Motorcyclists may be hit by left-turning drivers

On Behalf of | Jul 16, 2021 | Personal Injury |

Motorcyclists always must be aware of the risks that they face from other drivers. All it takes is one mistake that someone else makes for you to find yourself in the hospital after being hit on your bike.

Perhaps the most common accident to be aware of is when a driver turns left ahead of you. Let’s look into just what makes this so dangerous.

The setup

You are driving down a two-way road. Another car is driving toward you in the other lane. That car slows down or stops as the driver plans to turn left across your lane.

The problem

There is other traffic on the road. Your bike does not stand out. The other driver thinks that the space where you’re riding is a gap between two other cars. He decides to turn through that gap to cross the street safely.

Alternatively, the driver just does not see your bike on an empty road, or he thinks that the bike is farther away than it really is due to the size.

The accident

The driver executes the turn. Without warning, there is a vehicle directly in your path. You never even slowed down because you naturally assumed they were waiting for you to go by before turning. Your bike slams into the side of that vehicle at 60 miles per hour.

The ramifications

A crash like this can have serious ramifications, including life-changing injuries. Many left-turn accidents are fatal. Even a helmet cannot fully protect you. If you get injured, you need to know how to seek compensation for your medical bills and other costs.