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The Dangers Unique to Motorcyclists

by Christopher Hoffmann on Jan. 07, 2014

Accident & Injury Personal Injury Accident & Injury  Car Accident Accident & Injury  Wrongful Death 

Summary: Motorcyclists are exposed to many dangers others drivers are not. Being aware of such dangers and working to avoid them is vital for both motorcyclists and those who share the road with them.

The driver of a motorcycle is held to the same rules of the road as any other motor vehicle. However, some will often violate a motorcyclist’s right of way, causing the motorcycle to crash.  Injuries sustained from motorcycle accidents are considerably more serious than those seen from passenger car accidents.  Drivers should take careful consideration of a motorcycle's presence and give them the same respect that they give to other vehicles.  If you are a motorcycle enthusiast who has recently been injured in a wreck, get in touch with a Missouri automobile accident attorney.  Motorcycles are a common sight on American highways.  Other motorists should take notice of them.

Motorcycle Accidents

This past October, a young cadet was killed while riding his motorcycle.  A car failed to notice him and entered the highway directly in front the bike causing it to slam into the passenger side door.  Sadly this is a typical motorcycle accident that will cause serious injuries or, as in this instance, death to the driver as he is propelled off of the bike and onto the pavement.  

Failing to yield to a motorcycle is one of the most common reasons for an accident.  Larger vehicles forget to check blind spots before changing lanes, or they will turn directly into the path of a bike, not noticing its approach.  A motorcycle driver can attempt to make himself more visible to other cars by wearing bright clothing and utilizing the motorcycles lights at all times.  A horn is also handy in alerting another driver that they are within striking distance. 
 
A Missouri motorcyclist was struck by a passenger car that failed to yield for him at a stop sign.  The force of the impact threw him off of the bike and he sustained multiple injuries, some of which required surgery to repair.  A jury found the other driver to be negligent in this case and awarded the 55 year old plaintiff $142,000. The amount of the award could have been significantly higher had the painter not returned to work as quickly as he did. 

Accidents at Intersections

Intersections are undoubtedly the most dangerous spots for a motorcycle.  The conflicting traffic and often times confusing flow of cars makes many drivers unobservant of an oncoming motorcycle.  As a biker is considerably less protected than the occupants of a passenger car, the extent of injury is usually higher and sadly often fatal.  Even with the right of way, a motorcycle rider should always take extra precautions and double check for oncoming traffic before entering an intersection.  

St. Louis Auto Accident Attorney

Proving that another vehicle did not properly yield or obey a traffic signal is difficult if there are no witnesses willing to make a statement.  In many cases an accident scene will need to be reconstructed by an expert in order to get a full understanding of exactly how the collision occurred.  This is not unusual work for a seasoned auto accident attorney.

Contact an attorney at The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. if you have been injured in an automobile accident.


photo credit: Uriah Welcome via Flickr

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