Lookout for Motorcycles on the Roadway

Posted in Motorcycle collision on July 6, 2018

With summer in full swing, more motorcyclists are hitting the open road to enjoy the weather.  On average, nearly 88,000 bikers are injured in  collisions with a passenger vehicle simply because the driver of the passenger vehicle didn’t see the motorcyclist. Motorcycles are the smallest vehicles on the road and sometimes seem to come out of nowhere if you aren’t paying attention to your surroundings.

Check your surroundings before making a turn

The majority of motorcycle crashes occur when a driver turns into a motorcycle during a left-hand turn. When making a turn, pay attention to the gaps between cars and trucks to make sure there isn’t an out of site motorcycle in between. If you aren’t 100% sure, it’s best to wait until the road is clear.

Watch for motorcyclists riding between lanes

This is referred to as lane splitting. Currently, the only state that allows lane splitting legally is California. However, just because it’s illegal, doesn’t mean riders won’t do it..

Always check your blind spots

Because of their size, motorcycles easily fit into drivers’ blind spots. Check your mirrors before merging or changing lanes, and also check over your shoulder just in case.

Allow plenty of room

If traffic patterns suddenly change, or if a driver pulls out in front of a motorcycle, the motorcyclist may need to swerve in order to avoid a collision. Be sure to allow extra room so they can maneuver. If stopped in traffic behind a motorcycle, leave extra space between your vehicle and the motorcycle. This gives you the slight chance to steer away from the motorcyclist in the event you are rear-ended.

Crashes involving motorcycles are very serious and oftentimes leave victims with large medical expenses and life-changing injuries. The Manchin Injury Law Group has been representing motorcycle crash victims for over thirty-five years.