harm. After all, on a bike, you are exposed to the elements and hardly have any protection, relying on a helmet and clothing for support.
Needless to say, you can easily become the victim of accidents due to reckless driving or negligence on part of motorists. Different roadway elements come into play to cause a variety of motorcycle accidents. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common types of bike crashes now.
Careless and Reckless Driving
If you have never ridden a motorcycle before, the National Highway Safety Association recommends you break in the vehicle before taking it out; the same goes for people who retrieve their bikes out of winter storage. Motorcycles are delicate but dangerous machines that can turn from pleasure rides into death traps. With an influx of distracted drivers and other bikers on the roadways this spring, you are bound to make a few close calls if you are not careful. In fact, a large number of motorcycle crashes have taken place simply because another driver didn’t see the victim.
The Chaos of Lane Splitting
New York State Law dictates that motorcyclists cannot perform lane splitting, a situation where a biker rides his/her bike across lanes of stalled traffic across divided or undivided streets, roads, and/or highways. Needless to say, riding through vehicles that can start moving at any chance, leaving the biker trapped, is a tremendous risk.
Here is a closer look at types of lane-changing:
- Lane filtering: A motorcyclist inches through slow-moving or stalled traffic.
- Lane sharing: Two motorcyclists ride in formation across the same lane.
- White lining: A motorcyclist weaves between vehicles at a high rate of speed.
Crash Safety in New York
Needless to say, one of the best means of protecting yourself is, simply put, to wear a helmet:
- In 2016, 1,859 people survived motorcycle accidents because they were wearing helmets.
- In 2016, if every motorcyclist had worn a helmet, 802 more lives could have been spared.
- The United States spends over $1 billion on expenditures from motorcycle crashes.
Seeking a Personal Injury Lawyer in New York
Motorcycles are fun vehicles that can provide years of happiness, but keep in mind that these vehicles are potentially dangerous devices. In a heartbeat, you can become the victim of a multi-vehicle crash and sustain severe injuries while riding your bike. If you or a loved one has sustained injuries after enduring a motorcycle accident, you will no doubt feet terrified and unsure of what steps you should take next.
Although this might be difficult, though, you must remain calm. With the assistance of a lawyer who is experienced with personal injury cases, you can gather viable resources to create a strong case in court.
We at Gattuso & Ciotoli have more than 50 years of combined legal experience and deliver some of the most high-quality legal services to victims of traumatic brain injuries in the vicinity of Syracuse, New York. We value your perspective on your case and your goals for the future and ready to help you receive the justice you deserve. For more information on our four practice areas or your legal matter, contact us at (315) 314-8000 today.