Single Motorcycle Accident

Single-vehicle motorcycle accidents (SVMCs) account for nearly half of all motorcycle fatalities. While many assume rider error is the only cause, these accidents often stem from a combination of rider behavior, environmental hazards, and mechanical failures.

It is a common misconception that motorcycle accidents involve another vehicle–not just the motorcycle. This is not always the case. Frequently, a motorcycle accident is the result of the motorcycle driver attempting to get out of the way of another vehicle. This could be due to the other vehicle being driven by a reckless driver, drunk driver, or a distracted driver. In an effort to avoid being hit, a motorcyclist may ultimately be involved in a Single-Vehicle Motorcycle Accident. The resulting crash does not automatically mean that the motorcycle operator was at fault.

Even when a motorcyclist has a single motorcycle collision, it is rare for the motorcyclist to escape without injury. If you have been hurt in a single motorcycle accident, or if someone you care about has been injured or killed in a single motorcycle accident, you should speak with an experienced Orange County Motorcycle Accident Attorney. The Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at SANFORD A. KASSEL, A Professional Law Corporation, serve those injured in all types of motorcycle accidents throughout Orange County, San Bernardino County, and most of Southern California. Mr. Kassel and his highly-skilled staff will fight to get you any and all benefits, damages, and sources of monetary compensation you are entitled to.

Motorcyclist died after crashing into falling tree felled by Boy Scouts  (Fox 13 News – Salt Lake City)

Riding a motorcycle comes with risks that are not usually associated with other means of transportation. All too often, drivers of other types of motor vehicles don’t properly share the road or highway with a motorcycle. It is up to the motorcycle rider to ride defensibly, to avoid being hit by drivers who may not be giving their full attention to the road.

Rider actions are the most common contributors to Single-Vehicle Motorcycle Accidents:

• Speeding: This is the primary cause of most motorcycle crashes. High speeds reduce reaction time and make it harder to navigate curves or avoid sudden obstacles.
• Alcohol And Drug Impairment: Nearly 43% of riders who died in Single-Vehicle Motorcycle Accidents in 2021 were alcohol-impaired.
• Inexperience: New riders often lack the technical skills required for complex maneuvers, such as emergency braking or cornering at high speeds.
• Distracted Riding: Using a phone, adjusting a radio, adjusting a GPS, or general inattention can lead a rider to lose control or run off the road.

In an effort to thwart an accident, a motorcycle rider may ultimately collide with other objects on the street or roadway such as:

• Buildings
• Trees
• Parked Cars
• Guardrails
• Roadway Median

In addition, Single-Vehicle Motorcycle Accidents can be caused by:

• Dangerous Roadways
• Loose Gravel
• Poor Weather Conditions
• Animals Suddenly Crossing
• Construction Zone Debris
• Debris Falling Off Trucks Onto Roadbed
• Mechanical Factors
• “Phantom” Drivers (crowding a motorcyclist off the road without ever making physical contact)