The Most Common Types of Collisions Between Cars and Motorcycles

The most common types of collisions between cars and motorcycles include blind spot collisions, lane-splitting accidents, accidents at night, and distracted driving accidents. What’s the common thread between all of these accidents? Negligence.

Negligence on the road allows accident survivors to take legal action against an offending party. If you find yourself dealing with the consequences of someone else’s inappropriate roadway behavior, you can hold them financially responsible for your recovery. 

The Phoenix car accident lawyers with Zanes Law can break down the rights afforded to you by your recent car-and-motorcycle accident by first assessing the nature of your collision.

Blind Spot Collisions

No matter how effective a car’s rearview and side mirrors are, it has blind spots. It’s easy for today’s drivers to lose track of motorcyclists who disappear into their blind spots. Unfortunately, that lack of visibility can lead to severe accidents, especially if a driver has to abruptly change lanes.

Some drivers can mitigate these accidents by signaling their intention to change lanes for longer than they think they need to. Others can rely on modern technology to alert them when a motorcyclist is in their blind spot. However, until drivers can faultlessly respond to obstacles they cannot see, motorcyclists are at risk when they are out of sight.

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Collisions at Intersections

Intersections pose a unique danger to cars and motorcycles alike. Unclear “right on red” laws can lead both parties to turn into oncoming traffic. Cars that don’t account for motorcyclists’ presence at intersections can cause devastating rear-end collisions. Likewise, motorists who don’t communicate their intentions to cross the road may side-swipe a motorcyclist.

Lane-Splitting Accidents

The term “lane-splitting” refers to a motorcyclist’s ability to ride between stopped vehicles on a road. Arizona allows motorcyclists to legally lane filter, but not lane split. Motorcyclists must take care when lane filtering, as motorists may not know how to respond to their behavior.

Likewise, disobeying Arizona’s lane filtering laws can see motorcyclists make themselves more vulnerable to accidents. Motorcyclists who want to lane filter must:

• Lane filter only on roads with a posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour or less
• Only lane filter on roads with two or more lanes
• Stop and transition back into a single lane if motorists begin to move
• Move no faster than 15 miles per hour while lane filtering
• Avoid lane filtering on freeways

What’s more, Arizona only allows vehicles with two wheels to lane filter. This means that Trikes and Slingshots may not lane filter. Likewise, motorcycles with sidecars may not lane filter.

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Nighttime Driving

Night driving severely limits visibility on the road, even when the weather is pleasant. Unfortunately, motorcyclists and motorists alike are more likely to get into severe accidents with one another when astigmatism and light flow worsen at night.

Motorcycles, in particular, become difficult to see the darker it gets. While motorcyclists can wear highly visible clothing and regularly update their lights, they still find themselves at greater risk for an accident after sunset.

Motorists who want to prevent motorcycle accidents after dark can keep their lights up to date and drive at or below the posted speed limit to compensate for the lack of visibility.

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Distracted or Intoxicated Driving

Arizona’s laws forbid all drivers from using handheld devices while driving. Unfortunately, dozens of distractions can pull a driver’s eyes away from the road, including hands-free devices. Distractions like food, music, and passengers can cause a motorist to hit an unsuspecting motorcyclist.

Likewise, drinking and legalized marijuana use can compromise a driver’s ability to respond to their peers on the road. Even if a driver engages with legal amounts of controlled substances, those substances can impact their ability to prevent roadway accidents.

What Can You Do After a Motorcycle Accident?

If you get into an accident between a motorcyclist and a car, it’s in your best interest to work with medical professionals to address your immediately pressing injuries. You can then:

Call an Insurance Company

Arizona requires all drivers in the state to maintain at least the state-approved minimum liability coverage. Because Arizona is an at-fault state, you can file an insurance claim requesting loss support with a liable party’s insurance provider.

We recommend that you have an Arizona personal injury on call while filing your insurance claim. Our team can prevent insurance claims adjusters from acting in bad faith to deny you support.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you don’t get the financial support you need to recover from an accident from an insurance company, you can sue the party responsible for your crash. Our experienced personal injury lawyers can help you file a claim before your statute of limitations expires.

Let an Experienced Attorney Help You Recover From a Collision Between a Car and a Motorcycle

Accidents between motorcyclists and cars can prove devastating for all parties involved. Should you find yourself dealing with losses sustained in such an unequal collision, you can call for help. The Phoenix personal injury attorneys with Zanes Law can help you hold a negligent party responsible for your recovery.

Our experienced investigators can return to the scene of your accident to gather the evidence needed to bring a personal injury case against an offending party. Our efforts in and out of the courtroom can help you secure the funds you need to pay your bills. Are you ready to learn more? Contact our team to book your FREE personal injury case evaluation.

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