Where Do Most Motorcycle Accidents Occur?

Posted December 3, 2024 | Personal Injury Blog

If you are a motorcycle rider, this question would no doubt be of interest to you. After all, you want to enjoy the feeling of riding free in the wind while at the same time keeping safe. And although you may practice safe riding, you simply cannot control the actions of other drivers on the road.

According to statistics, motorcycle accidents occur quite frequently. In fact, according too ne source, 84,000 riders were injured in just one recent year. Therefore, familiarizing yourself with areas that are more prone to motorcycle accidents will help you be extra vigilant and take preventative measures as you ride around.

Most Common Areas for Motorcycle Accidents

While it is true that a motorcycle accident can occur anywhere, statistics reveal that there are specific areas where a motorcycle accident is more likely to occur. Some of these high-risk areas include the following.

Intersections

With several vehicles moving, stopping, or turning at an intersection, It is no wonder that an intersection is one of the most common locations where a motorcycle accident can occur. Additionally, while a car accident at an intersection could result in minor injuries, even a fender-bender can cause major damage to a motorcycle and leave the rider with serious injuries.

One very common cause of motorcycle accidents that happen at intersections is drivers who are making left turns. When making a left turn, a driver might not see an oncoming motorcyclist. This failure could result in the biker crashing directly into the vehicle.

Some other causes of accidents at intersections are when a car or truck rear-ends a motorcycle that has stopped at a light or stop sign or when a motorcyclist and another vehicle attempt to make a left turn at the same time, and the biker is sideswiped by the other vehicle. When either of these scenarios happens (even at lower speeds), the rider is typically left with catastrophic or even fatal injuries.

Freeways

Highways, such as interstates, are another very common location for motorcycle accidents. This is because of the increased amount of vehicles on the highway moving at high speeds. When these two elements combine, the reaction time of drivers on the road is drastically decreased, which means the potential for a catastrophic motorcycle accident is greatly increased.

One of the most common scenarios in which a motorcycle accident can occur on a highway is when a driver fails to notice a motorcyclist while merging into a lane. The impact may cause the motorcyclist to be thrown from his or her bike and crash into another vehicle.

Another potentially hazardous condition for a motorcycle rider traveling at high speeds on a freeway is the various types of debris on the road, such as garbage, tire pieces, and cargo from trucks. The same is true for wet or icy roads from bad weather conditions. These hazardous road conditions may cause a rider to lose control of the bike and suffer serious injuries from a major accident.

Two-lane roads

Although two-lane rural roads have fewer vehicles on them than city roads or highways, two-lane roads are also high-risk areas for motorcyclists, but for a different reason. This is due to the proximity of the lanes traveling in opposite directions. A distracted driver may veer into the lane of an oncoming motorcyclist, resulting in what may be a fatal accident.

Also, rural roads tend to have uneven pavement and sand and gravel. Additionally, local wildlife could unexpectedly jump in front of a motorcyclist. These are some of the hazards that increase the risk of a motorcyclist experiencing an accident while traveling on a two-lane road.

Urban areas

In contrast to rural roads, urban areas present a risk to bikers. Urban roads often are heavily congested, with a variety of other vehicles on the road along with pedestrians and bicyclists. 

Several of the risks that we have already discussed for other areas, such as vehicles making left turns and hitting a rider or stopping and rear-ending a motorcyclist, are all present in urban areas. Added to this is the ever-present risk of a pedestrian or cyclist darting into the lane of an oncoming motorcyclist. If this happens, the rider may veer into traffic to avoid striking the pedestrian.

Further, streets in urban areas tend to have many potholes and cracks in the pavement. If an unsuspecting biker were to hit a pothole, he or she could lose control of the motorcycle and crash. Or else the rider may be thrown from the bike and suffer serious injuries.

Although this list is not comprehensive, it could still be useful to you. Being aware of these accident-prone areas will help motorcyclists to be extra vigilant when venturing into a high-risk zone.

Our Lawyers Stand Ready to Assist

If you or your loved one experienced a motorcycle accident, remember to seek the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer. Don’t make the mistake of trying to pursue compensation for damages suffered on your own. Many people have tried that only to regret it later.

An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer will know how to perform a thorough investigation of the crash to gather facts and isolate the cause of the motorcycle accident. Your lawyer should also know how to calculate all your present and future losses to make sure you are fairly compensated. Additionally, he or she will be familiar with and know how to refute any tactics and biases used by insurance adjusters to lessen the amount of your claim.

The law firm that you choose will have a direct impact on the outcome of your claim. So make the right choice and go for Fielding Law. Our lawyers have successfully won over $100 million for our clients. We stand ready to assist you with your motorcycle accident claim. Contact us today at (877) 880-4090 to schedule a free consultation.