Common Causes of Florida Motorcycle Accidents
While it’s certainly possible for a motorcyclist to be in an accident due to their own negligence, many accidents are caused by drivers in other vehicles or trucks. Some of the main causes of motorcycle accidents include:
Distracted Drivers
Motorcycle riders aren’t the only ones at risk by a distracted driver. This is one of the leading causes of accidents across the nation. Motorcycles are hard enough to spot on the road as is, but if you are more distracted by something else going on, the risk of striking a motorcycle rises. Some drivers are distracted by text messages, changing the radio station, reading the GPS, eating, and more.
Traffic Offenses
Even drivers who are not distracted can disobey traffic laws. This can include driving at a speed higher than the posted speed limit, failure to stop at a red light or stop sign, improper lane changes, not yielding the right of way, driving too fast for conditions, etc. When drivers fail to obey traffic laws, they put others at risk, including motorcycle riders.
Drunk Drivers
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a major risk to everyone else on the road, including pedestrians and motorcycle riders.
Aggressive Drivers
Some people are aggressive drivers by nature, and some don’t like motorcycle riders to begin with. This behavior may translate into the aggressive driver taking his or her frustrations out on the motorcyclist.
In some cases, the accident is not necessarily the fault of another driver. If you are riding your motorcycle and you crash due to the failure of a part on your bike, you may have a product liability claim. This would be a claim presented against the manufacturer of the part and maybe even the manufacturer of the motorcycle. When important parts fail because they are defective, the motorcycle rider can easily lose control and be involved in a serious collision.
Another thing that motorcycle riders have to watch out for is road hazards. Motorcycles handle differently than other vehicles. Hitting or driving over something like a large pothole could cause them to lose control of their bike.