California Injury Attorney: Preventing Rear-End Motorcycle Accidents

When you think about deadly motorcycle accidents, the first thing that comes to mind may be high-speed collisions and reckless driving. But, the truth is the majority of motorcycle accidents and injuries involve everyday crashes, such as rear-end accidents, with responsible riders. Many of these accidents and injuries can be prevented with increased driver education and awareness.

How can dangerous rear-end motorcycle accidents be avoided?

• Give motorcycles extra room to ride. You’ve probably heard you should put one car length between you and the vehicle in front of you for every ten miles-per-hour you are driving; e.g. three car lengths when driving thirty miles-per-hour. However, you should give motorcycles even more room. If you rear-end a motorcycle, the bike and the rider likely will go flying, with extremely serious consequences.
• Get rid of the distractions. A significant number of rear-end accidents occur when drivers take their eyes or their mind off of the road. When traffic stops suddenly, you need to be ready to brake. Put down your snack, your phone, and your eyelash curler. Turn down your music. Be ready to stop or slow down at any moment.
• Remember, tailgating is illegal. Even some of the most responsible drivers are guilty of tailgating, i.e. following too closely. Remind yourself that tailgating is a ticketed offense and that it presents absolutely no advantages. Tailgating doesn’t get you to your destination any faster than leaving extra space between cars.
• Keep an eye out for motorcycles. Some rear-end motorcycle accidents occur because drivers simply didn’t see the bike in front of them. Motorcycles can be hard to spot because of their small size and narrowness.

Have you been injured in a rear-end collision involving a motorcycle in Orange County? Contact the California motorcycle accident attorneys at Russell & Lazarus for a free case evaluation at (949) 851-0222.