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Why Motorcycles Are Significantly More Dangerous Than Cars
Motorcycles have always held a special place in the hearts of many of us, delivering an exhilarating sense of freedom and adventure on the open road. However, it’s essential to recognize that this treasured mode of transportation comes with its own risks and consequences that every rider should be aware of.
Types Of Accidents Motorcyclists Need To Look Out For
Motorcycle accidents occur frequently, as motorcycles are hard to see and motorcyclists face more dangerous situations than drivers in cars. Although motorcycles are dangerous, there are a few things that motorcyclists can do to decrease the risk of an accident or the risk of harm during an accident.
Common Leg Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle riders are completely exposed on the roadway, without the protections an enclosed vehicle can provide. They are vulnerable to a range of injuries to every part of the body, including the head, face, chest, abdomen, spine, hands, wrists, and arms. The most frequently injured area in motorcycle crashes is the lower extremities, as found in a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Georgia Personal Injury Attorney Offers Tips to Prevent Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle riding can be as exhilarating as it is dangerous. If you choose to ride in Georgia, it is crucial that you exercise caution at all times. Remember to ride at speeds relative to the roadway conditions and to exercise safe riding habits.
Here are a few tips about how you can prevent a serious injury motorcycle accident:
- Read your owner’s manual. It is important to have a basic understanding of how your motorcycle works and what type of maintenance it may need.
- Perform an inspection. Before hitting the roadway, check the tires, cables, lights, horn, mirrors, oil, fuel, coolant, and brakes.
Atlanta Officials Knew of Dangerous Pothole that Caused Motorcycle Crash
In December 2009, a woman was injured in an Atlanta motorcycle accident when her vehicle crashed into a large pothole. According to a My Fox Atlanta news report, documents show that the city of Atlanta had been warned of the pothole back in October 2009, two months before the crash. Officials say that a metal plate was left over the pothole, but full repairs were not made until days after the accident. The city later agreed to pay the woman injured in the crash $220,000 to settle her lawsuit.
Determining liability for an Atlanta traffic accident can be a complicated process. Potentially liable parties for a traffic accident include motorists involved in the accident, the manufacturer of a potentially defective auto part, or even the city if the accident occurred as the result of a dangerous roadway condition.
Woman Critically Injured in Columbus Motorcycle Accident
A 24-year-old woman was injured in a Georgia traffic accident involving a head-on collision between a motorcycle and an SUV. According to a WLTZ news report, the motorcycle crash occurred at Milgen Road and Milgen Court in Columbus. Officials are trying to determine if the victim’s motorcycle crossed the centerline before crashing into the SUV. She has been listed in critical condition and the SUV’s driver was hospitalized with back and neck pain. It is not clear if either motorist will face citations for the collision.
There are a number of questions that arise whenever a head-on collision occurs at an intersection. Did the accident result from a motorist drifting into oncoming traffic, or did the collision occur as the result of a dangerous left turn? Did one of the drivers fail to yield the right of way at the intersection? Did one of the drivers enter oncoming traffic while fatigued or under the influence of drugs or alcohol? Did a dangerous roadway condition contribute to the crash?
Motorcyclist Hurt in Cherokee County Crash
A 22-year-old Canton woman was injured in a Georgia traffic accident when a truck struck her motorcycle. According to a CBS Atlanta news report, the motorcycle crash occurred on GA 140 at Hickory Nut Drive in Cherokee County. Officials say a 62-year-old man was driving a Chevrolet S10 truck that struck the motorcycle and ran the female rider over. She sustained serious injuries in the crash. The truck driver remained at the scene and was not cited for the crash.
Georgia motorcycle accidents often result in serious or fatal injuries. In the year 2008, 12 percent of the people killed in Georgia traffic accidents were motorcyclists. According to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS), the 177 people killed in Georgia motorcycle accidents in the year 2008 reflects the highest highway motorcycle fatality count in 15 years. GOHS also reports that nearly a third of all fatal motorcycle crashes between the years 2004 and 2008 occurred in Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, DeKalb, and Chatham counties.
Motorcyclist Killed in Cobb County Traffic Accident
A 30-year-old man was killed and a 12-year-old boy was injured in a Georgia car accident involving a collision between a 2005 Honda CBR 600 motorcycle and a 2007 Toyota Sienna LE minivan. According to a news report in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the fatal motorcycle accident occurred at Pawnee Drive and Shawnee Lane in Marietta. Officials say the 30-year-old female driver of the minivan made a left turn into the path of the motorcycle. The motorcyclist was killed and his 12-year-old passenger suffered what appears to be a non-life-threatening injury. The driver of the Toyota has not been cited for the crash, but the investigation is ongoing.
According to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GHSA), 177 people were killed in Georgia motorcycle accidents in the year 2008. That number reflects a steady increase from the 163 fatalities suffered in 2007, the 154 fatal injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents in the year 2006, and the 144 motorcycle accident fatalities in 2005. Additionally, 5,051 registered motorcyclists were involved in accidents in the year 2008, resulting in 3,471 injuries.
Protect Motorcyclists by Sharing the Road
Motorcycle accidents can cause serious injury or even death. Often, the person who suffers the most damage in a motorcycle crash is the motorcyclist, who doesn’t have the protection that a motor vehicle affords.
Motor vehicle drivers have a responsibility to share the road with all other vehicles, including motorcycles. Here are some ways you can share the road safely with motorcyclists and help prevent serious motorcycle accidents in Georgia:
For Improved Safety in Georgia, Choose a Motorcycle That Fits You
Choosing a motorcycle that fits your body is key not only to your comfort on the road, but also to keeping maximum control over your bike, and thus being able to protect yourself as well as possible if an emergency situation or Georgia motorcycle accident occurs, according to Motorcycle.com. By keeping a few fit points in mind, you can improve your safety and enjoy your rides more.
When you sit on a bike, your toes should touch the ground well enough to allow you to balance or stand on them when the bike is at a stop. Your hands should rest on the hand grips comfortably, without straining in your shoulders, arms, or wrists, and your feet should rest on the foot pegs without straining or cramping when the motorcycle is in motion or on its stand.
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