Motorcycle Accident Causes

October 3, 2024 | Motorcycle Accidents

Like car accidents, most motorcycle accidents are caused by just a handful of common scenarios and behaviors. There are some key differences, though.

Compared to car accidents, motorcycle accidents are more likely to be single-vehicle crashes. About 24% of fatal motorcycle crashes involve collisions with fixed objects. Riders are more likely to lose control or crash due to speeding, road conditions, attempting a turn, and more.

Motorcycles are also difficult for other drivers to see. Inattentional blindness means a driver can fail to notice a motorcycle even when it’s in plain sight.

Whether you’re a new rider or a driver who wants to reduce the risk of causing an accident, it’s a good idea to learn about the common causes of motorcycle accidents and how they can be prevented.

Table of Contents

Speeding

Speeding is one of the top causes of car accidents, but it’s even more likely to cause a motorcycle crash. In 2021, 33% of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were speeding, compared to just 22% of passenger car drivers. Young riders between 21 and 24 years old had the highest rate of speeding at 49%.

Driving Under the Influence

It isn’t just car drivers who may cause an accident while driving under the influence. About 29% of all motorcyclists killed in a crash in 2021 were alcohol-impaired with a BAC of 0.08 or higher. 43% of riders who died in single-vehicle motorcycle crashes were intoxicated.

Motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes had the highest rate of alcohol impairment of all types of motorists at 28% compared to 24% for car drivers and 20% for truck and SUV drivers.

Arizona had a slightly lower rate of alcohol-involved motorcyclist fatalities than the national average. About 25% of riders killed in a crash had a BAC of 0.08 or higher.

Rider Inexperience

Inexperienced riders are more likely to take risks and less likely to recognize hazards and respond appropriately. Inexperience is particularly dangerous when it comes to motorcycles.

Unlike a passenger vehicle, controlling a motorcycle requires coordination and balance because it has only two wheels. A motorcycle requires precise control of the brakes, clutch, and throttle while balancing and leaning as needed to maintain stability.

Without experience, it’s easy for a rider to lose control of a motorcycle and capsize or get thrown from the bike. This often happens when the rider overcorrects or miscalculates a turn.

It’s estimated that 36% of fatal motorcycle crashes involve riders who do not have a valid motorcycle license. Riders between 25 and 29 years old are most likely to die in a motorcycle crash. These young riders have limited experience, and they accounted for almost 13% of motorcycle fatalities in 2020.

Improper Cornering

Improper cornering happens when a rider does not approach or navigate a turn correctly.

This can involve:

Approaching a turn too fast
Braking too late
Accelerating too soon
Improper turn timing
Incorrect lane position
Cornering too fast

Oversteering, understeering, or other types of poor cornering can cause a rider to lose control of the bike.

Cornering is a skill that takes time to develop. It involves a balance between steering, throttle, and brakes. The rider must choose the right cornering line to maintain traction and visibility.

A rider must understand how the lean angle affects stability and how sharply the bike can turn. Leaning too much can exceed the grip limit of the tires and cause a slide. Leaning too little can cause a wide turn.

All of these factors must also consider road conditions, the bike’s weight, the tire conditions, and more.

Reckless Driving

Motorcycle riders and other motorists can cause a crash through reckless driving behavior.

According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, there were 2,672 motorcycle crashes in the state in 2021. In 47% of these accidents (1,265), the motorcycle rider displayed no improper action.

The most common violations or dangerous behaviors by riders include:

Speeding (596, 22%)
Failure to keep in proper lane (95, 3.5%)
Following too closely (78, 3%)
Failing to yield the right-of-way (58, 2%)
Unsafe lane change (48, 1.8%)
Disregarded traffic signal (42, 1.6%)
Aggressive driving (18, 0.6%)
Improper turn (16, 0.6%)
Ran stop sign (15, 0.6%)
Drove left of center lane (15, 0.6%)
Passed in no passing zone (11, 0.5%)
Road rage (11, 0.5%)

Lane splitting is a common practice among riders that is illegal in Arizona. Lane splitting is usually recorded as failure to keep in the proper lane.

Road Hazards

A large share of motorcycle crashes are single-vehicle accidents, many of which are caused by dangerous road hazards or conditions.

This includes:

Sand or gravel on the road
Potholes
Animals
Railroad crossings
Expansion joints
Wet or slick roads

Motorcycles are more difficult to control than cars, and these hazards can easily cause accidents. Gravel, potholes, and other dangers may cause a slide or capsize, or the rider may lose control of the bike and crash into another vehicle or stationary object.

Left-Hand Turns

35% of motorcycle deaths happen in intersections. Of fatal motorcycle collisions in 2021 that involved two vehicles, the other vehicle was turning left 43% of the time while the bike was going straight, overtaking a vehicle, or passing.

Left-turn accidents are so common because:

Other drivers do not see motorcyclists
Motorists turning left are trying to judge the speed of oncoming traffic and monitor too many directions
Motorcyclists may try to pass on the left
Drivers often misjudge the speed or distance of an approaching motorcycle

Left-turn crashes are often serious. When a vehicle suddenly turns in front of your bike, you may have very little time to react. Crashing into the side of the turning vehicle usually throws the rider off their bike and causes serious injuries.

Dooring Accidents

A dooring accident happens when someone opens their car door directly in the path of an oncoming motorcycle. These accidents affect both motorcyclists and bicyclists and may be serious. A rider may have no time to react or swerve into traffic to avoid the door.

Dooring accidents are common in urban areas like Phoenix. Drivers and passengers have a duty to exercise caution when opening a car door into traffic.

Contact the Arizona Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Runion Personal Injury Lawyers Today

If you were injured in an accident in Phoenix, AZ, and need legal help, contact our Phoenix motorcycle accident attorneys at Runion Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free case review today.

Runion Personal Injury Lawyers
3200 N Central Ave Suite 1100, Phoenix, AZ 85012
(602) 600-9000