Single Motorcycle Accidents

Many motorcycle accidents happen in Southern California because a driver of a larger passenger vehicle or truck fails to see a biker, or to stop in time to avoid a collision. However, single-motorcycle accidents, meaning those in which a motorcyclist crashes into a stationary object, occur more often than you might think. In some of the cases that our Oceanside motorcycle accident attorney has handled, another driver’s negligence causes the crash even though it did not collide directly with the motorcycle. A common example is when a motorcycle rider has to swerve to avoid a negligent driver that has abruptly come into his or her path of travel. Even though there may be no contact with the negligent vehicle, it will still be held liable if the motorcycle strikes a stationary object like a guardrail, telephone, tree or another vehicle.

If you are injured in a single-motorcycle accident and you believe that another party is responsible for the crash, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can help.

How often do single-bike motorcycle accidents happen in North County and in California more generally? According to a report from Southern California Public Radio KPCC, “overall motorcycle collisions and fatalities increased 23 percent from 2003 to 2012.” Why have more motorcycle accidents taken place in recent years? For one thing, more people are buying and registering motorcycles, which means there are more bikers on the road.

The following are some statistics about motorcycle accident types listed in the report. As you will see, single-bike accidents are the second-leading cause of motorcycle fatalities in the state of California:

• 449 deadly motorcycle accidents occurred in the state of California in 2012;
• 133 accidents were broadside collisions involving another motorist (or nearly 30% of all reported motorcycle fatalities);
• 127 of those deadly accidents were classified as a single-bike accident in which a motorcyclist struck an object (or just over 28% of all reported motorcycle fatalities);
• 75 fatal crashes involved a motorcycle overturning, which was also frequently a single-bike accident (or about 17%);
• 50 deadly crashes (or 11% of all motorcycle fatalities) involved a rear-end collision with another vehicle;
• 32 deadly accidents were head-on collisions (accounting for about 7% of all fatalities); and
• 23 fatal collisions (about 5% of all reported biker deaths) were categorized as a sideswipe accident involving another motorist.

Who is responsible for a motorcyclist’s injuries sustained in a single-bike accident? The answer to that question, of course, depends upon the specific facts of the case. In some situations, as we mentioned, the motorcyclist may be at fault for the crash, and it may be that no other drivers were anywhere near the scene of the accident. However, numerous single-bike crashes happen because of another party’s negligence or harmful actions, including but not limited to:

• Distracted driving;
• Impaired driving or DUI;
• Aggressive driving;
• Drowsy driving;
• Premises liability if the road or highway was not properly maintained; and/or
• Product liability if the motorcycle had a defect that contributed to the crash.

Were you injured in a single-bike accident? A motorcycle accident lawyer in the Oceanside area may be able to assist with your case. Walton Law Firm has decades of experience and would be glad to speak with you about your case free of charge.