Summer is officially here, bringing with it the warm weather that attracts motorcycle enthusiasts to the roads, so it is a critical reminder to all motorists to watch for motorcycles. There are approximately 200,000 motorcycles registered here in Virginia, however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has labeled motorcycles as the “most hazardous form of transportation.” Riders of motorcycles are almost 30 times more at risk to die in a crash than occupants of passenger vehicles.
Each year, there are approximately 5,000 victims killed in motorcycle accidents and almost 90,000 victims injured. The injured suffered in motorcycle crashes are often catastrophic because there is nothing that protects the rider of the motorcycle from the 3,000+ plus car or truck that slams into them.
Unfortunately, as the number of people who ride motorcycles increases, so has the number of accidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as other types of vehicle crashes have continued to decrease each year, the number of motorcycle accidents has increased. The CDC has declared this increase in motorcycle crashes as a major public health concern, citing both the physical and economic losses these crashes cause. In fact, the economic burden that motorcycle accidents cause totals more than $12 billion each year.
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Crashes can happen due to a variety of factors; however, multiple studies have identified the most common reasons why motorcycle accidents happen, including the following:
- Distracted drivers: A vehicle driver who is engaged in distracting driving activity instead of focusing on the road can very easily miss a motorcycle, especially given its smaller size.
- Dooring: An occupant of a parked vehicle opens the door into the path of an oncoming motorcycle.
- Driving under the influence: One of the main causes of all types of vehicle accidents. When a driver is under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, the risk of failing to see a motorcycle and reacting in time increases dramatically.
- Lane changes: The vehicle driver fails to signal or check their blind spots when changing lanes.
- Left turns: One of the most common – and deadliest – reasons for motorcycle accidents is when a vehicle driver making left turns misjudge the distance of a motorcyclist who has the right of way.
- Speeding: Like driving under the influence, a factor in all types of vehicle accidents.
- Sudden stops: A vehicle following too closely behind a motorcycle may not be able to stop in time if the motorcyclist has to come to a sudden stop.
Call a Seasoned Personal Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for the losses your injuries have caused. These losses include medical expenses, loss of income and benefits, pain and suffering, emotional anguish, permanent disability, scarring, disfigurement, and more.
Motorcycle accident claims and lawsuits can be complex since many insurance companies try to blame the motorcyclist for the crash. A skilled Virginia Beach motorcycle accident attorney from Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp can make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
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For over twenty years, Mr. Sharp's law practice has focused on serious personal injury claims, including traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury claims. He also handles nursing home neglect cases and medical malpractice claims. Mr. Sharp has counseled numerous clients about the complexities concerning litigation of both pediatric and adult brain injury. Mr. Sharp has been awarded the AV Preeminent ranking by Martindale, the highly respected and widely utilized directory of lawyers throughout the world. AV Preeminent status is awarded only to those lawyers who achieve the highest level of success within the legal field and is a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers and Judges rank him at the highest level of professional excellence. He has also been recognized as a "Best Lawyer" by U.S. News for personal injury, an accolade awarded to only a small fraction of lawyers. Mr. Sharp has also been recognized by Super Lawyers as one of the top personal injury lawyers in Virginia. This recognition is awarded only to those lawyers who have achieved the highest level of success and have been recognized by their peers as demonstrating the highest level of professional excellence.
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