Las Vegas Bike Injury Lawyer
A bias exists among the public in general that motorcyclists themselves take risks, speed, dart in and out of traffic and generally live life on the edge. However, if we are to examine the causes of motorcycle crashes, some of them sound familiar — the same causes that we hear about with car accidents:
- Weather conditions
- Road defects
- Speeding
- Inattentive driving by other motorists
- Other motorists' failure to see the motorcyclist
In some other ways, however, motorcycle crashes are distinct.
Single Vehicle Motorcycle Crash Characteristics
For one thing, many motorcycle crashes are single vehicle crashes. According to a 2001 report by the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "Motorcyclist fatalities in single vehicle crashes account for about 45 percent of all motorcyclist fatalities." The same report identified the following salient facts about single vehicle motorcycle crashes based on data gathered between 1975 and 1999:
- More motorcycle fatalities than in the past are occurring among people older than 40
- Drunk driving is often a factor
- Most fatalities occur off the roadways
- Most fatalities occur at night
- About 1/3 of fatal accident victims did not have a proper license
Failure to See the Motorcyclist: A Common Cause of Crashes
In many studies about motorcycle accidents, a major difference between car accidents and motorcycle accidents has to do with interaction between motorcycles and cars in traffic.
Often, motorcyclists are obeying all traffic laws, but as they approach a car from behind in an adjacent lane, they fall briefly in the car driver's blind spot. The driver of the automobile may suddenly change lanes without checking blind spots — turning directly into the path of the motorcycle without signaling and without warning from the perspective of the motorcyclist.
Las Vegas Motorcycle Injury Lawyers
At Harris & Harris Lawyers, we limit our motorbike crash caseload to those cases where we can make the most difference. Being selective allows us to devote personal attention to each client and give our all to achieving good outcomes. We are committed to interacting with our clients and their families with sensitivity, care and respect. Call us at 877-673-6131 or send us an e-mail to set up a free confidential consultation with a Las Vegas motorcycle accident attorney.
Related: Las Vegas motorcycle accident lawyer, motorcycle injury attorney.
