Many motorcycle accidents happen when cars and trucks turn left in front of riders. They’re some of the most dangerous crashes because the motorcycle rider may have no way to avoid the crash and may be traveling at a high rate of speed during the impact. Who is at fault?
While every crash is naturally unique, experts note that the fault generally falls on the driver of the vehicle that turned. These drivers are “almost always liable” because they cut off the motorcycle and entered its traffic lane.
This happens, for instance, when a driver slows down to turn left into a driveway on a residential street. That driver has to wait until all oncoming traffic goes by before turning. However, he or she may not see the motorcycle and could turn too soon, causing a serious accident in a split second.
As with everything, there are exceptions to this rule. For instance, the motorcycle rider may be liable if they:
- Failed to stop at a stop sign.
- Ran a red light.
- Broke the speed limit by a significant amount.
However, most cases simply come back to drivers misjudging the distances or failing to see the small motorcycles at all. They then turn in front of them, blocking their path, without realizing it. In many cases, those in the cars and trucks don’t wind up with any serious injuries, but motorcycle riders can suffer life-altering injuries or even lose their lives.
If you get involved in one of these accidents and the other driver is at fault, you need to know how to seek financial compensation for medical bills and other costs.
