It’s important for motorcyclists to understand the risks they face on the road. For example, some studies have shown that motorcyclists are 27 times as likely to die in accidents as those in other vehicles. This just demonstrates that there are inherent risks to riding a motorcycle that can’t be overcome.
In the name of safety, it’s helpful to consider that one of the most common accidents is a left-turn crash. This happens when a motorcyclist is approaching another vehicle in the oncoming lanes, but that driver turns left in front of the motorcycle, which strikes the side of the vehicle.
2 reasons why this happens
The first reason why this happens is that turning left is a judgment call. Every single time someone turns across oncoming traffic lanes, they have to decide if it’s safe to do so. Many people simply don’t see motorcycles or aren’t looking for them, so they make the wrong call. Unfortunately, the ramifications of their mistake are often catastrophic for the other party.
Another reason this happens is something called inattentional blindness, which has to do with the way that your brain receives and filters visual information. If you just quickly glance at the road, your brain tends to fill in the gaps with the things that you expect to see. This is why a driver can look for a motorcycle, fail to see it even though they’re looking straight at it, and then turn in front of the bike. If drivers slowed down, taking an extra second to really take in their surroundings, they may notice that a bike is approaching.
Seeking compensation
Because these are such serious accidents, riders often suffer significant injuries. They need to know how to seek financial compensation for medical bills and other costs.