What are some common reasons for California motorcycle accidents?
Some motorcycle accidents in California can be avoided and some cannot; either way, knowing what the most common reasons for these accidents are can be helpful. First of all, it can help riders stay safe on the road, but it can also help them know their rights if they are involved in an accident that is out of their hands.
One of the most common reasons is that a car could make a left turn, crossing the lane in which the motorcycle is traveling. The driver of the car may not see the bike coming. When this happens, the bike can strike the front or the side of the car as it turns.
Another common reason is when a car plows into the back of a bike that has come to a stop. This is something that could happen in the city, for example, if a biker has come to a stop at a red light. If the driver of the car does not see the red light for any reason — such as texting and driving — he or she may not see the motorcycle, either.
To keep with a similar theme, a car could merge into a bike when trying to change lanes. As with the first two, this can often happen because a bike is so small that it is simply not seen by drivers who are not being attentive.
Finally, some motorcycle accidents are caused by other bikers. Those traveling in a group may run into a bike that has crashed in front of them, for instance, or they may stop to avoid the collision and be hit from behind.
In any motorcycle accident that involves an injury, the injured parties must know what rights they have to compensation.
Source: Ride Apart, “10 Common Motorcycle Accidents and How to Avoid Them” Wes Siler, Sep. 18, 2014