What Are The Most Common Causes Of Motorcycle Accidents in California?

There are plenty of motorcyclists in the state of California. Motorcycle riders and passengers enjoy the thrill of getting on the back of the bike and hitting the roadways to enjoy the scenery. Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents do occur, often due to the careless or negligent actions of others on the roadway. Here, our Orange County injury lawyers want to discuss some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in the state of California. With this information, we hope that motorcyclists are able to take steps to remain safe each day.

Motorcycle Accidents Are Not Uncommon in California

According to data available from the California Office of Traffic Safety, we can see that there were almost 13,000 total motorcyclist injuries across the state during the latest reporting year we have on file. Unfortunately, 474 motorcyclists lost their lives during that same reporting year.

The reality is that motorcyclists face more risks on the roadway than those inside other types of vehicles. They do not have the same levels of protection that a passenger vehicle driver has, such as a metal frame, airbags, and seatbelts.

How Do These Crashes Occur?

Motorcycle collisions in California occur in a wide variety of ways. In some cases, these incidents are caused by the actions of the motorcyclist. However, we know that vehicle drivers tend to ignore motorcyclists on the roadway, and driver negligence is another leading cause of these incidents. Some of the leading driver-related causes of motorcycle crashes in this state include the following:

• Left-hand turns. One of the most dangerous situations a motorcyclist can encounter is a car making a left-hand turn across their path when they have the right of way. This can lead to the motorcyclist slamming into the side of the vehicle at a high rate of speed.
• Impaired driving. When vehicle drivers are impaired by alcohol or drugs, they are much less likely to operate safely around an exposed motorcyclist.
• Distracted driving. When drivers operate while distracted behind the wheel, they will be much less likely to even see a motorcyclist or respond appropriately to a hazardous situation involving a motorcycle.
• Following too closely. When drivers follow motorcyclists too closely, this can lead to deadly rear-end accidents in the event a motorcyclist has to slow down or abruptly stop.
• Too fast for conditions. Speeding remains the leading cause of vehicle accidents across the state of California and is incredibly dangerous for motorcyclists. The higher the speed, the more likely a motorcyclist will be to incur a severe injury if a crash happens.
• Passing unsafely. Passing a motorcyclist too closely or unsafely can lead to a vehicle clipping the side of the bike or even the actual motorcyclist.

In addition to these driver-related causes of motorcycle accidents, motorcyclists are also more vulnerable to hazardous roadway conditions. Something that a passenger vehicle could easily drive over or recover from could prove to be dangerous or fatal for a motorcyclist. This can include things like slippery surfaces, loose gravel, uneven pavement, or debris on the roadway.

Additionally, hazardous weather conditions present much more of a challenge for motorcyclists than they do for those inside traditional passenger vehicles.