The Most Common Types of Motorcycle Accidents in Indianapolis
Motorcycle accidents in Indiana are never expected, but some of them are preventable, and some accident types are more prevalent than others. If you have been injured in a motorcycle collision by someone who wasn’t paying attention or ignored the rules of the road, you may be entitled to compensatory damages for your injuries and property damage through a personal injury claim, which an Indiana motorcycle accident attorney can help you with.
Common Types of Motorcycle Accidents in Indianapolis
Being aware of the most frequent causes of motorcycle accidents is one of the first steps toward preventing them. Motorcycle crashes often result in serious injury, permanent disability and even death. Doing your part to obey the rules of the road and giving other motorists and motorcyclists the same respect and traveling distance you would expect can help lower the risk of being involved in a collision.
Some of the most common types of motorcycle accidents include:
- A car switching lanes and infringing on a motorcyclist’s right of way
- Accidents at intersections
- Collisions that occur while a motorcycle is passing a vehicle, and the motorist cannot see the motorcyclist
- Motorcyclists losing control of their motorcycles
- Head-on collisions
- Collisions that result from lane-splitting
- Speed-related accidents
- Motorcyclists failing to properly negotiate a bend or curve in the road
These aren’t the only types of motorcycle accidents that can occur, but it quickly becomes evident that many accidents are caused by the motorcycle’s lack of visibility to drivers and the lack of protection between a rider and the road means that what might be considered a minor collision by a motorist could result in catastrophic damage for a motorcyclist.
Preventing Common (and Dangerous) Motorcycle Accidents in Indianapolis
Left-Hand Turns
Up to 42% of the accidents between cars and motorcycles occur when a car is making a left-hand turn. These can take place when a motorcycle is proceeding through a juncture or intersection or passing a vehicle, and although this type of collision frequently occurs between two vehicles, the lack of protection a motorcyclist has from the road or from other vehicles makes it exceptionally dangerous for riders.
Motorcyclists can mitigate some of the risk of these types of crashes by giving cars that they pass a wide berth – never pass a vehicle in the same lane as you. Motorists should consciously check for motorcycles when preparing to make left-hand turns, as well as check their blind spots before merging or switching lanes. Motorcycles are much more easily concealed by road obstructions, other vehicles or blind spots than are other cars.
Lane-Splitting
Motorcycle lane-splitting is another common culprit for collisions. Lane-splitting is when a motorcycle navigates between two lanes of slowly moving or stopped cars, which is more common during rush hour or other periods of slowly moving traffic. The limited space available for the motorcycle to drive through and the lack of awareness among motorists about lane-splitting riders are contributing factors of these accidents.
To minimize the risks of lane splitting, motorcyclists should always enter the area cautiously and remember that they may be in a car’s blind spot. Driving too quickly through lanes can increase the risk of an accident, and once traffic picks up and exceeds 30 mph, it’s time to get back in the lane. Drivers should always check for motorcycles before switching lanes in a traffic jam.
If you’ve been injured a motorcycle accident in Indianapolis, reach out to an Indiana motorcycle accident attorney who will fight for your rights.