Missouri Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Missouri Motorcyce Accident Causes

One of the most common comments heard after a crash between a motorcycle and a car is that the driver never saw the motorcyclist -- or didn't see the motorcyclist until it was too late. Scientific research consistently confirms that this is a major cause of multiple-vehicle motorcycle crashes. The landmark study on causes of motorcycle accidents, the 1981 Hurt Report, found that about 50% of all motorcycle accidents were caused when a passenger vehicle violated a motorcycle's right of way. That study outright said it: "The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents." The most frequent accident configuration found in the study was a left turn by a car in front of an oncoming motorcycle.

The Hurt Report got a partial update in September of 2007, when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration came out with a report on the causes of fatal two-vehicle motorcycle crashes. That study said that multi-vehicle crashes were about 56% of all motorcycle crashes in 2005. And the vast majority of these, 89%, were two-vehicle crashes between a motorcycle and a passenger car, truck, SUV or van.

The NHTSA study didn't assign blame for these crashes. But it did look at "driver-related factors" in the crashes, and it found that 35.2% of drivers involved in motorcycle crashes failed to yield the right-of-way to the motorcycle. Another 5% were considered inattentive drivers, and 4.7% of the drivers were making improper turns. In short, recent statistics show that mistakes by drivers cause or contribute to at least 45% of motorcycle accidents. And another NHTSA study found that fully 40% of fatal multiple-vehicle motorcycle crashes were caused by the other vehicle turning left in front of the motorcycle.

Cause is harder to pin down in fatal single-vehicle motorcycle crashes. The Hurt Report found that about a quarter of motorcycle accidents were single vehicle accidents; the NHTSA puts that number at closer to 45%. The Hurt Report found that rider error caused about two-thirds of all single-motorcycle accidents, usually because of problems with speed or turning. Fatal single-motorcycle accidents almost always involved striking the roadway or some fixed object like a tree. The more training and experience a rider had, said the report, the less likely he or she was to get into an accident. In its studies, the NHTSA found that 41% of riders killed in single-vehicle crashes were legally drunk; 37% were speeding; and 25% did not have a valid license.

The conclusion is clear: A rider's chances of having a fatal single-vehicle accident go down with experience and responsible behavior. However, even the most experienced and responsible riders can't always avoid a collision with a car or truck. There are just too many drivers on the roads who don't look for or notice motorcycles until it's too late. If you or someone you care about is a victim a crash caused by an irresponsible driver, you deserve answers. The experienced motorcycle accident lawyers at Page || Cagle can provide those answers. For a free evaluation of your case, contact us using our free, confidential online consultation form, or call 1-866-620-5757 or (314) 322-8515.

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