What Are The Biggest Factors Involved In Motorcycle Accidents?
Michael Babboni
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents are some of the most devastating accidents we see on the road in the St. Petersburg area. While a vehicle has plenty of steel and padding to keep you secure in the car in the event of an accident, a motorcycle is left open on all sides. When motorcycle accidents occur it’s not rare to see life changing injuries.Motorcyclists love to feel the freedom of the road, and they want to keep safe while doing it. To motorcyclists, other motorists are some of their biggest threats on the road but it’s not their only threat.
What Factors Are Most Often Involved In Motorcycle Accidents?
There are a number of situations that lead to motorcycle accidents. Some of the most common include:
• Collision with a fixed object – Collisions with fixed objects are more common than many think when it comes to motorcycle accidents. About ¼ of fatal motorcycle accidents each year occur when a motorcyclist collides with an object like a guardrail, telephone pole, bridge supports, or signage in the road. This may be because the roadways are unfamiliar to the motorcyclist, and these fixed objects seemingly “come out of nowhere” or come after a driver fails to properly navigate a curve in the road.
• Left turns – Making a left turn, or other vehicles making a left turn, is a major risk to motorcycle drivers. In instances when a motorcycle gets into an accident with another vehicle, half of these involve left turns. While cars are making a left turn they may not notice a motorcyclist coming their way, and sometimes motorcyclists overestimate the amount of space they have to safely make a turn themselves.
• Speeding – Accounting for just under 35% of all motorcycle accidents in the US is speeding. This doesn’t necessarily mean going over the posted speed limit but going too quickly for the conditions of the road. For this reason, motorcyclists must always use extra caution when navigating roadways they may be unfamiliar with or when road conditions grow potentially dangerous. A motorcyclist should only go as quickly as they feel comfortable for the conditions of the road.
• The day of the week – For drivers of automobiles, the most dangerous days of the week to be on the road are Saturday and Sunday, but this isn’t so for motorcyclists. Motorcycles are more likely to find themselves in an accident during the week, and even more specifically in the afternoon into rush hour. Of all five weekdays, Thursday at rush hour seems to be the single most dangerous time for motorcyclists.
Keeping Yourself Protected On The Roads Of St. Petersburg
Motorcyclists enjoying the road in the St. Petersburg area can do a few things to ensure they increase their chances of a safe journey. Unfortunately, a motorcyclist can only control how they take the road and must always keep a keen eye on traffic and potentially negligent drivers. Motorcyclists should always drive in a passive fashion, keep extra space, navigate all unfamiliar roadways with extra caution, and remove themselves from potentially hazardous situations with other drivers whenever possible.
Finding yourself in a motorcycle accident in St. Petersburg is something that no motorcyclist wishes to experience. However, Florida has some of the highest motorcycle crash and fatality rates in the United States, with over 500 deaths in 2020 alone. If you find yourself in a motorcycle accident, or a loved one has suffered an accident due to another motorist’s negligence, it’s important to seek the compensation you deserve. To learn more about Florida motorcycle accident statistics, risky rides, and how you can get representation for your motorcycle accident case, contact us at TheStPeteLawyer.com today.