Statistically, motorcycle accidents do not occur more frequently than any other type of accident; unfortunately, however, they are more likely to have a result that involves serious injury or even death. That being said, people have a love of riding their motorcycles, and it does not seem like that passion is going to go away anytime soon. It is because of this that it benefits all motorcyclists to be aware of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents before they go out onto the road – in hopes of reducing their chances of ever being involved in an accident.

Cars That Make Left-Hand Turns and Cause Collisions with Motorcycles in New Jersey

Accounting for 42% of all accidents between an automobile and a motorcycle, cars making a left-hand turn can be one of the most dangerous situations for a motorcyclist to encounter. This is because when someone riding a motorcycle is driving straight through an intersection or trying to pass or overtake a car, they can easily be struck by a car making a left-hand turn. Often, the motorist will not see the smaller vehicle on the road. Normally, when it is two cars in this set of circumstances, the vehicle making the left-hand turn will be considered at fault. Yet, if it is a motorcyclist who is hit, and they were driving too fast or they were not in the correct lane, they could be considered partly at fault. Depending on the state the accident occurred in, this could lead to reduced, or even zero, compensation for the injured motorcyclist.

Speeding and/or Use of Alcohol or Drugs in NJ Motorcycle Accidents

Around 50% of accidents that involve a single motorcycle are caused by speeding or the use of alcohol when driving. This does not differ too much from the percentages for accident involving cars or other vehicles. However, since motorcycles are smaller than cars and do not offer the same type of protection that a larger car would be able to, these accidents can have much more severe consequences.

Head-On Collisions Involving Motorcycles in New Jersey

A troubling statistic is that crashes that involve a motorcycle and another vehicle account for 56% of all deaths in motorcycle accidents. Even worse is that 78% of the time, the motorcycle is struck in a head-on collision, which can often lead to death. A motorcycle getting struck from the rear is very rare, so any motorcyclist must be aware of the dangers of being hit head-on in any sort of collision.

Lane Splitting and NJ Motorcycle Crashes

Lane splitting is something that occurs when a motorcycle drives between two normal lanes of cars that are either stopped or driving slowly. Depending on the location, as well as the circumstances prior to the accident, lane splitting may be allowed; however, due to the small space that the motorcyclist is driving in, as well as the close proximity they have to the other cars on the road, there are plenty of chances for an accident to happen whenever lane splitting occurs. Add to this the fact that most cars are not expecting a motorist to pass them in between lanes in heavy traffic, and lane splitting is another common cause for a motorcycle accident.

Motorcycle Collisions with Fixed Objects

This is another situation where the safety of being behind the wheel of a large car is gone, and any accident that occurs is more likely to be a fatal one due to the speed and impact of being thrown from a motorcycle after a collision. Only 18% of car deaths are attributed to a collision with a fixed object, but that number jumps to 25% for those riding a motorcycle.

Contact an Experienced New Jersey Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today

If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident, you will want a qualified attorney with over 25 years of experience like Andrew Prince to fight for you in court. Contact the Law Office of Andrew Prince today for an initial consultation. We represent motorcycle accident victims in Clark, Elizabeth, Newark, Jersey City, Edison, and everywhere else in New Jersey.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.