Who is at Fault in Most Motorcycle Accidents?

When motorcycle accidents happen, most people rush to blame the rider. But the facts tell us something that might be surprising: car and truck drivers cause the majority of motorcycle crashes, not motorcyclists themselves. This reality challenges widespread assumptions and highlights an important safety issue that affects bikers all year round.

Understanding Motorcycle Safety in Arizona’s East Valley

Mesa and surrounding East Valley communities see significant motorcycle traffic, both from commuters and recreational riders. Arizona’s year-round riding weather means that motorcycles share the roads constantly with other vehicles, which thereby increases the opportunities for both multi-vehicle crashes (primarily caused by other drivers) and single-vehicle crashes (primarily caused by rider error).

The area’s local traffic patterns and rapid development in Gilbert, Chandler, and Queen Creek also contribute to increased traffic density and more complex intersection designs, which can place motorcyclists in constant danger.

What Do Federal Studies Actually Tell Us About Fault?

In one recent year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the U.S. saw 31.39 motorcyclist fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, as compared to 1.13 passenger car occupant fatalities per 100 million miles. While this statistic may lead some to assume that motorcyclists therefore contributed the most to their collisions, in a landmark study that analyzed 351 crashes and 702 control cases, car and truck drivers caused approximately 64 percent of all multiple-vehicle crashes – which meant that motorcyclists only caused 36 percent of these collisions.

This data directly contradicts common stereotypes, challenging the image of reckless motorcyclists who cause accidents.

What Are the Most Dangerous Scenarios for Motorcyclists?

Some of the most common motorcycle accidents also suggest alternative causes, other than biker laziness.

Left-Turn Collisions

In one recent year, 44 percent of fatal two-vehicle crashes involving motorcycles occurred when another vehicle turned left while the motorcycle was going straight, passing, or overtaking.

In other words, nearly half of all deadly motorcycle crashes happen because a car or truck driver turns left directly into an oncoming motorcycle’s path.

Driver Detection Failures

The primary reason other drivers cause motorcycle crashes is simple: they fail to see the biker. Most multi-vehicle motorcycle accidents happen when another driver doesn’t see a motorcycle rider, a problem commonly known as “inattentional blindness.”

When Are Motorcyclists Actually at Fault?

Though motorcyclists do not cause most multi-vehicle crashes, riders may still bear responsibility in certain instances. In fact, in accidents that end up with a fatality, rider error could account for about two-thirds of those crashes.

When motorcyclists do contribute to crashes, it’s usually because they sped unnecessarily, lost control because of a wide turn or abrupt stop, drove without proper licensing and training, or even rode while under the influence of alcohol.

Why Do You Need a Motorcycle Accident in Mesa and the East Valley? 

Unfortunately, despite the evidence that motorcyclists often do not cause their own accidents, many insurance adjusters, police officers, and courts may harbor preconceived prejudice against bikers. In other words, when you try to claim compensation to cover any of the costs associated with your accident, you may face more opposition than you would if you had driven a traditional car.

This is why you need the motorcycle accident attorneys at Valley Injury Team to provide you with comprehensive legal representation. We bring years of experience to personal injury cases and have secured significant settlements for many of our clients.

You deserve fair treatment in the claims process – so whether your accident involved a left-turn collision, driver detection failure, or another factor, our legal team can help.

Get Professional Legal Support for Your Motorcycle Accident Case from Valley Injury Team

You do not need to endure the legal aftermath of your motorcycle accident alone. Get in touch with the motorcycle accident attorneys at Valley Injury Team today. Our Mesa office allows us to serve clients throughout the Phoenix area, including Mesa, Gilbert, Tempe, Chandler, Scottsdale, and Queen Creek. Reach out for a free consultation to discuss your case.