The Most Common Types of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents occur much more often than most people realize. In fact, the Department of Motor Vehicles’ Virginia Highway Safety Office estimates that there were as many as 2,119 motorcycle accidents, in which 1,794 people were injured in Virginia in 2017 alone. Approximately 770 of those individuals sustained serious injuries and tragically, 107 lost their lives. While the number of motorcycle collisions only accounts for around 1.7 percent of all traffic accidents that occur in the state, motorcycle rider fatalities make up an alarming 12.7% of traffic fatalities.

Because these accidents tend to have such devastating consequences, it is particularly important for those who are injured in motorcycle collisions and who were not at fault for the accident, to speak with an experienced Charlotte County, VA motorcycle accident attorney who can help them seek compensation for their losses.

Broadside Accidents

Like any type of motor vehicle, motorcycles can be involved in a number of different types of collisions, but broadside accidents tend to be particularly common. Also known as side-impact, or t-bone collisions, broadside accidents occur when a motorcycle rider is struck from the side by another driver. Although broadside collisions can happen just about anywhere, most involve:

• Another driver attempting to change lanes without checking his or her blind spot; or
• A motorcycle rider entering an intersection and being struck by a vehicle traveling perpendicular to his or her motorcycle.

Broadside motorcycle accidents can almost always be attributed to:

• Inattention causing a driver to drift into a nearby lane, roll through a stop sign, or run a red light;
• A driver’s failure to yield to a motorcycle rider who has the right of way;
• Driving while intoxicated; or
• Poor visibility.

Whatever the cause, broadside motorcycle accidents usually result in serious injuries for the motorcyclist, as they are more prone to:

• Lower limb injuries, such as bone fractures in the hips, legs, and feet;
• Spinal cord injuries;
• Internal organ damage;
• Internal bleeding;
• Traumatic brain injuries;
• Soft tissue injuries; and
• Abrasions and lacerations.

If you sustained this type of serious injury in a broadside motorcycle accident, you could be entitled to compensation for your losses. Please contact our legal team to learn more.

Rear-End Collisions

Most of us associate rear-end accidents with fender benders that result in minor property damage and often allow occupants to escape without serious injury. Unfortunately, this is usually not the case when the rear-end collision in question involves a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle. This is largely due to the fact that when hit from behind, a motorcycle’s back tire is often lifted completely off the ground, potentially throwing the rider from the motorcycle entirely. Riders who are involved in these types of collisions are much more prone to head injuries, including:

• Fractured skulls;
• Traumatic brain injury;
• Broken jawbones;
• Fractured noses;
• Facial fractures, and
• Damage to the teeth.

Rib and pelvic fractures, as well as abdominal injuries, lacerations, and road rash are also common amongst motorcycle riders who are involved in rear end collisions.

Dooring Accidents

Another type of accident that is unique to cyclists and motorcycle riders are dooring collisions, which occur when a motorist, who is parked on the side of the road, suddenly opens his or her door into the path of a motorcycle rider driving towards the outside of the lane. These kinds of accidents can be extremely dangerous for motorcyclists, who may find themselves flipped over the handlebars, struck by the vehicle door, and thrown onto the road itself. Property damage, as well as injuries, are usually severe in these cases, with riders often suffering broken bones, blunt force trauma, lacerations, and road rash.

Single-Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycles are, by their very nature, more likely to skid, tip over, and slide, all of which can prove dangerous for riders. While most motorcyclists know to avoid riding when it is wet and to stay away from road paint and gravel, some road defects are unavoidable. Inferior designs, the use of improper materials during construction, and poor road maintenance resulting in dangerous curves, flooding, or potholes can all contribute to or cause a motorcycle accident, leaving riders to seek compensation from the negligent entities and third party contractors responsible for the accident.

Call Our Office to Speak with an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one were injured in a motorcycle collision, please call Charlotte County motorcycle accident attorney Herbert E. Maxey, Jr. at 434-969-4873 today to learn more about your legal options.