Riding a motorcycle is generally more dangerous than traveling in an enclosed motor vehicle. Motorcycles offer less protection from injury in the event of a crash. They can also be more difficult to control when winds are high or the rain roads are wet.
Motorcycle riders generally need to be more cautious in traffic than those operating four-wheeled vehicles. They may need to be particularly cautious as they approach intersections. Quite a few crashes occur at intersections rather than out on the open road. Why are intersections so dangerous for motorcycle riders?
Drivers may not pay attention at intersections
One of the biggest safety issues at an intersection is the possibility of another motorist overlooking a motorcycle. Research into intersection crashes indicates that a lack of surveillance is a leading cause of intersection collisions.
Motorcycles are particularly vulnerable at intersections due to intentional blindness. Drivers who don’t actively think about motorcycles while driving they fail to notice them in traffic. Although they are large, loud and clearly visible, other drivers may not mentally register their presence.
They may then proceed through the intersection when they do not technically have the right of way and strike someone on their motorcycle. The motorcycle rider could follow the law carefully and still end up hurt by those who don’t pay adequate attention to their surroundings.
How can riders protect themselves?
There are a few tricks that can help reduce the risk of a motorcycle crash at an intersection. The first involves minimizing left turns. Left turns leave riders exposed for longer than other maneuvers and have a strong association with major collisions.
Another tip is to pretend to be invisible. Riders who assume that others have not seen them can make the choice to yield the right of way and avoid a scenario in which an inattentive driver injures them. They may also want to make a point of using gestures to engage in nonverbal communication with motorists and draw their attention.
When motorcycle crashes occur, the riders involved in a wreck may need help holding others accountable. Filing an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit can potentially help motorcycle riders pay for their property damage losses and injury expenses after a crash caused by another party.