A fender-bender between two automobiles is one thing. A fender-bender between an automobile and a motorcycle is an entirely different thing all together. This is probably why you don’t see very many motorcyclists driving around while texting or surfing the internet on their smart phones. They just can’t afford to. Indeed, a motorcyclist’s very life depends on his or her attention to safety.
However, if you look around in traffic, you will see motorist after motorist taking their eyes off the road to update their Twitter and Facebook accounts, or to send the latest meme or viral video to their friends. This, unfortunately, is the reality we live in and as much as we create laws to prevent such negligent behavior, some people will always violate those laws and endanger their fellow citizens on the road.
The fact is, car drivers aren’t as careful as motorcycle riders and they never were — even before cellphones. They are far more likely to violate the law, drive recklessly and distract themselves from the roadway than motorcycle riders are. That is because car drivers are protected by a heavy steel frame, airbags and high tech braking systems, but a motorcyclist is completely exposed to the dangerous elements they encounter in traffic.
When an inattentive motorist causes a collision with a motorcycle rider, it is truly a tragedy. Motorcyclists can suffer fatal injuries or death in the simplest of fender benders. While there is nothing we can do to turn back time and undo these awful crashes, injured motorcyclists and the families of deceased motorcyclists can hold these negligent drivers accountable by seeking justice and financial restitution under the law.
At the Dickerson & Smith Law Group, we help motorcyclists and their families pursue damages in court. If you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident caused by an inattentive or distracted driver, we may be able to help file a personal injury claim in court.