Many Georgia residents who ride motorcycles claim they enjoy the sense of freedom the ride gives them. Unfortunately, there are many dangers associated with riding, and there are some common causes of motorcycle accidents.
Cars turning left
When a car makes a left-hand turn in front of a motorcycle, it can cause disaster. Sometimes, the driver is at fault or might not see the motorcycle because they fail to look all around them. In other cases, the motorcyclist might try to speed ahead to beat the car and travel straight.
Lane splitting
Lane splitting is a common practice among motorcyclists. It occurs when they travel between lanes in congested traffic so they can get a head-start and proceed once the light turns green. Unfortunately, in spite of it being illegal in some states, riders still do it. If they get too close to another vehicle or another driver isn’t paying attention, it can cause a motorcycle accident.
Speeding
Although riding a motorcycle can make it tempting to put the pedal to the metal and go faster, speeding is dangerous. It can easily cause an accident because the rider can quickly lose control and skid out, hit a pothole or other obstacle and even get thrown from the motorcycle. Sadly, this situation commonly results in catastrophic injuries and even fatalities.
Driving under the influence
Motorcycle accidents can also occur when the rider or the driver of another vehicle is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Regardless of who’s intoxicated, their ability to safely control their vehicle is severely diminished.
You can’t control the actions of other motorists, but you can be extra careful while riding your motorcycle to stay safer.