Leading Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in NC
Key Takeaways
- Driver error is a leading cause of motorcycle crashes, including failures to perceive, decide, react, or understand hazards.
- Common motorcycle accident causes in North Carolina include distracted driving, speeding, impaired driving, unsafe lane changes, dangerous road conditions, and mechanical failures.
- Most North Carolina motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle, and the other driver may be responsible when their negligence causes the collision.
- Other potentially liable parties may include motorcycle or parts manufacturers, repair shops, employers, government agencies, and road contractors.
- North Carolina’s contributory negligence rule can prevent an injured motorcyclist from recovering damages if the motorcyclist is found partially at fault.
- After a motorcycle crash, preserving evidence and determining fault quickly can be important to pursuing a personal injury claim.
North Carolina is a prime destination for motorcyclists, offering varied terrain ranging from winding mountain roads and scenic foothills to coastal routes. Unfortunately, it is also a state where many motorcycle accidents occur.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), North Carolina had the fifth-highest number of motorcycle crash fatalities in the nation in a recent year.
If you’ve been hurt in a wreck, understanding the leading causes of motorcycle accidents can help you determine when you may have a potential legal claim. North Carolina law allows injured motorcyclists to seek compensation when an accident is someone else’s fault, but the state’s harsh contributory negligence law can make the legal process a challenge.
At Kornbluth Ginsberg Law Group, P.A., our legal team works to take the burden of pursuing compensation off your shoulders. With 100 years of combined experience, our proven motorcycle accident attorneys help residents in the Triangle and across North Carolina pursue maximum compensation for their injuries.
What sets Kornbluth Ginsberg apart from other firms is the relationship we build with each client. Our dedicated attorneys and staff treat you the way we would expect to be treated by a law firm — because you deserve nothing less than empathy, dignity, and honest legal representation.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
How Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Can Help
Many motorcycle collisions result in serious injuries and significant long-term costs. Obtaining compensation can be crucial to getting the resources you need to move forward.
However, North Carolina’s contributory negligence law is particularly harsh on accident victims, preventing them from recovering compensation if they are found even 1% at fault for a collision.
The skilled attorneys at Kornbluth Ginsberg Law Group, P.A. build cases designed to protect clients from unfair claims of fault and establish the other party’s liability.
We will:
- Investigate the accident
- Gather evidence to identify every at-fault party
- Identify available insurance coverage to compensate you
- Collect evidence to craft a solid motorcycle accident claim
- File your claim with the relevant insurance companies
- Represent you during settlement negotiations
- Take your case to trial, if needed, to pursue full and fair compensation for your injuries
Here’s what former client Tommy T. of Durham said about his experience with our firm:
“Professional all the way. On top of everything from the beginning, put up a long, hard fight for us. The outcome was great, better than I expected. Thanks, ladies and gentlemen, for everything.”
What Is the Primary Cause of Motorcycle Crashes in North Carolina?
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), human error is the leading cause of motorcycle accidents. In one study, the NTSB found driver error — either by the motorcycle rider or another car or truck driver — accounted for 94 percent of all motorcycle crashes.
The NTSB broke human-related errors down into four primary types:
- Perception failures – The rider or driver fails to notice a hazard or important piece of information in time. Examples include a driver not seeing an oncoming motorcycle before turning left or overlooking a rider in a blind spot. The NTSB found drivers experienced perception errors more often than motorcyclists.
- Decision failures – The driver or motorcyclist makes an unsafe or inappropriate choice to avoid a dangerous situation. Examples include unsafe lane changes, speeding, distracted driving, or following too closely.
- Reaction failures – The rider or motorcyclist perceives an impending hazard but responds poorly or not at all. Examples include overcorrections, panic braking, or failing to maneuver quickly enough to avoid a collision. Of the human errors leading to crashes, the NTSB found reaction error more common among motorcycle operators than drivers.
- Comprehension failures – The rider or driver perceives a dangerous condition but fails to understand the danger behind it. For example, a driver might see a rider in a lane next to them but misjudge the space between them, causing a sideswipe accident.
Overall, the NTSB found that other vehicle drivers accounted for more human-error crashes than motorcycle riders, particularly in multi-vehicle collisions.
The Other Most Common Motorcycle Crash Causes in North Carolina
While human error is the most common cause of motorcycle crashes, it is not the only reason.
Other motorcycle crash causes include:
- Dangerous road conditions – Potholes, loose gravel, uneven surfaces, road debris, and missing signage can create perilous situations for motorcycle operators.
- Mechanical problems – A defective or failed motorcycle component can cause a rider to lose control with little or no warning. Examples include brake failure, tire blowouts, steering or suspension problems, and sticking throttles.
- Maintenance problems – Worn tires, improperly adjusted brakes, loose chains, faulty lights, and low fluid levels can all increase the risk of a crash.
- Driving Under the Influence
- Cell Phone/Distracted Driving
How Road Conditions and Environmental Factors Increase Crash Risk
Road and weather conditions can also cause or contribute to motorcycle accidents in North Carolina. For example, some roads and intersections pose particular hazards for motorcyclists because motorcycles are less forgiving of tight turns or abrupt changes in pavement quality.
Sharp or poorly marked curves, inadequate sight distances, uneven pavement, dangerous intersection layouts, and insufficient shoulders can lead to serious accidents.
Poor traffic controls are another common road hazard. Missing, damaged, obscured, or malfunctioning lights and signs can leave riders and other motorists without the information they need to make safe decisions.
Bad weather plays a role in many motorcycle accidents. Rain, snow, ice, fog, high winds, and other adverse conditions can make motorcycle riding especially hazardous. Wet pavement reduces traction and increases stopping distances, while heavy rain and fog can reduce visibility. Strong winds can also make it more difficult for a rider to maintain stability and control.
Who Is Usually Responsible for a Motorcycle Accident?
According to the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Driver Handbook, about two-thirds of motorcycle accidents in the state involve another car, and most of the time, the other driver is at fault.
Other parties who might be responsible for a motorcycle accident include:
- The motorcycle or parts manufacturer
- A mechanic or repair shop
- A government agency or municipality
- A road construction contractor
- An employer, if the person who caused the accident was acting within the scope of their employment at the time
Motorcyclists can reduce their chances of being at fault in the event of an accident by following NCDOT motorcycle safety recommendations, including:
- Wearing a DOT- approved helmet and protective clothing
- Getting properly licensed or endorsed
- Following all traffic safety laws, including avoiding lane splitting
- Using turn signals to announce turns and lane changes
- Obeying posted speed limits
- Never drinking before riding
- Stay off your cell phone, etc.
Contact a North Carolina Motorcycle Accident Attorney
A motorcycle accident can leave you with severe injuries, expensive medical bills, lost wages, and a long recovery. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, the attorneys at Kornbluth Ginsberg Law Group, P.A. are here to help.
Our Durham office serves clients throughout Durham and the surrounding Triangle region, while our Sanford office provides Sanford and nearby communities with convenient access to experienced personal injury attorneys. We also represent injury victims throughout North Carolina.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your motorcycle accident, understand your legal options, and learn how we can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
