Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, there was a total of 3,166 motorcycle crashes throughout 2012, which resulted in 2,531 injuries and 134 fatalities across the state.

The Insurance Information Institute has estimated that a total of 7.1 million motorcycles are driven across the United States, and over one million motorcycles and dirt bikes are purchased each year. Unfortunately, these riders are put at a greater susceptibility of becoming injured or being killed as a result of their negligent actions or the negligent actions of another driver.

At Phillips Law Group, our Phoenix motorcycle accident lawyers have great sympathy for those injured in motorcycle accidents and believe that injured victims may be eligible to receive compensation for their losses and damages. Our attorneys will work relentlessly to achieve the maximum compensation benefits desired while seeking the justice you deserve for your losses and damages.

For more information, complete the Free Case Review at the top of this page.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents may be less common than automobile accidents; however they pose an increased risk to the rider than that of occupants of passenger vehicles. As there is a greater fatality rate for motorcyclists than occupants of passenger vehicles, it is important for these riders to recognize the common causes of motorcycle accidents in order to protect themselves while riding.

Some common types of motorcycle accidents include:

• Other Vehicles Turning Left

This is one of the leading causes of accidents for motorcyclists and is common around intersections and in areas where cars may pass in front of the motorcycle.

• Riding Under the Influence

As with driving a car, riding under the influence can be just as dangerous or more dangerous as riders lack the protection offered by automobiles.

• Fixed Object Collisions

Fixed object collisions are the cause of 25 percent of rider deaths. This is mostly due to motorcyclists lacking the protection from objects when they are thrown through the air after colliding with an object.

• Head-On Collisions

78 percent of motorcycle accidents are head-on collisions, while rear-end collisions account for five percent of the accidents. These types of accidents are typically fatal to the motorcyclist as they once again lack the protection needed against environmental forces.

• High Performance Motorcycles

These types of motorcycles can travel at speeds up to 160 miles per hour. When a motorcyclist is involved in an accident at these speeds it is most often fatal to the rider.

• Following too Closely

Following too closely is dangerous when both performed by the rider or passenger vehicle. In most cases, passenger vehicles follow motorcyclists too closely and fail to recognize that motorcycles slow down and stop differently than passenger vehicles, thus resulting in nearly five percent of all motorcycle accidents.

• Lane Splitting

Line splitting is when a motorcyclist travel in between moving or stopped vehicles. This causes a great amount of motorcycle accidents due to the fact that there is little room to maneuver and most drivers are not on the lookout for motorcyclists in these situations.

• Road Hazards

Road hazards are dangerous to riders because they lack the ability to avoid these hazards as they travel on only two wheels rather than the four wheels of a passenger vehicle.

• Speeding

Similar to that of automobile accidents, speeding greatly increases the chance of a motorcyclist becoming involved in an automobile accident. At higher speeds there is less time to react to certain stimulus, thus creating a dangerous situation for the rider.

These causes of motorcycle accidents often have an unfavorable outcome to the motorcyclists involved, and often cause injuries.

Types of Motorcycle Accident Injuries

As previously mentioned, there were a total of 2,531 motorcycle accident injuries throughout all of 2012. These numbers have remained consistent throughout the years as passenger vehicles and motorcyclists continue to operate their vehicles in a negligent manner. These injuries can range from minimal severity to lifelong or life ending depending on the components of the accident.

Some types of motorcycle accident injuries include:

• Broken Bones
• Burn injuries
• Concussions
• Dental injuries
• Disfigurement
• Facial injuries
• Lacerations
• Loss of limb
• Paralysis
• Riders arm
• Riders hand
• Road rash
• Severe head trauma
• Factures
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Whiplash
• Wrist injuries
• Wrongful Death

After being involved in a motorcycle accident, it is recommended to seek immediate medical attention whether injuries are evident or not. This will ensure all injuries are properly cared for along with providing our attorneys with the documentation needed to formulate a case against these negligent drivers.

Types of Compensatory Damages

There may be certain compensatory damages allowable to the injured victims of motorcycle accidents. These damages will be calculated depending on the type and amount of losses and damages which resulted for your specific accident. There are many factors that are included while calculating these damages to accurately fulfill the needs of the injured victim.

Some types of compensatory damages include:

• Court costs
• Disfigurement
• Future lost wages
• Future medical expenses
• Long-term pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of opportunity
• Lost wages
• Medical expenses
• Mental anguish
• Nominal damages
• Property replacement or repair
• Punitive damages
• Rehabilitation
• Substitute transportation

While working to achieve the compensation benefits, our motorcycle accident attorneys will be operating on a contingency fee basis. This means that we will not charge for our services unless a favorable verdict or settlement has been established and you get paid for your losses and damages.

Contact Our Phoenix Lawyers Today

The attorneys at Phillips Law Group have a tremendous amount of sympathy for the injured victims of motorcycle accidents and believe that if you or a family member has been inured due to the negligent actions of another individual, the victim may be eligible to receive compensation for their losses and damages.

With our primary headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, our attorneys are able to serve throughout the area and elsewhere needed. Some of the local Phoenix areas we serve include:

• Buckeye
• Chandler
• Glendale
• Laveen Village
• Mesa
• North Gateway Village
• North Scottsdale
• Pinnacle Peak
• Scottsdale
• Surprise

Our attorneys are also proud to serve injured victims in the surrounding towns and suburbs of these areas and offer free consultations to those in need. To begin exploring your legal options, or to learn more about our law firm, we encourage you to call us at 1-800-706-3000 or complete the Free Case Review form located on this page. It is completely free to submit and all information entered will remain completely confidential.