Some of the most common Types of motorcycle accidents in Rhode Island and across the United States are set forth below. If you were injured in Motorcyle crash in Rhode Island, it is important that you retain a RI Motorcycle accident lawyer.
Rhode Island motorcycle accident lawyer
Of course, the list below is only a small sampling of the different types of bike accidents. Motorcycle accidents could also be caused by improper maintenance of a motor vehicle or chopper, speeding, faulty repairs, reckless driving, vehicle stunts, drag racing or a multitude of other causes.
Left Hand Turn crash:
When a motorcycle crash occurs with a motor vehicle turning left, the incident can cause a serious injury or even a fatality. Motorcycles could be cruising at a decent speed when crashing into an automobile turning left. If you are involved in a Rhode Island left hand turn collision, it is important that you immediately consult with an experienced RI personal injury Lawyer.
Many motorcycle, moped or motor scooter accidents in Rhode Island and Providence Plantations result from car or truck drivers not paying proper attention when making a left hand turn. In some instances the motorist is in a rush to get to an intended destination or misjudges how far the motorcycle is from the intersection. Bike accidents also frequently occur when an automobile or pickup truck hits a motorcycle when pulling out of a driveway attempting to make a left turn onto the roadway.
Motorcycle accidents can result in spinal cord injuries, paralysis, traumatic head or brain injury, herniated disk or a myriad of other serious injuries. I strongly recommend that all motorcyclists wear a helmet when operating a bike!
Distracted driving and texting and driving:
Two wheelers sharing the same roads as SUVs, vans, buses or Tractor Trailers is a recipe for disaster. This is especially the case if an 18 wheeler trucker is distracted by conversation; web surfing, cell phone, gps or other electronic device. Texting and driving car accidents and Semi Truck collisions are a major societal issue that governments are trying to come to grips with. If you are injured in a Rhode Island texting while driving auto crash then it is important that you immediately retain an East Providence or Providence area Personal Injury Attorney.
Single bike accidents
According to the NYC Injury firm Block O’toole and Murphy: “A single-bike accident occurs when the rider hits something in the road or “wipes out.” Block A single bike accident may result from road hazards, faulty equipment, ice, rainy / slick conditions, distracted driving, grooved pavement, operator inexperience or drunk / drugged driving..”
Rear end bike Accident
Rear end Motorcycle crashes are often caused by a motorist not paying proper attention to his driving responsibilities. In some cases the car driver is speeding or driving recklessly and cannot stop in time to avoid colliding with the motorcycle.
Drunk driving and stoned driving
Drunk and stoned motorists are particularly dangerous TO MOTORCYCLISTS because even a minor crash could be deadly or cause life threatening injuries. In some instances the motorcycle operator is drunk or high and cannot Safely operate the bike.
Cops: New Hope woman drunk in fatal motorcycle crash “Nancy Smith’s blood alcohol content that day was 0.288 percent, more than three times the legal limit when her SUV and Maximilliano Urzua’s motorcycle collided, killing the Ontario, Canada, man, according to police.” Philly
Sleepy or drowsy driving:
“Sleep-deprived driving is the operation of a motor vehicle while being cognitively impaired by a lack of sleep. Sleep deprivation is a major cause of motor vehicle accidents, and it can impair the human brain as much as alcohol can” Source Interstate 680 fatal motorcycle crash caused by reckless driving, CHP says Mercury news “A Walnut Creek woman said the dead motorcyclist appeared to be racing the black coupe and that the motorcyclist appeared to be doing tricks.” San jose Mercury News
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We have all seen the phrase, “objects may be closer than they appear” printed in small letters on our car side view mirrors. This is placed there for a reason. The human brain’s perception of distances, speeds and the amount of time necessary to avoid traffic collisions is a tricky thing.
A recent study conducted by Pat Delucia, coordinator of the Human Factors Psychology Program at Texas Tech University, and published in the professional journal, Current Directions in Psychological Science, these types of brain miscalculations play a crucial role in motorcycle crashes with automobiles.
Calculate speed
How does our human brain fail to calculate speed and distance and how does this contribute to motorcycle collisions? According to the study referenced above and several other similar studies, our human minds have a natural tendency to correlate size with distance. Specifically, the smaller an object is, the more our brains equate this with being farther away. This leads to critical miscalculations specifically related to bikers riding on vehicles (motorcycles) that are, on average, about 80 percent smaller than even a compact to mid-size passenger sedan.
The Left Hand Turn Auto v. Motorcycle Collision
Most Common Example – The Left Hand Turn Auto v. Motorcycle Collision: In the most common example, an automobile is stationary at an intersection waiting to turn left on a solid green signal light. Under almost all U.S. state vehicle codes, the driver of the car in this situation has a duty to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic and not initiate or continue making a turning movement unless and until there is enough distance between the auto and the oncoming vehicles. Most drivers are able to accurately predict this safe distance when looking at another vehicle that is as big or bigger than their own such as another car, truck or SUV. However, because motorcycles and their riders are so much smaller, this distance perception gets skewed. The driver perceives the motorcyclist as being farther away than they really are and / or misjudging the speed of the bike. They make a critical decision to turn left without sufficient room and the biker either collides with the passenger side of their auto or swerves to try to avoid such a collision, loses control and lays the bike down.
Why is it important to promptly consult a motorcycle accident and injury attorney following this type of incident?
Depth perception is an issue
Motorcycle accidents where depth perception is an issue usually involve a motorcycle traveling at a fairly significant rate of speed. This results in a significant impact to the motorcycle rider. Their bodies (and often times their heads in particular) strike the vehicle or the roadway or both. This can result in significant personal injuries including fractures, concussions, internal bleeding and other serious, often life-threatening trauma.
Accident reconstruction professionals
A quality personal injury attorney who routinely handles motorcycle accident and injury claims will be familiar with the physics and dynamics of this type of motor vehicle collision. They will also have experience hiring experts such as human factors and / or accident reconstruction professionals who are educated, trained and certified to analyze the issues involved and determine if the evidence shows a lack of reasonable care which the lawyer can argue to constitute legal negligence on the part of the driver who struck the motorcycle. The car operator will turn the matter of investigation and resolution of the claim over to their insurance carrier. Insurance companies have access to their own accident investigation and analysis teams whose sole job it will be to minimize the evidence in support of holding their insured liable. Without an experienced motorcycle injury lawyer to counteract these efforts, the injured biker is at a distinct disadvantage in trying to obtain maximum recovery. In some states, if it is found that a party is more than 50 percent at fault, they may be entitled to no recovery at all. In states like Rhode Island, Massachusetts and California, comparative negligence laws allow a judge or jury to reduce the total amount of money damages to any party found to be at fault for the percentage of fault for which they are deemed to have committed in the traffic accident (e.g. if the biker is 40 percent at fault, their recovery will be reduced by 40 percent).
Motorcycle collision lawyer
All of this makes it critically important to not only retain a quality motorcycle collision lawyer but, to do so promptly. Delay in retaining an attorney can lead to the loss of critical evidence at the scene such as skid marks, debris, damage to the vehicles, the testimony of witnesses and other evidence.
If a spouse or loved one is killed in a fatal motorcycle or motor vehicle accident in Rhode Island, it is important that the family retains an RI Wrongful Death Attorney with experience in accidents resulting in a fatality.
