What a Motorcycle Lawyer Knows About Motorcycle Accidents

The most common crash motorcycles have with another vehicle involves a car, motorcycle, or suv that cuts in front of the motorcycle.  Whether a left hand turn in front of the bike, or simply coming out from a driveway or through a stop sign or light at an intersection, this is the most likely accident riders face.

What is surprising is how little study this phenomenon receives. Many questions are unanswered.  For example, if it was possible to train riders to jump at the last second, would this help anything?  Would it make things worse?  What about upcoming frame designs that crush, limiting the catapulting effect?  How do riders fare who get on the rear brakes, or hit at a slight angle, causing the rear of the bike to circle around and slap?

The worst injuries, clearly, seem to involve slamming part of the rider’s body into the vehicle.  Riders with good gear definitely do better, although bad foot injuries seem to happen even with good boots.  Flying over the vehicle does seem to help orthopedic injuries, and the risk of serious head injuries.

As always, there just doesn’t seem to be enough data.  On the other hand, we are clearly getting closer to identifying what the focus of the inquiry should be.