Do You Ride a Motorcycle?
Low gas mileage, fast acceleration, an easy way to skirt traffic – there are scores of reasons to ride a motorcycle. However, with those benefits comes a high risk of injuries if a crash happens.
Motorcyclists and passenger-vehicle drivers face many of the same hazards; however, the former are far more likely to die in accidents. In fact, according to data from 2014, motorcycle riders are 27 times more likely to die in crashes than passenger-vehicle drivers.
If you were injured in a motorcycle wreck, contact an Omaha personal-injury attorney from Rensch & Rensch Law. With more than 45 years of combined legal experience, our lawyers have the knowledge and resources to help you recover the maximum compensation.
Our attorneys have litigated more than 100 jury trials. Call 1-800-471-4100 to schedule a free initial consultation. You can also visit http://accident.usattorneys.com/ to learn more about personal-injury lawsuits.
3 Common Contributing Factors in Motorcycle Wrecks
In 2013, motorcyclists accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That year, more than 4,600 riders lost their lives.
Human errors caused the vast majority of these collisions. Fortunately, there are steps that riders can take to reduce their risk of accidents and injuries. In particular, it is important that motorcyclists know the most common causes of wrecks and how to avoid them.
Let’s take a look at three of the primary contributing factors in motorcycle crashes:
- Drunk Drivers
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol contributed to 31 percent of all traffic fatalities. If you ride a motorcycle, it is critical that you keep your distance from drivers who show one or more of the following signs of intoxication:
- Swerving;
- Not using the correct turn signal;
- Not turning on the headlights when driving at night;
- Drifting on the shoulder of the road; or
- Abnormal acceleration and braking patterns.
- Speed Wobbles
It’s no secret that motorcycles can accelerate quickly; that’s part of the thrill. However, their two-wheeled structure makes them prone to “speed wobbles.” These happen when the front of a motorcycle begins to shake. You can avoid this problem by following the speed limit.
- Heavy Traffic
Accidents are always more likely to happen when more vehicles are on the road. This is particularly true for motorcycle riders. Drivers who are in a rush to beat traffic often change lanes without signaling and fail to check their blind spots. All it takes is one negligent motorist to cause a crash.
If you were injured by a drunk, distracted or reckless driver in Nebraska, contact an Omaha personal-injury attorney from Rensch & Rensch Law. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost income and non-economic damages.
If we do not win, then you will not pay attorneys’ fees. Call 1-800-471-4100 to schedule a free initial consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer.
