It is shaping up to be a beautiful weekend following a stretch of heavy rain in Central Iowa signaling the start of the motorcycle season. Every year there are a number of accidents involving motor vehicles and motorcycles, underscoring the importance of driver awareness and defensive driving on the part of motorcyclists. To avoid accidents, riders should pay special attention to the most frequent causes of motorcycle accidents to avoid trouble:
· Head-on collisions account for most of the accidents involving cars and motorcycles. Stay alert and dress in bright colors to be seen.
· Cars making left hand turns at intersections or as motorcycles are passing them pose a real danger to bikers. Defensive driving is key.
· Lane splitting occurs when a motorcycle drives between two lanes of stopped or slowly moving cars. Unsuspecting motorists may pull out in front of a motorcycle causing injury.
· Motorcycle speeding & driving are activities that are incompatible with safe motorcycle operation and should be avoided.
· Motorcycles striking fixed objects like light fixtures or road hazards such as potholes or uneven pavement.
Oftentimes, in accidents involving various motor vehicles and motorcycles, motorists just don’t see motorcycles. In fact, more than 50 percent of motorcycle – vehicle crashes occur when the driver simply does not notice the motorcycle. Because of the risks, traffic safety experts are asking motorcyclists to be part of the solution by riding ‘bright’. They believe the number of motorcycle injury and fatality accidents could be reduced if motorcyclists become more conspicuous in order to be better seen and, therefore, safer.
As the motorcycle season gets underway in Iowa, motor vehicle operators should remain vigilant for motorcyclists and those operating motorcycles should take extra measures to be seen. ‘Neon orange’ could well be the ‘new black’ for the 2017 motorcycle season.
If you or a family member is injured in a Iowa motorcycle accident, contact the Des Moines Personal Injury Law Offices of Stoltze & Stoltze PLC for immediate assistance at 515-244-1473.
