(Contributed post for our North American readers. Those in right-hand-drive countries should read “right hand turns”)
There are many reasons why motorcyclists decide to embrace the two wheeled lifestyle: from the unparalleled sense of freedom to the unmatched sense of speed, not to mention that traffic jams are a thing of the past. However, there are some downsides to riding a motorcycle, which most motorcyclists are already well aware of. They offer far less protection than cars and are less visible, which means that when motorcyclists get into accidents, those accidents are likely to be more serious.
Those two reasons are why left-hand turns are so dangerous for motorcyclists. When a motorcycle rider gets into an accident, their injuries will likely be very severe and their vehicle will likely have sustained serious damage. That is why it is important that they receive compensation to cover the expenses caused by their accident. A motorcycle accident lawyer can help any rider who is in a bad way after an accident caused by someone in a car. If you live in the Orlando area, then the matter of how an attorney can help you is explained in detail at fasigbrooks.com.
Why Are Left Hand Turn Accidents so Dangerous?
Left hand turns are not just dangerous to bike riders, they are a dangerous manoeuvre in general. Some of the reasons include the following:
- The larger A pillars in modern cars create bigger blind spots. This is slightly ironic because the larger A pillars are meant to make cars more safe, but the large blind spot can be more dangerous because they lower visibility.
- Left turns require a lot of physical and mental effort on the part of the driver. That is because they have to worry about oncoming traffic as well as any pedestrians on the road.
- The wider turning radius of left hand turns allows for faster speeds. Many drivers take advantage of this and end up colliding with cyclists or pedestrians. They may also attempt to beat traffic approaching from the opposite direction, which can result in a deadly collision if they misjudge their attempt.
All of these are reasons why left hand turns are among the most dangerous manoeuvres in driving. That is why many transportation experts spend a lot of time trying to come up with ways to make left hand turns safer for everyone.
Why Left Hand Turns are so Dangerous for Motorcyclists?
One of the reasons that left hand turns are so dangerous for motorcyclists is simply that drivers do not generally look out for motorists, so if a car is not present, a driver does not expect a motorcycle to be present either. That can lead to accidents where a car hits a motorcycle as it is passing through an intersection, passing the car, or overtaking the car. Any of those accidents can lead to severe injury for the motorcyclist; those injuries can be particularly bad because riders have far less protection than drivers do. That can lead to injuries that include the following:
- Head and brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Road rash
- Bone breaks and fractures
- Scrapes and lacerations
- Internal injuries
These injuries can all be very serious and require serious medical care. Furthermore, the rider’s bike will almost certainly be seriously damaged after the accident as well.
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Attorney If You Have Been in an Accident
Motorcyclists do not get into accidents any more frequently than car drivers do, but when they do get into an accident, the consequences are likely to be more severe. If that accident was caused by an inattentive driver making a left hand turn, then there is a very good chance that you can receive the compensation that you need to take care of any expenses caused by the accident. That is because in left hand turn accidents, the person making the left turn is more likely to be held liable. But you will need the assistance of an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer if you want that to happen, so get in contact with one as soon as possible after you have been in a motorcycle accident.