Road Hazards Can Cause Motorcyclists to Crash

Drivers are not the only parties responsible for motorcycle crashes, as road hazards can also lead a motorcyclist to lose control and suffer injuries. Discuss what happened and your legal rights with a motorcycle accident attorney today.

Motorcycles offer many advantages that include fewer parking hassles, greater fuel efficiency, and a closer connection with the open road. Unfortunately, however, you’re also far more vulnerable to road hazards when you’re on your bike. If you’ve been injured as a result of a negligence-based road hazard, it’s time to consult with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer.

Bikers Are More Vulnerable to Road Hazards

Your bike connects you to the road with two fewer wheels than most other vehicles, which means that you are not only less securely tethered to the roadway than they are but that you must also take balance issues into careful consideration. Road hazards, however, are a fact of driving, and when you’re balancing on two wheels, they are a more significant concern. When the road hazard that leaves you injured is caused by someone else’s negligence, that person or entity may be held responsible for the damages you suffer.

Debris on the Roadway

Debris on roadways is not uncommon, but when a motorcyclist suddenly encounters dangerous debris, it can result in a motorcycle accident. While some debris is inevitable, such as falling leaves and other natural hazards, other forms of dangerous debris are sometimes the result of negligence, including in the following scenarios:

• When a truck driver fails to adequately secure his or her load, it can lead to terrifying spills.
• When motorists fail to adequately tie-down or otherwise secure a piece of furniture, an appliance, or anything else that they’re hauling, the aftermath can prove deadly for motorcyclists.
• Road construction companies are responsible for doing their important work without littering the roadway with dangerous debris. Further, they are responsible for warning motorists, including motorcyclists, about all impending dangers like equipment or any other obstacles on the road.

Rough Roads

Municipalities, counties, cities, and towns are all responsible for maintaining specific roadways in safe conditions for traffic to pass over, and this traffic includes motorcycles. When the municipality or other entity is aware that there is a safety concern, it is responsible for rectifying the issue – or at least for providing unsuspecting motorists with a warning about the upcoming concern.

Roadways that become dangerously worn, that don’t receive adequate maintenance (including clean up after fierce storms), and/or that have a height differential between lanes all increase the risk that a motorcycle accident will happen. Further, even an act such as laying gravel over pavement – without providing oncoming traffic with an adequate warning – can lead to serious motorcycle accidents. Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable to road hazards like loose gravel, which makes the roadway less secure and, therefore, more difficult to balance.

Potholes and Weather Are Two Big Dangers

The biggest danger for motorcycles is potholes, as bikes cannot absorb the shock that these cause. In addition, the motorcyclist is low to the ground and may not be able to see the potholes to avoid them. The same goes for other road hazards that the biker is not able to spot in time. They might not have the vantage point necessary to see things before they are practically right on top of them.

Motorcycles are also more susceptible to slippery roads than other drivers. Slick surfaces will cause the driver to slide, especially when making turns or changing lines. This increases the chance that they are thrown from their bike. The instant a motorcyclist loses much of their traction from slippery roads, the driver can crash and will be thrown from their bike.

Government agencies can be held liable in a lawsuit for certain road hazards. Of course, they are not guarantors of perfect road conditions, but they can face injury claims when they delay in fixing known potholes or take too long to clear ice from the road after storms. Even if you were in a one-vehicle accident, you should discuss whether you have a case for negligent maintenance of roads with your attorney.

You Need a Dedicated Motorcycle Accident Lawyer on Your Side

A road hazard can mean the difference between a safe ride and a dangerous motorcycle accident. If the road hazard that leaves you injured was caused by someone else’s negligence, a motorcycle accident lawyer with the experience, legal insight, and fortitude to help.

Mike

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