How To Prevent A Motorcycle Accident In Nashville
Home to Tennessee’s only bike rally, launching in 2017, Nashville is one of the most popular destinations for motorcyclists in the Southeast. As a biker, you know how to protect yourself on the open road, riding defensively and wearing the proper gear—but that doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to avoid a motorcycle accident in Nashville.
Though motorcycle accidents are not necessarily more common than car accidents, they are inherently more dangerous due to the driver’s exposure. Here are some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents and how you can prevent them from happening.
Head-On Collisions With Other Vehicles
In regards to motorcycle accidents that involve colliding with cars, head-on collisions make up more than half of all accidents, and most of the time the car hits the motorcyclist from the front. When riding on a road with a lot of car traffic, make sure to give yourself plenty of room to maneuver your vehicle; don’t get too close or weave in and out of traffic, putting yourself more at risk for a collision.
Collisions With Cars Making Left-Hand Turns
Another common way cars collide with motorcycles is when the car driver is making a left-hand turn, usually when the cyclist is going through an intersection, trying to pass the car or attempting to overtake the car. Usually, the driver making the left-hand turn would be found responsible for this type of accident; however, if you, the motorcyclist, are found to have been speeding or in the wrong lane, you could be in danger of being found at fault.
Always stay in your lane and drive defensively—assume no other drivers see you since they likely don’t. Be prepared to use your front break anytime you see car activity that could potentially indicate turning towards you.
Riding While Intoxicated
One simple way to avoid having a motorcycle accident in Nashville? Don’t drink and ride! Alcohol is found to be at play in about 50 percent of all motorcycle collisions. Though alcohol-related accidents are far too common with other types of vehicles as well, it’s extra important that motorcyclists avoid driving while intoxicated, as these alcohol-related accidents for motorcyclists are much more likely to result in serious injury or Wrongful death than for drivers in enclosed vehicles.
Riding Sport Motorcycles
“High performance” motorcycles don’t account for most of the bikes on the road, but these sport and supersport models make up a disproportionate number of all motorcycle accidents. They are built to be lightweight with high horsepower, allowing them to achieve much higher speeds than other models—drivers of supersport bikes are four times as likely to die from a motorcycle-related collision than drivers of other models, and drivers of sport bikes are two times as likely. We’d recommend not driving these types of motorcycles, but should you choose to, it’s even more important to be wary of the rules of the road at all times.
Have A Motorcycle Accident in Nashville? Get Help
Of course, even if you do everything in your power to avoid a motorcycle accident in Nashville, you can’t control other drivers or road conditions and may find yourself in need of a personal injury lawyer. At Mitch Grimm & Associates, we have over 35 years helping clients with personal injury cases. Our personal injury expertise gives us an advantage in the courtroom. When you’ve gone through something as traumatic as a motorcycle accident, the last thing you need is to worry about your legal case—let us take care of that for you. Get your free consultation today.
