The Constant Risk to Motorcyclists on the Road
Many motorcycle accidents occur because the driver fails to see the motorcyclist. A 2018 study found that many traffic accidents involving motorcycles may occur because of how the brain processes information. According to another study by the International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences, motorcycle visibility is the leading cause of crashes between bikes and cars, with a lack of visibility proving to be the primary cause of a crash 65% of the time.
That being the case, other drivers on the road are required to exercise due care and see what is there to be seen – whether it be a large tractor-trailer or a relatively small motorcycle.
The New York State Department of Health has noted that motorcyclists are “about 28 times more likely to die in a crash than people in passenger cars.” That is a staggering statistic, which reinforces that all motorists on the road should be on the lookout for motorcyclists, who are entitled to the same duties and privileges as other vehicles on the road.
Given this relatively dangerous landscape for motorcycle riders, the New York State Department of Health has offered a number of “tips” for safe motorcycle riding. These tips include, but are not limited to: participating in a New York State Department of Motor Vehicles-approved rider education program, wearing brightly colored or reflective riding gear, obeying the speed limit, and maintaining the most visible lane position.
When a motorcycle rider is injured because another motorist on the road failed to see that which was there to be seen, resulting in a failure to yield the right of way or other violation of the rules of the road, that motorcycle rider may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering.