While motorcycles are a great way for you to travel and enjoy the open road, you are highly vulnerable to the negligence of other drivers. There are many common causes of motorcycle accidents in Walterboro, but driver negligence is a primary factor.
If another driver’s negligence leaves you injured in a motorcycle accident, seeking the trusted legal guidance of an experienced motorcycle accident attorney at Whetstone Perkins & Fulda is one of the most important early steps you can take.
Risks When Riding Your Motorcycle
It is important to keep some primary risk factors in mind while riding your motorcycle. Drivers often fail to keep a lookout for motorcyclists, so they may not see you on the road. Since your motorcycle takes up less space than other vehicles, you are likely to be in another motorist’s blind spot.
You can stop more quickly than drivers of larger vehicles, leaving you more susceptible to rear-end accidents. With only two wheels, you are also more vulnerable to dangerous risk factors such as debris, poor maintenance, and the effects of bad weather. In heavy traffic, you are left with less time and space on the road to safely address these issues.
While there are definite risks associated with riding a motorcycle, every driver in Walterboro is responsible for sharing the road safely, including making the necessary accommodations for motorcyclists to avoid causing collisions.
When drivers fail to do so, they can be held directly responsible for any resulting motorcycle accidents.
What Are Examples of Driver Negligence?
Many motorcycle accidents in Walterboro are due to negligent drivers. Unfortunately, many forms of driver negligence endanger motorcyclists.
Distracted Driving
When a driver pays attention to anything other than navigating the road ahead safely, their distraction greatly increases the chances of causing a motorcycle accident.
Texting is a major distraction. In fact, while texting for only five seconds at highway speeds, drivers have their eyes off the road for about the length of a football field, ignoring their blind spots, the traffic ahead, or other conditions.
Impaired Driving
Drunk drivers often suffer from poor judgment, delayed reactions, impaired coordination, and diminished concentration, increasing the risk of impulsive behavior. For that reason, South Carolina law expressly prohibits operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol pursuant to S.C. Code § 56-5-2930.
Drunk drivers may experience a combination of these effects. However, any one of these factors endangers motorcyclists sharing the road.
Speeding
When drivers speed, especially in bad weather and road conditions, not only are they more likely to cause a motorcycle accident, but an accident is more likely to be fatal.
Aggressive Driving
Aggressive drivers take dangerous risks that increase the danger to motorcyclists in various ways, including:
- Tailgating
- Swerving on the road at high speeds
- Engaging other drivers, including honking or responding with insults and obscene gestures
- Passing on the right or on the shoulder
- Ignoring rules of the road, such as yielding the right-of-way
There are many potentially dangerous, negligent drivers on the road, which makes driving with utmost caution the best practice.
Call a Walterboro Attorney Who Understands the Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Common causes of motorcycle accidents in Walterboro are wide-ranging, and most involve some form of driver negligence. If you suffered injuries as a result of a careless driver, our well-respected motorcycle accident attorneys at Whetstone Perkins & Fulda work diligently to obtain a fair settlement and compensation that covers your losses. Learn more by contacting us online or giving us a call today.
