10 Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
There has been an increase in registered motorcycles in Canada in recent years. More Canadians have seemingly taken an interest in hopping on the back of their hogs and riding off into the distance.
This might be great for motorcycle culture in Canada. But unfortunately, this increase in registered motorcycles has also led to a rise in motorcycle accidents and motorcycle-related deaths. Hundreds of people are dying on motorcycles in the country each year now.
Do you own a motorcycle in Canada? If so, learning about the causes of motorcycle accidents might help you avoid getting into a motorcycle crash anytime soon. It’ll open your eyes to the dangers that may await you when you jump on a motorcycle and start riding it around.
Here are the ten most common causes of motorcycle accidents in Canada.
1. Speed
You’ll be tempted to speed at least a little on a motorcycle. This will be especially true when you hit the open highway and there isn’t too much traffic.
But speeding is easily one of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents. When traveling at high speed on a motorcycle, you won’t have much time to react if, say, another car cuts you off. It could result in you getting into a motorcycle crash.
You should be aware of the fact that other drivers aren’t always going to see motorcycles right away and might make movements they wouldn’t otherwise make if they did see you. You must slow down at least a little to give them time to see you so that they don’t do anything that could jeopardize your safety.
2. Inexperience
As we alluded to at the beginning, there are more registered motorcycles in Canada than just a few years ago. Because of this, quite a few inexperienced motorcyclists are scattered throughout the country.
If you fall into this category, know that inexperience is another of the top causes of motorcycle accidents. You may very well make mistakes while on a motorcycle because you don’t have enough experience yet.
With this in mind, it’ll be even more critical than usual for you to recognize the causes of motorcycle accidents and steer clear of them. The last thing you want to do is speed when you don’t have much experience and pay the ultimate price.
3. Bad Weather
As we all know, the weather in Canada can fluctuate a whole lot depending on which part of the country you live in. Some parts stay on the milder side for the most part throughout the year, while other parts can get both very hot and very cold at different times of the year, with some precipitation falling throughout the various seasons.
Any time the roadways in your neck of the woods are either wet or, worse, icy, you might want to leave your motorcycle in the garage and drive around in a car instead. Wet or icy conditions can make it too dangerous to ride on a motorcycle since these types of weather can cause motorcycle accidents.
All it’ll take is one slippery patch of road for you to wipe out on your motorcycle and seriously damage yourself and your bike. It’s better to be safe than sorry when avoiding inclement weather on a motorcycle.
4. Unexpected Mechanical Issues
When you own a motorcycle, you’ll need to worry about doing more than just riding around on it. You’ll also have to take excellent care of it at all times.
From the moment you first bring a bike home, you should perform the necessary maintenance and repairs on it. If you don’t do these things, it could lead to mechanical issues that could put you in harm’s way.
A relatively minor motorcycle issue could make it unpredictable when you’re riding around on it. This issue could cause a motorcycle accident, and it could do you some real harm if you aren’t careful.
You should, of course, work to maintain and repair any vehicle you put on the road in Canada. But it’ll be extra important to maintain and repair your motorcycle since it will be the only thing standing between you and other cars and the road.
5. Poor Roadway Conditions
Potholes have become a massive problem for Canadian drivers over the last few years. Things have gotten to the point where they’re spending about $3 billion collectively each year to make repairs directly related to potholes.
And guess what? This problem isn’t going to get any better in the years to come. Many experts believe climate change could lead to even more potholes on Canadian roads.
Canadian drivers aren’t going to like to hear this, and neither will those who own motorcycles in Canada. Potholes and any other imperfections in the roads in Canada can do more than just damage motorcycles. They can also serve as one of the leading causes of motorcycle accidents.
No matter how long you’ve been riding your motorcycle for now, you always need to be on the lookout for potholes at every turn. All it’ll take is one pothole to knock you off your motorcycle and put you into a serious predicament.
You might actually want to learn about which roads in your area have the most potholes and work to avoid them entirely. These potholes can be challenging to swerve around, and since new ones are constantly appearing, it might only be a matter of time before you hit one in the wrong way if you don’t stay away from them.
6. Driving While Distracted
According to the Canadian Automobile Association, distracted driving is one of the biggest causes of auto accidents. People routinely get into accidents because they were messing around with their cell phones or fiddling with their car stereos.
Distracted driving can impact more than just those who drive cars, though. It can also take a toll on those who are on the back of motorcycles.
It’s a lot harder to pull out a cell phone and play around on it while you’re on a motorcycle, but some people will attempt to do it. They’ll also attempt to do other things on their bikes that’ll momentarily force them to take their eyes off the road.
You shouldn’t ever do anything that’ll leave you distracted on your motorcycle for even a second or two. That’s all it’ll take for you to make one wrong move that’ll lead to you getting into a motorcycle accident.
7. Consuming Alcohol or Drugs Before Driving
If you ever drink alcohol or use any drugs, whether prescription or illicit, you shouldn’t climb onto the back of a motorcycle and try to drive it. You’ll most likely be asking for trouble if you do.
If you drink too much alcohol or take certain drugs before riding around on a motorcycle, you may be breaking the law. You could face stiff fines and other penalties if you get caught riding a motorcycle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Canada.
You could also dramatically increase the chances of getting into a motorcycle accident if you’ve been drinking or using drugs before riding around on one. You aren’t going to be able to make the best decisions when this is the case, and it could result in you getting into a motorcycle crash.
It’s always best to abstain from drinking alcohol or using drugs when you know you’ll have to ride on your motorcycle after. And if you do end up drinking or using drugs, you should get a ride home after and come back for your bike later. It’ll be well worth the minor inconvenience on your part to avoid a motorcycle crash.
8. Not Watching Out for Pedestrians
You won’t need to be concerned about pedestrians when riding on the open highway on your motorcycle. But it’ll be a different story when you’re doing it in a city setting.
In these instances, there are going to be pedestrians all over the place, including some who might not necessarily follow all the rules of the road. They might choose to cross the street in between blocks as opposed to doing it at crosswalks where it’ll be safer for them to do it.
For this reason, your head will need to be on a swivel when you’re riding around in a city or even a suburb. You might need to stop at a moment’s notice to avoid hitting a pedestrian who may not be paying enough attention to what’s happening around them.
9. Physical or Mental Impairments
To get a license to ride around on a motorcycle in the first place, you’ll need to prove you’re physically able to do it. But there are certain things that might happen to you over time that can impact your ability to maneuver around on your bike safely.
For example, you might break an arm or a leg, which will affect how well you can take control of a motorcycle. You might also lose a hand or a foot, making it challenging to maintain control of a motorcycle.
Additionally, you might find that one or more of your senses will fail you as you age. For instance, your eyesight might worsen to the point where you can’t see anywhere near as good as you used to. It might make it almost impossible for you to monitor what’s going on when you’re out on the road on a motorcycle.
You’ll need to take a good, long look at these types of physical impairments and be honest with yourself about how they’ve affected you. They could turn into causes of motorcycle accidents if you try to push past them without being able to do it.
10. Difficult Left Turns
Believe it or not, one of the biggest causes of motorcycle accidents in Canada and other parts of the world is left turns. Yes, left turns!
Left turns can be difficult enough to make for those in cars, trucks, and SUVs. So you can imagine how hard it can be for those on motorcycles to make them. People on motorcycles aren’t always able to gain enough momentum to make left turns as quickly as they might think, and it can leave them open to getting into accidents.
If you’re ever in a motorcycle accident while making a left turn, you should look into who was to blame for it. If the driver who hit you caused the accident, a good motorcycle accident lawyer might be able to provide you with legal help and enable you to collect compensation.
The compensation this motorcycle accident attorney can get for you can be used to pay for things like medical bills and maybe even a brand-new motorcycle. This is a great post to read if you’ve been in a motorcycle accident that wasn’t your fault.
Avoid These Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
There will always be at least a little bit of risk associated with riding around on a motorcycle. The danger that comes along with owning a motorcycle is part of the appeal for many people. They like the thrill of knowing they’re doing something others consider too risky.
But you should do your best to maintain your safety while on a motorcycle. Knowing the common causes of motorcycle accidents and doing what you can do to avoid them could work wonders for you. It could also help keep others who share the road with you safe.
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