Motorcycle Accidents – What to Watch For and What To Avoid

Motorcycles are a great way to get to work, a great way to get around town, and a great way to travel the country. What isn’t so great is when a motorcycle accident happens.  Even minor accidents can cause a lot of damage to the bike or the rider, some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents are listed below as well as some tips on how to avoid them:

1. Road Hazards:  Gravel, Potholes, Construction, Weather Conditions, and Debris are just a few of the road hazards a motorcyclist can come across.  In some cases there is no warning until the pothole is right in front of you, or you are riding over the debris that came up out of nowhere.  Obviously road construction signs are a big heads up that give a rider some advance warning, but riding on two wheels instead of four requires looking down the road just a little farther and keeping in mind that at any time a road hazard can appear.

2. Cars and Trucks:  Unfortunately, unless you ride a motorcycle yourself, someone driving a car or a truck is really lacking the attention that should be paid to motorcycles on the road. Quite often, people on more than two wheels misjudge the speed of a motorcycle, or don’t pay attention to that small scooter that has the right-of-way making the left turn or change lanes without properly checking for other vehicles. Motorcycle riders should definitely avoid dark colored clothing at night and should probably even consider some bright colored clothing during daylight hours.  They should also make sure all their lights (headlights, turn signals, brake lights) are also in proper working condition.  Finally, motorcyclists should obey the speed limit and other traffic laws.

3. Lack of Experience:  Whether the biker is a beginner or the driver of the car is a beginner, in either case the combination of the two can be horrific for both vehicles and their drivers.  It’s important for those just beginning to ride a motorcycle to take one of the many free government sponsored safety courses and practice in familiar surroundings.  It’s equally important that young car drivers are given scenarios that involve motorcycles, so they can properly learn how to respect all vehicles on the road.

Unfortunately, accidents are called accidents for a reason, and some are just completely unavoidable.  But some simple safety steps for those driving on the road (no matter what they are driving) can prevent or minimize the affects of many motorcycle accidents.