The hazards faced by motorcyclists are many. They have to contend with trucks that have massive blind spots, weather conditions that make riding more dangerous, and much else.
One of the most dangerous issues, though, is an accident where another vehicle turns left in front of the motorcycle, causing a nearly unavoidable accident.
How left turns lead to wrecks
When a left turn leads to a wreck with a motorcycle events usually unfold like this:
- The driver stops in the opposite lane, facing the oncoming bike.
- The driver determines that they have space to turn. They may not see the bike on an empty road or think it is far enough away, but they often look at the lane and only see other cars and trucks. They also see what appears to be a gap in that traffic, where the bike is hidden.
- The driver makes the turn. At this point, the motorcyclist has the right of way, so they haven’t even slowed down. They assumed the driver would wait, as they were supposed to.
- The motorcyclist tries to avoid the crash. Often, though, they are faced with a situation where they have to hit the side of the vehicle that is turning or they have to swerve into the oncoming lanes. Either way, they’re going to be involved in an accident.
As you can see, the issue is just that the judgment call made by the driver of the passenger car was incorrect. The motorcyclist has a split second to react to a problem that never should have existed, and there is nothing they can do.
Have you been injured in a motorcycle accident?
If you get involved in a motorcycle accident, even with the right safety gear, you could suffer from catastrophic injuries. You must know how to seek proper compensation for your injuries and losses.