by 
There is definitely a high that comes from the speed and rushing wind of riding a motorcycle. The freedom of flying down the road, not contained by a vehicle, and feeling yourself being propelled forward at a pace you could never achieve on your own two feet, is incredible, and for some, addicting. However for far too many, that thrill or addiction can end horribly, and often through no fault of their own. When other drivers act irresponsibly, it is more than likely going to be the motorcyclist that ends up paying the price. Motorcycle accidents are a good reason to get in touch with a personal injury law firm, as the other driver could end up at least helping to pay for costs related to the accident.
The unfortunately high rate of motorcycle accidents
While the other driver may be struggling to find a car accident lawyer, the family of the motorcyclist may be having to find a wrongful death lawyer in the midst of their grief. Rarely when a motorcycle and just about any other vehicle collide or are otherwise involved in a crash does the motorcyclist fare well. The fact of the matter is, that although there are factors that are outside of anyone’s control, there are plenty of automobile and motorcycle accidents that absolutely could have been avoided.
In just one year, there were somewhere around 8.4 million motorcycles on the road. Of those motorcyclists, 88,000 were injured and 4,668 were killed. While this showed a 5.4% drop and a 6.4% drop respectively from the year before that, it still plainly illustrates how these motorcyclists were around 26 times more likely to be killed in a crash than passengers in cars, per each vehicle mile that was traveled. They were also five times more likely to be hurt.
How to avoid motorcycle accidents
Unfortunately, as of right now, there is no way to effectively eradicate all car and motorcycle crashes. There are far too many factors in the mix, and it is hard to imagine a way in which technology could catch up in such a way as to completely do away with 100% of the collisions or accidents that occur on the road. After all, it is not always about careless drivers or those who are intoxicated or distracted by their cell phones or other devices. Sometimes there are weather conditions that add dangers, or animals that dart out unexpectedly, or engine problems with the vehicle itself that could not have been anticipated. But there are ways to make these accidents less frequent, and that is by being aware of your surroundings as a driver, and know who you are sharing the road with.
It is very easy to get into a mindset that makes driving feel like second nature, and turning off parts of your brain that might make you more alert. However many times this means that you might only register regular vehicles on the road but possibly miss the smaller motorcycle. It is wise to drive defensively, meaning that you are constantly aware of all the other drivers on the road, and be prepared to act accordingly should one of them, say, fall asleep behind the wheel, or unexpectedly drift over into your lane. Active driving should be a must at all times, and you definitely should not toe the line of distraction to see just how many other things you can accomplish while driving. When you are behind the wheel of a car, your main objective is to get from one point to another as safely as possibly. That safety should not only concern you but also encompass everyone else on the road at that time as well.
One might argue that motorcyclists know the risks of riding such a dangerous machine and should know what the trouble could be. But wanting to ride free should not have a consequence of injury or death. If everyone makes it their responsibility to be as safe as possible, everyone get make it home as they should.
