When you’re on the road, it’s easy to see that vehicles outnumber motorcycles. Also, since motorcycles are smaller than cars, they are harder to see, especially when they are in a vehicle’s blind spot. All this boils down to motorcycle safety, and both vehicles and motorcycles have their roles to play to keep each other safe. Unfortunately, sometimes vehicles and motorcycles don’t see each other.
Vehicles vs. Motorcycles
In accidents involving cars and motorcycles, the number one reason the accident occurred was because the car driver did not see the motorcycle. Unfortunately, this was the case in a fatal motor accident that happened at Dixie Highway and West Orell Road on Tuesday, July 15, 2014. According to the Louisville Metro Police, the motorcyclist was killed in the crash and the car driver was taken to the hospital for minor injuries. The car driver claims that they never saw the motorcycle. We’d like to send our sincerest condolences to the families of the victims involved in this fatal accident.
Related: What Causes Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcycle fatalities
Motorcycle fatalities have increased over the past decade. In 2007, motorcyclist deaths rose to 5,154 from the 4,837 cases recorded in 2006. In 2006, motorcyclists were found to be 37 times more likely than car passengers to get killed in a traffic crash and nine times more likely to get injured. However, this can be avoided. Here are some visibility and passing tips.
Let’s start with visibility issues:
- Riders – make sure you’re easily noticed. Wear bright-colored clothing and make sure that your headlights are working properly.
- Drivers – pay attention to everyone on the road and check your blind spots before changing lanes.
Now, we’ll briefly cover passing:
- Riders – please use hand signals to inform drivers of your intentions. Try to avoid staying in a vehicle’s blind spot for too long. Also, maintain your driving speed.
- Riders – make sure to look in all directions at intersections before proceeding through.
- Drivers – when passing a motorcycle, please give them plenty of space when you merge back in front of them. This also goes for when you’re passing other vehicles.
- Drivers – take a moment to see what the biker is about to do (merge, pass, stop, etc.). Remember that it can be hard to judge a motorcycle’s speed and distance from where you are because of its narrow profile.
What should I do if I’m in a motorcycle accident?
If you are in a motorcycle accident here in Kentucky, make sure that you see a doctor right away. After you get check out by a doctor, then contact a personal injury attorney. The personal injury attorney will help you understand your case and will walk you through the legal process. They try to make your case as easy for you as possible, so you can focus on recovering.
As a Kentucky Accident Attorney, I say it’s never too late for us to take action. We can help decrease vehicle and motorcycle accidents. One way we can do this is to lookout for each other and communicate as much as possible with turn signals or hand signals. That way, we are aware of what the other is doing and can act accordingly. Also, please always check your mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes. This will help us avoid accidents and help keep us safe.