Distracted drivers cause motorcycle accidents through manual, cognitive, and visual distractions that take their attention away from the road at a critical moment. Distractions are often difficult to prove because it can be hard to find evidence showing how a driver was distracted at the time of the accident.
If a distracted driver caused a motorcycle accident and you or a loved one sustained injuries and other related damages, schedule a free consultation with Young, Reverman & Bolotin by calling 513-400-0000 to discuss your case.
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Why Motorcyclists Are Especially Vulnerable to Distracted Drivers
Distracted driving is one of the most common and serious forms of neglect among drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving led to 3,375 deaths in a recent year.
Many of these accidents involve motorcyclists, who don’t have the same level of protection as other motorists.
For example, motorcyclists don’t have the same physical protection as other vehicle drivers, usually limited to a helmet and padding. As a result, the impact of an accident can be severe, and motorcyclists can more easily lose control over their vehicles even in low-impact accidents.
Additionally, motorcyclists don’t take up as much space as other vehicles, allowing them to more easily slip into other drivers’ blind spots and generally go overlooked compared to other motorists. These factors make distracted driving especially dangerous for motorcyclists.
In the event of a motorcycle accident, check out our guide on all you need to know about motorcycle accidents, including the steps to take following an accident, the different types of motorcycle accident cases, and the importance of hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer to help with a claim or lawsuit.
Common Distractions that Cause Motorcycle Accidents
Distracted driving is among the most common factors in motorcycle accidents because of its general prevalence. Many drivers experience different types of distractions at some point on the road, with instances coming across as minor. However, even a couple of seconds of distracted driving can lead to serious accidents and fatalities.
The following are types of distracted driving that can put motorcyclists and others at risk:
Visual Distractions
One of the main forms of distracted driving is visual, causing drivers to look away from the road momentarily.
For example, a driver might experience visual distractions like:
- Text messages or notifications on a phone
- Lights or meters on the dashboard
- Radio controls or other dash controls
- Passengers in the vehicle
- Billboards, signage, and other exterior distractions
Even a brief look away from the road can cause a distracted driving accident, particularly when a vehicle is traveling at high speeds.
Manual Distractions
Another type of distraction is manual, taking the driver’s physical attention to the point where he or she no longer has his or her hands on the steering wheel. There are many types of manual distractions that can take drivers’ attention, from eating and drinking while driving and grooming to adjusting a seatbelt and adjusting dash controls.
Like visual distractions, manual distractions also often involve the use of phones while driving.
Cognitive Distractions
These distractions take a motorist’s mental attention away from the task of driving. For instance, a driver could daydream, focus on a conversation with a passenger, or think about issues affecting his or her life. While the driver might have his or her eyes on the road and hands on the steering wheel, the driver may not be aware of the vehicle’s surroundings and react in time to avoid an accident.
Challenges in Proving Distracted Drivers Cause Motorcycle Accidents
To succeed with a motorcycle accident claim or suit resulting from distracted driving, victims must be able to prove that a liable motorist caused the accident through this type of negligent behavior.
While other forms of negligence, like speeding and aggressive driving, are often more obvious, with surveillance footage, witness statements, and other sources of evidence more capably catching these acts, it isn’t as easy in the case of distracted driving.
While cell phone records detailing usage, other passengers in a vehicle, and other evidence could prove that a distraction was the cause, distractions aren’t always clear to anybody but the driver. For help collecting evidence to prove liability through distracted driving, we have a detailed guide to filing motorcycle accident lawsuits.
The attorneys here at Young, Reverman & Bolotin have plenty of experience handling motorcycle accident cases, including those involving distracted driving. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our motor vehicle accident lawyers, and find out what options are available to you.
