Blind Spots: The Often Overlooked Culprit in Alabama Motorcycle Accidents
We’ve all witnessed a motorcycle zooming past us on Alabama roadways. Perhaps it was maneuvering between cars or passing in the fast lane. It’s crucial to understand that motorcycles are not just fast; when their operators are reckless, they are among the most vulnerable travelers on the road.
Unlike vehicle occupants, motorcycle riders have little protection, making them more susceptible to serious injuries in an accident. This vulnerability and occasional reckless behavior make motorcycles a significant safety concern.
Besides the accidents a rider may cause, an Alabama motorcycle accident may be injured when he rides in a vehicle’s blind spot. Without protection and at a high rate of speed, the motorcyclist can be catapulted until his head collides with a stationary object. This leads to devastating and life-altering injuries associated with motorcycle accidents.
If you or a loved one have been injured in an Alabama motorcycle accident, contact Attorney Chip Nix as soon as possible to review your options.
Dangerous Blind Spots
Have you ever been surprised by a vehicle traveling alongside you that you didn’t see? Hopefully, you caught sight of it before you changed lanes, or the driver honked to remind you of his presence. But a motorcyclist doesn’t have that luxury. Not only is his vehicle smaller, so more easily hidden, but he may not be able to signal you if you are changing lanes.
And if you have to change lanes suddenly, the motorcycle has little place to go.
When a vehicle is larger, such as a truck or SUV, there are even more blind spots that could potentially obscure a motorcycle. The cyclist is even at greater risk when a vehicle has to change lanes suddenly or merge into traffic.
Making matters worse, many motorists do not consider looking for a motorcycle. The only saving grace may be their loud noise to remind a driver of their presence.
In a motorcycle accident, traumatic head injury is possible when his head collides with a tree or another car. A head injury from a high rate of speed is tough, if not impossible, to recover from and is often fatal.
Dangerous Motorcycle Accidents
More than 10 million registered motorcycles are on U.S. roads, and the number has been growing over the years as people discover the freedom of riding a motorcycle.
Unfortunately, many motorcycle accidents result in fatalities, with about 5,000 deaths reported by government statistics and thousands left with catastrophic injuries.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), from 2000 to 2008, the number of motorcycle riders killed in an accident increased by 83% and the number of injured by 66%.
While motorcycles account for 3.5% of vehicles on our roads, they represented 14% of road fatalities in 2021.
In Alabama, motorcycle accidents took the lives of 93 people in 2019. The majority of those fatalities involved alcohol. That same year, there were 1,867 motorcycle crashes in Alabama.
Causes of Dangerous motorcycle accidents include:
- Blind Spots – a lack of visibility on the part of the motorist
- Intersections—Most motorcycle accidents occur at intersections when one driver turns into the motorcycle’s path.
- Head-Ons – Also happen at intersections when the motorist turns in front of the motorcycle
- Alcohol – Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is already a leading cause of car crashes, but when a motorcycle is involved, the rider is especially vulnerable to being thrown from the bike.
- Rules of the Road—Both cars and motorcyclists must obey traffic laws. Allow enough distance between vehicles and not speeding. The biker must always stay in a lane and avoid lane splitting to pass slow or stopped cars.
Your Alabama Motorcycle Accident Attorney
As soon as possible after your motorcycle accident, you will want to get medical attention and talk to the police. You should also call experienced motorcycle accident attorney Chip Nix. He can help streamline the process while you focus on healing. His investigation of your Alabama motorcycle accident will include gathering evidence at the scene, talking to witnesses, and surveillance footage. He will work diligently to preserve your rights and prepare your case for settlement or trial.
Whether your motorcycle accident was in Montgomery, Alabama, or anywhere in the state, Attorney Nix represents personal injury victims. To arrange an initial complimentary consultation, contact his office at (334) 203-6669.
Sources:
NHTSA
https://www.nhtsa.gov/book/countermeasures-that-work/motorcycle-safety
