Motorcycle Accidents

There are various factors that contribute to motorcycle accidents, but most motorcycle accidents are rooted in the same cause: negligence. Our lawyers have seen the ways reckless and irresponsible behavior from other drivers can hurt innocent motorcyclists.

Specific causes for these accidents often include:

• Distracted driving: When drivers aren’t alert, they may not be able to notice motorcyclists in their blind spots or merging in front of them until it’s too late. Distracted driving is anything that takes your attention away from the road and can include texting while driving, making calls, fiddling with your GPS or radio, eating or drinking, and having conversations with others in the vehicle.
• Aggressive driving and an unwillingness to share the road: In Minnesota, motorcyclists have many of the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of vehicles, meaning drivers must respect motorcyclists they see on the road by giving them enough space. Tailgating motorcyclists or cutting them off is negligent and dangerous.
• Driving while intoxicated: Drunk driving is a major concern for everyone sharing the road with the driver. Drunk drivers are less likely to notice others around them as well as important traffic signals, and more likely to doze off at the wheel and drift into other lanes, which can put motorcyclists at risk.
• Failure to indicate a lane change with a turn signal: Drivers are expected to signal before they merge or change lanes, but many don’t. Unfortunately, this can result in harmful consequences when motorcyclists are involved. Motorcyclists may be cut off if vehicles make sudden movements without giving warning.
• Failing to check blind spots when turning or changing lanes: Drivers who fail to check their blind spots before making turns or changing lanes run the risk of striking and injuring a motorcyclist. Because of their smaller size, motorcyclists are often easily hidden in the blind spots of vehicles.