According to the most recent data collected by the Utah Department of Public Safety, the top five reasons people crash on Utah roads are:
- Following too closely- 23%
- Failure to yield to the right of way- 19%
- Speed too fast for conditions or speeding- 14%
- Driver Distraction- 10%
- Failed to keep in proper lane- 9%
According to the statistics listed above, it is easy to see how motorcyclists are quite vulnerable to being involved in a motorcycle verses automobile accident. Often times, when most cars try to keep a safe distance from a bike, there is that one car that will tail the motorcyclist. Is this an attempt to speed? Frequently, motorists are talking or texting on their cell phone which distracts them from the road. In fact, of all motorcycle accidents are the fault of the automobile driver. The excuse given most often to responding police officers is that they “didn’t see the motorcyclist until it was too late.” With that said, what can motorcyclists do to stay safe?
Know Your Responsibilities as a Motorcyclist
A study conducted by the University of Southern California confirmed that the predominant cause of motorcycle crashes was due to the motorist’s failure to detect and recognize a motorcycle in traffic. Tim Buch, President of Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) has created a safety manual to assist motorcyclists reduce their chances if being involved in an accident by either making their presence known or my defensively driving. This manual can be found on the Utah Department of Public Safety Homepage or you can download it by clicking on the following link: MSF. Tim Buch narrows down the responsibilities or aspects of riding that a motorcyclist can control:
- Be visible- wear protective gear that is reflective.
- Communicate your intentions by properly signaling
- Maintain an adequate space cushion- watch how close you are when following other vehicles, lane sharing, passing, or changing lanes.
- Search your path of travel 12 seconds ahead- know what is happening and what vehicles are ahead of you.
- Identify hazards- cars, hole, gravel, ice etc.
- Be prepared to act. Remember that defensive driving is not aggressive driving.
Experienced Salt Lake Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
| The attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm are not bikers. Other motorcycle accident law firms boast their legal credentials based on the fact that they are also bikers. We tout our legal credentials based on unmatched legal representation and the personal service we offer to our clients. Our lack of expertise in biking does not impair our exceptional knowledge of motorcycle and accident laws. No matter the vehicles our attorneys drive, we will provide you with the best quality legal counsel for your Utah motorcycle accident case.
Please contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation of your legal rights. The Christensen Law Firm has offices located in Draper, Bountiful, Ogden, and Orem, Utah. We limit the number of claims we take so that every case can be personally handled by one of our knowledgeable attorneys. Main office: 801-506-0800 Utah County: 801-224-2999 Davis County: 801-294-9500 |
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