Riding a motorcycle can be a fun and relaxing way to spend your free time. Yet, those who ride these vehicles can be at an increased risk of being involved in an accident. One reason is because of motorcycles’ small size, which can cause them to be lost in another driver’s blind spot. Motorcyclists can also be at significant risk of being seriously injured in these wrecks because they are not afforded the protections found in other vehicles. In the worse cases, motorcycle accidents result in death.
This was the case in one recent Phoenix accident. There, an 18-year-old was killed when his motorcycle collided with a vehicle being driven by an elderly man. According to reports, the elderly man was turning into a driveway at the time of the accident. The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene, and an investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing. However, police do not believe that intoxication played a role in the wreck.
This case may highlight another common reason for motorcycle accidents: a failure to accurately gauge their speed. Far too often, car and truck drivers spot a motorcyclist but fail to realize that it is traveling much faster than they think. This can cause them to turn out in front of a motorcyclist, as was the case in the accident mentioned above.
An inability to properly gauge a motorcycle’s speed is no excuse for negligently turning out in front of one. In these instances, an errant driver may be held accountable for turning in front of a motorcyclist, which means that the victim or his or her family may be able to recover compensation for damages suffered. To learn more about the steps that are necessary to pursue one of these claims, those affected by a motorcycle accident can speak with an attorney who is experienced in handling these types of cases.
