Accidents - Motorcycle vs Car (Myth or Madness?) : GSXR.com Forum : Suzuki GSX-R Forums

BallHawk3 · 03-15-2006, 07:34 PM

I got this off another forum. Thought it was interesting and brought a smile to my face. Hopefully, this does do us some good and we can see some changes in the near future.

Quote:

Motorcycle Vs. Car - Myth or Madness

March 13, 2006

by Landon Prescott

Motorcycle riders often get an unjustified reputation as being reckless, risk takers, and that they generally disobey traffic laws. This perception is unfounded and there are many statistics that back up the fact that most motorcycle accidents are not the fault of the motorcycle rider, but that of another driver.
A major study conducted by the University of Southern California (USC) found that approximately three-fourths of motorcycle accidents involved a collision with another vehicle, usually a passenger automobile. It was also found that in the multiple vehicle accidents, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle right-of-way and caused the accident in two-thirds of those accidents. Further the study by USC found that the failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision.

These findings go to show that the motorcycle rider has unjustly received a bad reputation from the general public as well as from insurance companies that cover motorcycle riders. Motorcycles are inherently prone to accidents caused by other drivers because of their small size. Motorcycles easily fit into the blind spot of typical passenger automobiles. The truth is that most motorcycle riders are very good drivers and keep an eye out for motorists who do not see them. This awareness of other drivers however does not prevent all accidents.

When accidents such as these happen, the insurance company of the driver who is at fault will go to great lengths to keep from giving the motorcycle rider the money he or she deserves. Insurance companies will frequently rush the victim to make a quick settlement as a way to save money. Most people in the general public are not insurance experts and do not know if they are getting a bad deal from the insurance company or not. When a check is stuck in front of them it can be quite tempting to sign.

Taking the insurance companies first offer is usually a mistake. Other times the insurance company of the other driver will try to not pay at all for the accident and resulting injuries. They often try to make it appear that the motorcycle rider was at fault in the accident. It is not hard to convince a jury of this since motorcycle riders have this unjust reputation of being less than careful.

This is why it is critically important to have a qualified and competent lawyer on your side if you find yourself the victim of a motorcycle accident. A qualified lawyer will help make sure that you get the settlement that you deserve; a settlement that will cover your medical bills as well as paying for the damage to your motorcycle. Not having a lawyer to stand up for you will cost you more than just money, it will also cause you a great deal of headaches and heartache. Trying to fight an insurance company on your own, while at the same time dealing with physical injuries can be an overwhelming task.

A qualified lawyer is the only one who will be on your side in case of an accident. A lawyer works for you and only you. The insurance company works for their shareholders and will try very hard to keep from getting you the money that you deserve.

Landon Prescott writes on topics related to insurance and health.

yellow&black04 · 03-15-2006, 08:56 PM

definately true, i cant even to begin to count how many times poeple have either cut me off or tried getting into my lane of the highway with me right there next to them, people have no idea what they're doing when it comes to driving around motorcycles, some do but most don't thats definately not myth

SimmCity · 03-16-2006, 12:53 PM

Hell yeah. Just happened to me the other day. I was splitting lanes on Lincoln and some chick in her BMW decides to try and hury up and make a left turn and instead of T-Boning her car with my girl on the back of my bike. I had no choice but to lay it down on the left side.

BallHawk3 · 03-16-2006, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimmCity

Hell yeah. Just happened to me the other day. I was splitting lanes on Lincoln and some chick in her BMW decides to try and hury up and make a left turn and instead of T-Boning her car with my girl on the back of my bike. I had no choice but to lay it down on the left side.

damn sorry to hear. This just happened? You ok man?

Chopper · 03-16-2006, 02:21 PM

There would be alot of rich riders who have had a dollar for every idiot behind the wheel who refuse to turn their heads or take a few seonds to actually look at their surroundings. I see it more and more especially with a cell phone attached to their ear.

lokorob · 03-16-2006, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chopper

There would be alot of rich riders who have had a dollar for every idiot behind the wheel who refuse to turn their heads or take a few seonds to actually look at their surroundings. I see it more and more especially with a cell phone attached to their ear.

i see this everyday almost every car i pass the dam cell phone!!!! i thought maybe having the new ear phone thingy would help, hands-free, bullshhhh!!!
its the same freakin thing... but i totally agree with the article and thread..

simmcity-- hope you and your girl came out of this one ok...

WHERE THE FREAKIN RESPECT FOR US RIDERS!!!!! ALL RIDERS!!!!!

BallHawk3 · 03-16-2006, 03:26 PM

i think you guys are missing the point....

1st its pointing out we have a bad rep for the wrong reasons. We are viewed as bad drivers/riders and reckless...but they are pointing we are safer, the accidents aren't are fault.

Also, this bad rep effects our insurance. Insurance companies are jackin' us because supposively we are "bad" drivers/riders. Or how insurance companies are so quick to blame the rider for being at fault.

lokorob · 03-16-2006, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BallHawk3

i think you guys are missing the point....

1st its pointing out we have a bad rep for the wrong reasons. We are viewed as bad drivers/riders and reckless...but they are pointing we are safer, the accidents aren't are fault.

Also, this bad rep effects our insurance. Insurance companies are jackin' us because supposively we are "bad" drivers/riders. Or how insurance companies are so quick to blame the rider for being at fault.

i get the point i was commenting on all responses.....

SimmCity · 03-18-2006, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lokorob

i see this everyday almost every car i pass the dam cell phone!!!! i thought maybe having the new ear phone thingy would help, hands-free, bullshhhh!!!
its the same freakin thing... but i totally agree with the article and thread..

simmcity-- hope you and your girl came out of this one ok...

WHERE THE FREAKIN RESPECT FOR US RIDERS!!!!! ALL RIDERS!!!!!

I caught a glimps of her before it happened and she sure as hell did have a cellphone in one hand attached to the side of her damn head. We are fine. Thank god I was actually obeying the laws with the 15 mph splitting lane rule. But what really got me was the fact that she didn't even put on her break lights till she was halfway down the block. As soon as I stopped sliding I jumped up and looked at my girl then looked at the car and she was half way down the block before I seen break lights. I took off my helmet (which never hit the ground thank god) and gloves and just wanted to punch the shit out of her! But I didn't this time