Driving is dangerous. Whether you are in a car or a semi-truck, the road can be a volatile place. If you have ever wandered into a Wal-Mart in the middle of the night then you know the kind of characters that live amongst us. Well hate to burst your bubble but those strange ones are also driving on the road every day. Driving on the road can be extra hazardous for nontraditional vehicles like motorcycles.
Motorcycles are known to be the wild west for vehicles. They are often marketed to those who enjoy being out and in the open. It is for people who like wearing leather and living life on the edge. Then you have those TV shows like Sons of Anarchy or American Choppers show hyper-masculinized men who ride with power and pride. Motorcycles are definitely an American icon and promote the wild within us. Yet, motorcycle riders are the last scene on the road.
Car Accidents Versus Motorcycle Accidents
Car accidents may happen more often than any other vehicle, they do not cause as many fatalities as motorcycle accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has stated that those who ride motorcycles are 28 times more likely to die in a traffic crash than those who are in a car. Motorcyclists account for 14% of all traffic fatalities even though motorcycles only represent 3% of registered vehicles. If we want our motorcycle riders to stay alive then everyone on the road must look out for motorcycles. Many states including California, have motorcycle months to raise awareness for driving alongside motorcycles.
Unfortunately, not every person heeds the warning of looking out for motorcyclists. In Palmdale, a Ford Explorer was making a U-turn in the middle of the lanes when a motorcycle collided with the back end of the Ford Explorer. The motorcyclists, of course, died on the scene. Both driver’s lives were changed forever. The driver of the Ford Explorer will always live with the death of a man and the motorcyclist’s family will never be able to reach out to their loved one again.
Tragic Endings
Even though the risk of you dying on a motorcycle is greater than a car does not mean that you shouldn’t follow your passion for riding. It does mean, however, that you will have to be extra cautious when riding. This, of course, means more in California because our state has allowed lane splitting. This means that motorcycles can ride down the middle of lanes if needed.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to a motorcycle accident then you need to reach out to our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys at Compass Law Group. We have the resources and experience to ensure that the insurance companies are giving you the coverage you need to compensate for the injuries you sustained.
