More people take to the New York roads when the warmer weather comes around. For the summer, that means road trips, going to leisure activities and traveling to destinations to gather with family and friends. Many of those on the roadways are motorcyclists.
Riders are keenly aware of the dangers they face. In general, that relates to passenger vehicles and trucks they share the road with. The chance of a collision due to a distracted driver, a speeding driver, drunk drivers and outright recklessness are substantial.
There are, however, other ways in which motorcycle accidents happen. Motorcyclists should be cognizant of them to avoid a crash.
The road itself can be dangerous for motorcyclists
In addition to warning motorcyclists of the risk of being in an accident because of other vehicles on the road, law enforcement is emphasizing items that turn up in the roadway and pose a problem for riders. The simple act of leaving grass clippings in the road can be deadly for drivers as they can skid like they are on ice.
While there are penalties for people who leave debris in the road, some are unaware of the law that they cannot do it or flout the law. Given the number of motorcycles on the road today, this is a growing problem.
According to AAA, the number of registered motorcycles has doubled in the past 20 years. Along with that, there has been a troubling increase in rider fatalities. In the U.S., there were almost 6,000 motorcyclist deaths in 2021. This was the worst total in more than 45 years. This not only impacts civilians, but it is also a problem for law enforcement motorcyclists.
After a motorcycle accident, it is essential to assess the cause
Motorcyclists enjoy the freedom of their chosen pastime. Still, the potential for severe injuries and death is high. Often, this is due to the behavior of other drivers, but there are other ways in which motorcycle accidents can happen including debris on the road.
Regardless of the cause, an auto accident can cause long-term problems. The circumstances should be analyzed to see how and why it occurred. This can also be helpful when deciding whether to pursue compensation for medical costs, lost wages and more.