Highway vs. City Motorcycle Accidents

From Highways to City Streets, Serious Motorcycle Accidents Can (and Do) Happen Anywhere

Even if you ride within your limits, the unfortunate reality is that you face risks each time you ride a motorcycle. Other vehicles present a variety of risks, and road hazards, motorcycle defects, and other issues can present risks as well.

Motorcycle accidents happen on highways and on city streets. No matter where your accident happened, if you are dealing with severe injuries from a motorcycle accident, you should talk to a lawyer about your legal rights. A lawyer who has experience representing injured riders will be able to use his or her experience to help you seek the financial compensation you deserve.

Key Differences in Crash Patterns: How and Why Most Motorcycle Accidents Happen

While all motorcycle accidents share certain similarities, there are some key differences between accidents on interstate highways and accidents on city streets and other non-interstate roads. For example, certain types of accidents are more common on highways while others are more common on city streets; and, while all motorcycle accidents can result in serious injuries, highway accidents are more likely to result in life-altering trauma.

Most Common Motorcycle Accidents on Highways

Although motorcycle accidents on highways can (and do) result from numerous different risks, some causes are more common than others. For example, crash statistics from the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) and other sources indicate that some of the most common reasons why motorcycle crashes happen on highways include:

• Dangerous high-speed lane changes
• Changing lanes without checking blind spots
• Merging without checking for oncoming traffic
• Road debris and stationary objects on the highway
• Driving over the speed limit
• Driving unsafely at slower speeds than surrounding traffic
• Hazardous road conditions due to inclement weather

These issues, among many others, can all provide grounds for injured motorcycle riders to seek just compensation after accidents on the open highway or in heavy traffic. This includes just compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other financial and non-financial losses.

Most Common Motorcycle Accidents on City Streets

Accidents in urban areas can result from numerous factors as well. But, here too, some factors are more common than others. Some of the leading causes of motorcycle accidents on city streets resulting in serious injuries for motorcyclists include:

• Rear-end collisions at intersections
• Running red lights
• Running stop signs
• Turning right on red
• Turning left in front of oncoming traffic
• Opening doors when parallel parked
• Speeding and weaving through slow-moving traffic

These are common factors in suburban and rural areas as well. When motorcycle accidents occur due to these factors—and other factors beyond motorcycle operators’ control—the at-fault parties deserve to be held fully accountable. At Dolt, Thompson, Shepherd, Conway & Stanton, PSC, we are passionate advocates for motorcycle rider safety, and we are committed to helping injury victims seek maximum compensation for their injury-related losses.

Highway vs. City Motorcycle Accidents: Documenting Your Claim for Just Compensation

Regardless of where your motorcycle accident happened, proving why the accident happened will be a critical step toward seeking the financial compensation you deserve. Here, too, there are often important differences between highway accidents and collisions on urban and rural roads.

Documenting Motorcycle Accident Claims When Crashes Happen on the Highway

In highway accident cases, the dynamics of the accident scene can make it critical to investigate promptly. Being able to rely on the police report can be especially important, as can relying on any photos or videos the rider was able to take at the scene of the accident. If a rider was recording with a helmet camera at the time of the accident, this footage could also be key evidence in support of the rider’s claim for compensation.

Documenting Motorcycle Accident Claims When Crashes Happen in the City

With motorcycle accidents in the city, investigating promptly is also extremely important. However, in many cases, additional evidence will be available as well. For example, if the accident happened at an intersection, it may have been captured by a traffic camera. Or, if it happened on a busy city street, eye witnesses may be available to testify as to what happened and why. Witnesses may have recorded the accident or its aftermath as well; and, if so, obtaining this footage could be a key step toward establishing liability.

With that said, traffic cameras can also capture motorcycle accidents on highways, and eye witness testimony can play a key role in highway accident cases as well. Cell phone records, employment records, receipts, and various other forms of documentation can also be important in all types of motorcycle accident cases. When you engage our law firm to represent you, we will conduct a comprehensive investigation focused on quickly preserving any and all evidence that is available.

Most Motorcycle Fatalities Occur in Highway Accidents

While fatal motorcycle crashes can happen anywhere, they are more likely to happen on the highway due to the speeds involved in these collisions. Along with representing riders who have suffered serious injuries due to other drivers’ negligence, we represent families after fatal accidents as well. If you need to speak with a lawyer about filing a wrongful death claim after a fatal motorcycle accident in Kentucky, we strongly encourage you to contact us for a free consultation.

Injured in a Motorcycle Accident? Contact Us for a Free Consultation Today

If you need to know more about asserting your legal rights after a motorcycle accident in Kentucky, we can help, but it is important that you contact us promptly. Call 502-244-7772 or tell us how we can reach you online to speak with an experienced attorney in confidence as soon as possible.