How Distracted Driving Increases the Risk of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists answer the call of the open road, but there are still drivers who don’t think they belong there. Even when drivers respect motorcyclists and are happy to share the road with them, they may unintentionally put them in danger. Not only are motorcyclists more likely to be involved in crashes, but those accidents are more likely to be severe or fatal in nature.

Distracted driving plays a role in many serious motorcycle collisions. Learn more about this trend, and if you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident in Pittsburgh, call our team at 412-253-2925 to set up a consultation now.

The Dangers of Distracted Driving

It’s no secret that distracted driving is dangerous, but that doesn’t stop millions of Americans from splitting their attention between the road, their phone, and their snacks. Any activity that takes a driver’s attention away from the road can be considered a distraction.

There are three primary types of distractions: cognitive, manual, and visual. Cognitive distractions capture a driver’s mental attention, while visual distractions engage a driver’s eyes. Manual distractions require a driver to take one or both hands off of the steering wheel. Unfortunately, some distractions tick all three boxes—for example, cell phones.

When your eyes, mind, and hands aren’t ready to respond to any changes in traffic or any unexpected obstacles, your chance of being involved in a crash goes up dramatically.

Why Motorcyclists Are Vulnerable

Unfortunately, motorcyclists are at grave risk of being hurt in a crash caused by a distracted driver. In many cases, it doesn’t matter how careful they are; they cannot make up for the negligence of someone driving a vehicle that weighs several tons more than theirs.

To start, motorcycles offer minimal protective barriers to riders. While car occupants are enclosed in a vehicle meant to protect them, motorcyclists are exposed to the elements. The most protection they have comes from their helmet and protective clothing. Any crash, even one at a low speed, could cause serious injuries.

On top of that, motorcycles are smaller and less visible than other vehicles—especially when they’re in a driver’s blind spot. Drivers are used to watching out for other cars, trucks, and SUVs on the road. It’s harder for them to notice a motorcycle unless they’re specifically looking for one. This can be disastrous if they are switching lanes or turning.

An Increased Risk of Accidents

Distracted driving ramps up the likelihood of a motorcycle crash. In these situations, the distracted driver often walks away without so much as a scratch. The motorcyclist is left to handle their injuries, their bike repairs, and time away from work.

Rear-end collisions are incredibly common among distracted drivers. Most of us have found ourselves in this situation at one point or another: you look down to grab your phone or water bottle while cruising. You look up just in time to see a car stopped in front of you. You slam your brakes and narrowly avoid a crash. 

For many distracted drivers, it’s not a near-miss; it’s a full-blown accident. These crashes can cause property damage and minor injuries for car occupants, but when the vehicle in front is a motorcycle, the rider is likely to suffer severe injuries.

Merging and changing lanes is a difficult task for distracted drivers, but at least they can generally see cars and trucks in the lane they’re trying to get to. If a motorcycle is there instead, there’s a good chance they’ll completely miss it. Instead of a smooth transition into the other lane, they may push the motorcycle into the median or knock it over, putting the rider in serious danger.

Left turns are also particularly dangerous for motorcyclists. A distracted driver may not notice an oncoming motorcycle or gravely underestimate its speed. They think they’re clear to turn, but instead, they drive directly into the motorcyclist.

These accidents are almost entirely preventable, which makes the victim’s injuries and losses even more tragic.

Injured in a Crash? Contact Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman Now

It is essential that motorcyclists fight for justice after a distracted driving accident in Pittsburgh. You shouldn’t be left to shoulder the burden of an accident on your own. Let the team at Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman help. Reach out online or call us at 412-253-2925 to schedule a case evaluation now.