Motorcycles and Negligent Drivers

People who ride motorcycles have a deserved reputation for having an affinity for gallows humor about their odds in traffic. Unfortunately, there's very good reason behind this. Motorcyclists are at a much higher risk of being injured or killed in a car wreck. Their odds of actually being in a car wreck aren't any higher than any other driver's, it's simply that they are more exposed and that they're more likely to be seriously injured if they are involved in a car accident of some type. Many motorists out there don't seem to understand that motorcyclists have every right that the drivers of regular cars enjoy when they're on the highways.  

If you're a motorcyclist and you end up getting injured, there are some classic scenarios that involve negligent drivers that you should speak to an attorney about. One of the most common involves drivers who are turning left across your lane. These drivers don't see you, they turn into your path of travel and, without enough time to get clear of their car, and you end up going over their hood. If you're lucky enough to live through this accident, you're probably still going to be paying medical bills and it's very likely that your bike is going to be completely destroyed. You should speak with an attorney about such accidents as soon as possible.  

Motorcyclists also find themselves crowded out of lanes by cars all too often. In California, motorcyclists are allowed to split a lane, which means that they can travel in the space between cars that are stopped on the freeway. This is really the only exception where motorcyclists are treated differently by the law than are the drivers of four-wheeled motor vehicles in terms of how much right to have to a lane. If you're on a motorcycle, you have the right to the entire lane and, if somebody causes you to be injured because they crowded you out of it, you should speak to an attorney about negligence.  

When you're on the road and you're on two wheels, you're at a disadvantage. Legally speaking, however, you have exactly the same rights as any other driver on the road and being on two wheels doesn't mean that you are half of a vehicle by any means. If somebody who wasn't paying attention behind the wheel has injured you and it caused you to be involved in a motorcycle wreck, speak with an attorney about the matter as soon as you can.