Some of the worst personal injury cases seen by Santa Ana lawyers tend to arise as a result of a motorcycle accident. The freedom of riding a motorcycle can be incredible, offering much more appreciation of the stunning Californian scenery and sunshine than you can possibly achieve when boxed into a car, truck, or bus. Of course, the lack of a metal box interfering with your feeling at one with your surroundings also means that you lack the protection offered by that very same metal box in the event of a collision. You may be a careful and law-abiding biker, wearing an approved helmet and appropriate clothing every time you ride, but all it takes is one reckless or negligent driver drifting into your lane, cutting you off, or paying absolutely no attention to your presence, to leave you with life-changing or life-limiting injuries.
When an intoxicated, speeding, or otherwise reckless motorist has caused you to sustain serious injuries, a motorcycle accident attorney from the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg will dedicate their legal experience and knowledge to protecting your legal rights.
Reckless Driving Behaviors Against Motorcyclists
Motorcyclists are already at a disadvantage on the road due to the lack of a metal barrier around their vehicles. The lack of extra protection around the vehicle means that motorcyclists will endure the brunt of the impact, should the motorcyclist get involved in a motor vehicle accident. In addition to the lack of extra protection, motorcyclists have to remain alert about the dangerous and reckless behaviors of other drivers. Some of the common reckless driving behaviors that can cause a severe accident for motorcyclists include:
- Excessive Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Failing to yield or notice a motorcyclist
- Tailgating
Excessive Speeding
What do a motor vehicle, a motorcycle, and a commercial truck have in common? Speed is the leading cause of fatal traffic accidents involving these three types of vehicles. The reaction time of a driver who is speeding is reduced severely, while the potential for the driver to lose control of the vehicle is increased.
Speeding leads to some of the most fatal traffic accidents, like head-on collisions, side collisions, rear-end collisions, and accidents involving pedestrians and other motorists. When a motorcyclist is involved in a motor vehicle accident where the other driver was speeding, the motorcyclist is at risk of succumbing to certain injuries like traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injuries, internal bleeding, broken bones, and road rash.
Distracted Driving
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving is responsible for about 3,000 deaths a year. Distracted driving is any type of activity that takes the driver’s attention away from the road while they are driving. There are many activities that can contribute to distracted driving – from using a cell phone to eating to talking to friends to applying makeup. Some of the risk factors for distracted driving include the age of the driver and the number of passengers in the vehicle. Fatal traffic accidents caused by distracted driving tend to happen more often with drivers between the ages of 20 and 29, while distracted driving is more likely to happen based on the number of passengers present in the vehicle.
Failing to Yield or Notice a Motorcyclist
These types of accidents happen when a motorist fails to pay attention to their surroundings and fails to notice an oncoming motorist. Motor vehicle drivers fail to notice an oncoming motorist for several reasons. The motorist may have poor visibility or poor vision. The motorist may fail to pay attention to the motorcyclist as the motorcyclist travels in their blind spot. It also does not help that the motorcyclist’s size is working against them, as motorcycles are difficult to spot and easier to overlook on the road.
Tailgating
Tailgating is the reckless behavior of following too closely behind a vehicle. When two motor vehicles are involved in a rear-end collision due to tailgating, it can cause serious injury. Just like a motorcyclist can tailgate a motor vehicle, a motor vehicle can follow too closely behind a motorcyclist. What makes tailgating so dangerous is that it reduces the amount of time that a driver has to react to any sudden actions of the driver in front of them. When a motor vehicle driver strikes a motorcyclist from behind, the impact can cause a motorcyclist to be ejected from their motorcycle.
Motorcycle Accidents in Orange County: Key Facts and Figures
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a motorcycle is defined as “two- or three-wheeled motorcycles, off-road motorcycles, mopeds, scooters, mini bikes, and pocket bikes”, for the purposes of compiling statistics. The most recent of these statistics, relating to accidents and incidents occurring in 2016, includes the following key facts and figures:
- 5,286 motorcyclists across the United States were killed in accidents, representing a 5% increase when compared to 2015
- Per miles traveled, a motorcyclist is 2,800% more likely to be fatally injured than a car occupant
- 27% of these fatalities involved a motorcyclist riding without a valid license
- Motorcyclists are affected by DUI-related accidents more than any other type of road user
- 94% of motorcyclists killed in fatal accidents were driving, with the remaining 6% being passengers
- 93% of fatal motorcycle accidents involve two-wheeled motorcycles
- In 2016 alone, 529 motorcyclists were killed in California
- In the same year, Orange County saw 41 motorcyclist fatalities, up from 30 during the previous year
Why Should I Hire a Santa Ana Motorcycle Accident Attorney?
Only a highly skilled and experienced motorcycle crash attorney has the expertise you need to recover the maximum compensation available to you when your life has been dramatically altered by the negligence or reckless driving of another motorist. By enabling our lawyers to shoulder the burden of pursuing a fair settlement on your behalf, you can take the time you need to rest, recover, and adjust to the after-effects of your motorcycle accident.
When you hire a lawyer from the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg, you can rest assured that we will work tirelessly to prove the negligent or reckless behavior of the responsible motorist, holding them fully accountable for the consequences of their actions. To discuss how we could help you, schedule your free initial consultation by calling us today at 310-997-0904.
