Virginia motorcyclists are some of the safest drivers on the road — and that’s because they have to be. Motorcyclists are exposed; they don’t have the protection provided by the steel frames, seat belts, airbags and other safety features that come standard on modern automobiles. Indeed, if a motorcyclist makes a mistake, gets hit by a car or gets into any kind of accident, it could fatal.
Conversely, motor vehicle drivers tend to be more cavalier — and that’s because they can afford to be. They don’t always watch the road very carefully, certainly not with the hawk-like focus of the average motorcyclist. In fact, so many car drivers are distracted by their cellphones and texting these days — even though it’s illegal — that it’s a miracle anybody gets to their destination without getting into an accident.
In addition, car drivers are usually not looking out for motorcycles, which are smaller and can easily fall out of view behind a larger automobile. This situation becomes especially dangerous at intersections, where motorists may dart out into traffic suddenly without noticing that a motorcycle is traveling directly into his or her path. This kind of scenario results in motorcycle accidents, injuries and deaths over and over again.
In order to help wake car drivers up, and bring more attention to motorcycle safety concerns, motorcyclists injured by inattentive drivers may want to pursue personal injury claims to bring more attention to this problem. The more injury claims motorcyclists pursue — and the more drivers are made to pay for their negligence in this regard — the more likely lawmakers will take notice and create stiffer legislation.
At the Dickerson & Smith Law Group, we are particularly concerned about the safety of Virginia motorcyclists. If you or a loved one have been involved in a motorcycle-related crash, we are available to help you with your claims.