Don’t Count On The Right Of Way

Posted in Car Accidents,Motorcycle Accidents,Our Blog on August 15, 2016

If you’re a motorcycle rider in Louisiana, just having the right of way doesn’t mean you’re going to avoid an accident. It’s important to know when you have the right of way, of course, but you must remember that you’re still potentially in danger if other drivers violate it.

One study found that an incredible two-thirds of motorcycle crashes, at least when multiple vehicles were involved, where caused by the other driver. That driver violated the bike’s right of way, directly and quickly causing the wreck, even though the biker did nothing wrong.

For example, this could happen if a driver doesn’t see you and turns left in front of you. On a two-way road, that means that the car turning left is going to completely cross your lane as it turns, if you’re driving toward one another. This is one of the most dangerous situations for a biker on the roads today.

Another key thing to keep in mind is that an accident is typically far more dangerous on a motorcycle, no matter who was at fault. It was found in one report that a motorcycle rider was 26 times more likely than someone in a car to be killed in a wreck. The study also found the person on the bike was 5 times as likely to suffer from various injuries, even if both parties survived.

Things are not getting better on this front. Since 1999, the fatalities in cars and trucks have been dropping steadily. However, the fatality rate for those on motorcycles is more than twice what it was back then.

When another driver violates the right of way and causes a wreck, you need to know what options you have to seek compensation. This is also true for the families of those who are killed.