Motorcyclist are one the most vulnerable user groups on the UK’s roads and accidents involving motorcyclists are often very serious and in some cases fatal.
Motorbike accidents are regularly caused by the carelessness of other road users and as part of National Injury Prevention Week, our latest blog post looks at some of the most common causes for fatal motorcycle accidents in Lincolnshire and the rest of the UK.
We hope that by highlighting some of the most common motorcycle accident causes, we can help all road users understand how to prevent some of these accidents happening in future.
What is Injury Prevention Week?
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) run an annual awareness campaign to help reform laws for injured people so that, when the worst happens, people can exercise their right to seek justice, care and fair compensation.
As proud members of APIL, we fully support this initiative.
Common causes Motorcycle Accident Statistics
Our expert personal injury solicitors are regularly contacted by motorcyclists who have been involved in serious road traffic accidents on the roads of Lincolnshire and the surrounding counties of Nottinghamshire, East Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and Norfolk.
In light of National Injury Prevention Week in August 2020 (link), we have highlighted some of the most common causes of accidents, so that people can take extra care on our County’s roads.
Failure of drivers to look
This is the single biggest cause of motorbike accidents in the UK. Despite various national TV and radio campaigns, including the governments “Think!” campaign which was launched in 1979, accidents caused by drivers failing to ensure it is safe to pull out at junctions remains the biggest and most serious cause of fatal and serious injury to bikers in 2020.
We encourage all drivers to take care at junctions and only pull out into the road after ensuring no other road users are approaching. Take your time and potentially save lives.
Drivers’ blind spots
Blind spots are areas around a car that the driver is unable to see other road users, including motorbikes. Both car drivers and motorcyclists should be aware of blind spots; car drivers should always be on the lookout for motorbikes and regularly check mirrors. Bike riders can also do more to prevent accidents by maintaining safe riding distances, leaving plenty of space between them and another vehicle. Bikers can also wear brightly coloured gear and use reflective stickers to help improve visibility.
Speed
Speed is often a factor in motorcycle accidents, whether it’s bikers or car drivers travelling too fast or vehicles pulling out at junctions who misjudge how fast other vehicles are travelling.
We can all drive more carefully and reduce the speed at which we travel.
Lincolnshire County Council are currently deciding whether the speed limit on a stretch of road on the A16 near Crowland, a crash hot-spot, should be reduced in order to prevent road traffic accidents. You can read about this story by clicking here.
Dooring
Dooring is especially common in towns and cities and is when a parked car suddenly opens its door into the road, without checking it is safe to do so. Very serious injuries can be caused as a result of the biker either crashing into the door, or swerving and losing control of their bike.
Car drivers and passengers should always ensure it is safe to open car doors when parked next to a main road and bikers should take extra care in built up areas.
Take care on Lincolnshire roads
All road users, whether motorcyclists, car drivers, cyclists or van and HGV drivers should take extra care on our County’s roads.
The roads around Lincoln, Louth, Boston, Skegness, Market Rasen, Sleaford and Scunthorpe are some of the most dangerous in the county, with the A15, A16, A17 and the A46 being particular accident hotspots for both motorcycle and car accidents.
Motorcycle Accident Solicitors Lincolnshire
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident or a road accident involving a motorcycle, you may be able to claim financial compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering and any loss of earnings you have suffered as a result of the accident.
Even if you are partly to blame for the accident, there may be grounds to pursue a successful claim for compensation. Contact Nigel Askew Solicitors today, we have many years experience in representing motorcyclists and road users in claims for compensation and are able to offer you expert legal advice today.
From our offices in central Louth in Lincolnshire, we offer all new clients a free initial consultation where we discuss the merits of your case. Call us today on 01507 609027 or submit an online form using the enquiry form to the right of this page.