Most motorcyclists could avoid accidents altogether if they never had to ride alongside inattentive and careless drivers. Unfortunately, distracted drivers will always be a threat, especially in one location that forces all motorists to come together…the intersection.
Drivers can be confused by a turning lane or a traffic light and that stress can make them even more likely to overlook a motorcyclist. They can veer into a rider’s path and cause a dangerous collision. As a motorcyclist tries to recover from an injury they might also need help recovering financially. A local motorcycle accident attorney with CCD Law defending your rights can make sure you don’t foot the bill for an accident that wasn’t your fault. Contact us for a free case consultation.
Motorcycle Intersection Accident Hazards in Coeur d’Alene
The statistics support the fact that intersections are the most likely places for motorists to cause a collision. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) finds that more than 50% of accidents involving injuries and fatalities occur at crossroads.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends extra caution for riders at intersections. They confirm that most motorcycle accidents happen here.
The NHTSA also points out that one hazard for motorcyclists anywhere they ride is especially common at intersections. When careless drivers turn in the path of a rider. About one-third of multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes are a result of other motorists making this dangerous maneuver, leaving the motorcyclist with little chance to avoid an impact.
Motorcycle Accident Intersection Turning Hazards
Motorists claim to have trouble spotting motorcyclists in almost any circumstances, but when they are attempting a turn, especially a left turn, they can overlook a rider completely for some reason.
Experts believe it’s partly due to the extra stress involved when drivers approach intersections. There is traffic coming from many directions and the brain has to process many more factors at once. Drivers can get jumpy when trying to find an opening in oncoming traffic to begin their turn. With the added pressure of monitoring so many lanes of traffic and crosswalks, the brain can sometimes be tricked into only focusing on larger vehicles and block out smaller objects like motorcycles and pedestrians.
Like the left turn dangers, many of the most common threats to motorcyclists are routinely seen at intersections:
- Vehicle Turning Left – As mentioned, careless drivers can glance up and completely miss a motorcyclist coming at them. Drivers can turn their whole car’s broadside into an unavoidable obstacle for oncoming riders or riders approaching from the right.
- Unsafe Lane Changes – Intersections can leave confused drivers in the wrong lane and have them carelessly frantically switching lanes without taking a proper look for a motorcyclist beside them.
- Rearend Collisions – Drivers can be trying to interpret traffic lanes and arrows and forget to look in front of them to see a motorcyclist’s red brake light. They can fail to stop in time to avoid colliding with the rider from behind.
Compensation for Coeur d’Alene Motorcycle Accident Victims
Any of these errors in judgment by a driver can force you into a serious accident and leave you to cope with the physical and emotional pain of a severe injury. An injury can leave you in the hospital for weeks and perhaps require an even longer amount of time in rehabilitation. During this difficult period, you’ll probably have a hard time making it into your place of employment to earn a paycheck. You’ll also likely miss considerable time on your bike.
These hardships all help stress the importance of making sure the at-fault driver is held accountable for his or her actions. Then in turn, it should be up to the driver’s insurance company to come through with money for your medical bills and other financial burdens now and in the months to come.
In making a claim for damages, a local attorney can make sure you demand fair compensation for everything you’ll need to make a full recovery. This can include some factors you may not have even considered.
A civil lawsuit can help you earn an award for many, if not all of these factors:
- Hospital and recovery expenses.
- Travel expenses for each trip you make to see doctors and out-of-town specialists.
- Past and future lost earnings.
- Compensation for a lifestyle change due to a permanent physical disability.
- Physical pain and suffering.
- Emotional distress, such as depression and anxiety. Counseling and psychological services.
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
- Replacement or repair of your motorcycle.
Contact a Couer d’Alene Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
If you are the victim of a careless driver’s mistake at an intersection or anywhere else on the road, protect your rights to compensation by allowing a local motorcycle accident attorney to fight for your case. Insurance companies seem to target motorcyclists and try to blame them for any accident they are in. We won’t let that happen. You have as much right to the road as any driver and your pain and suffering won’t go ignored.
Established in Spokane in 1948, Crary & Domanico, P.S. is licensed and practices in both Washington and Idaho. We are committed to providing our clients with the absolute highest quality legal representation. If our Coeur d’Alene Motorcycle Accident Lawyers represent you for your accident case, you have our assurance that we will use our absolute best efforts to win your case. Contact us after any accident resulting in a serious injury for a free, confidential consultation and case evaluation. We will only offer you advice which is in your best interest.
