Types of Motorcycle Accidents in Tucson

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Motorcycle accidents in Arizona are much less common than all other motor vehicle crashes, but the risk of bodily harm involved in motorcycle crashes is dramatically higher. To illustrate, motorcycle crashes accounted for only 2.9% of the total 103,423 motor vehicle crashes in Arizona last year and yet 16% of all fatalities from motor vehicle crashes. Motorcycles are harder to see for other motorists and offer virtually no protection for an operator. Arizona is one out of 21 states in the U.S. that requires motorcycle riders wear helmets only if they are under a certain age, which is 18 in Arizona with no tougher local ordinances in the Tucson area. However, driving a motorcycle can be a fun and economical way to travel on Arizona roadways. Simply riding a bike in the face of these increased risks to bodily injury does not mean the victim of an at-fault party in a motorcycle crash contributed to the damages he or she suffered. The types of motorcycle accidents that occur in Arizona can vary, but the damages are consistently devastating compared to other motor vehicle crashes. Rear-end Collision. An impact that may simply result in a violent bob of the head for a motorist in a framed vehicle can instead send the operator of a motorcycle flying from his or her seat. Often, a rear-end collision with a motorcycle occurs because a motorist is driving too closely behind, which generally makes that driver liable for the subsequent injuries to the rider. Side-swipe. The vast majority of motorcycle crashes leave drivers saying the same thing: “I never saw the motorcycle coming.” Because of their much smaller size and the maneuverability switching lanes, a motorist may neglect a car’s blind spot and run into the adjoining lane. This often leads to either a side-impact that sends the motorcycle into a skid or even another motor vehicle. Side-swipes can also result in a motorcycle being run off the road. Intersections. The difficulty motorists have seeing motorcycles on the road can cause a failure to yield the right of way to an oncoming biker. This is especially dangerous at intersections, where a car or truck will proceed into an intersection as if there were no oncoming traffic at all. Often a “t-bone” occurs, where a car travelling perpendicular to a motorcycle will crash directly into the motorcycle’s side. Single Motorcycle Crashes. Even when just one motorcycle is involved in a crash, the operator may have a cause of action against another at-fault party. A single motorcycle crash can occur from hazards left in the road by a negligent party that a motorcycle cannot avoid. A product defect with the bike itself, like braking or steering, can also give rise to a lawsuit in a single motorcycle crash. Wrongful Death. Even if a loved one lost his or her life in a motorcycle crash, the underlying cause of action against the at-fault parties can still be brought by surviving spouses, parents, children, or personal representatives of the decedent’s estate according to Arizona law. The survivors of a loved one who died from a motorcycle crash can recover damages like mental anguish, burial costs, loss of lifetime earning capacity to hold an at-fault party accountable for their negligence. The process of investigating a motorcycle crash, no matter what type, is an extensive and often costly process. Enlist the services of Zinda Law Group PLLC to restore justice for the damages caused in a motorcycle crash on Arizona roadways. In their fight to recover from the parties responsible, Zinda Law Group will employ their experience dealing with motorcycle crashes in the Tucson area and help you to quickly move on with the rest of your life.