There are obvious risks in life and there are hidden ones. The risks that are hard to spot are the ones that can keep us awake at night. It’s hard to imagine having to wake up with the knowledge that one could have prevented a serious injury or a death, but that is often the case for a driver who has struck a motorcycle.
Motorcycles are agile vehicles, with greater acceleration and maneuverability than any car or truck with four wheels. But they are also harder to see, especially when they are seen from head-on. Even the profile view can be deceptive and requires a second look to clear it before a turn.
When it comes to driving behind a motorcycle, a decent stopping distance is the best preventative measure. The “four-second rule” is a good way to provide this. If a driver is passing something on the side of the road less than four seconds after a motorcycle in front of him, he is probably too close.
Rain and snow always have the potential to increase stopping distances, so it’s important to drive slower and leave greater spaces between vehicles in these and other foul weather conditions. Since most motorcycle accidents happen near intersections and involve turns, drivers should always look twice before turns.
Victims of motorcycle accidents and the estates of people killed while biking may have a case for financial damages if a driver was liable for the damage, injury or death involved in a crash. An attorney can help review this possibility to see if it is a good pursuit.