Top Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

The feeling of riding a motorcycle on the highway is like no other! One experiences a range of emotions, from fear to excitement. No matter how fun bike riding may be, it can be dangerous if you don’t take all the necessary precautions.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcyclists are 27 times more likely to die in an accident and five times more likely to be injured than four-wheel drivers. In 2017, motorcyclists made up 14 percent of all traffic fatalities, while the annual bike injuries increased from 82K to 88K between 2009 and 2016.

The risk of injuries and fatalities is higher for motorcyclists because motorcycles lack the steel frame protective structure and seat belts in other vehicles. So, when a motorcyclist meets an accident, they are likely to fall and hit the pavement and other objects in the surrounding area, resulting in serious injuries, especially if they were not wearing a helmet.

The most common motorcyclist accident injuries include the following:

    • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
    • Road rash
    • Facial fractures
    • Neurological damage
    • Disfigurement
    • Broken bones
    • Burns
    • Limb amputations
    • Spinal damage
    • Paralysis

These injuries can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. Depending on the severity of their injuries, victims may have to undergo multiple surgeries, be hospitalized for days or weeks, or seek physiotherapy and rehabilitation services. All of this can cost a fortune and hurt them financially. In such a situation, a victim can get help seeking financial stability and the best medical treatment to recover smoothly and with peace of mind by hiring an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in South Carolina and North Carolina.

At the Law Office of Jason E. Taylor P.C., our goal is to help you get quality treatment and set on the road to recovery without any financial constraints. Our motorcycle accident lawyer will handle every aspect of your case from day one and fight for you to get fair and full compensation for the injuries and losses incurred.

Our lawyer will thoroughly investigate your case to determine the root cause of the accident. Knowing the cause of the accident can help build a strong claim and establish liability against the responsible party. Based on our years of research and legal experience, we understand numerous factors can contribute to motorcycle accidents. Here’s a quick overview of the top causes:

  • Left Turns

The road can instantly turn into a danger zone when a car makes a left turn. Statistics show that left turns account for nearly 42 percent of all motorcycle fatalities. This usually happens when a car doesn’t adequately yield their left turn to motorcycles passing or heading straight. While turning left, misjudgments of distance and right of way errors result in crashes at intersections between cars and motorcycles. Due to the small size of motorcycles, left turn crashes are more dangerous when they’re involved.

  • Driving Under the Influence

Alcohol, drugs, and vehicles just don’t mix. Whether it is a car driver or a motorcyclist, they must be sober and pay full attention to the road to ensure their vehicle’s safe and proper operation. But, unfortunately, there is a high prevalence of intoxicated drivers across the US, and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs is one of the leading causes of motorcycle accidents in the country. Statistically speaking, 1/3 of all fatal motorcycle accidents occur because of drunk driving.

  • Opening of a Car Door

When an individual parks their vehicle on the street and then opens the door blocking the path of the oncoming traffic, an accident can occur. As the car driver/passenger fails to check the mirror or look carefully for a less visible motorcycle, the vehicle door can smash into a passing motorcyclist, thus causing severe injuries.

  • Head-on Collisions

Did you know that almost 80 percent of motorcycle accidents involve a car hitting a motorcyclist head-on? This primarily happens when the car driver:

    • Starts to turn left in front of an oncoming motorcyclist
    • Wants to pass a slower vehicle and fails to see a speeding motorcyclist
    • Drifts out from their lane and into oncoming traffic

Another reason for head-on collisions is distracted driving. Using a cell phone is one of the most dangerous practices that can lead to an accident. Other distractions include adjusting the radio, the GPS, applying makeup, or texting while driving.

  • Dangerous Road and Weather Conditions

Balanced on just two wheels, it’s not easy for a motorcyclist to maintain stability and control when the conditions on the road become unfavorable. Cracking pavement, debris, gravel, potholes, and slippery road conditions because of snow and ice can put motorcyclists at a higher risk of having an accident as they may lose control over their ride.

  • Motorcycle Defects

By law, the manufacturer of a poorly designed motorcycle or defective parts can be held liable for the accident. Some of the most common motorcycle defects include:

    • Fractures in the bike’s frame, which can result in serious accidents caused by structural failures.
    • Engine problems are when a motorcycle can stop in situations where it must keep moving because of the heavy traffic.
    • Gas leaks due to a manufacturing flaw of the fuel tank, which can result in motorcycle fires,
    • Brake failure, which can reduce your ability to stop the bike when needed.
    • Defective bike wheels, which can make the motorcycle unstable and skid.
    • Defective handlebars can cause the bike to wobble and prevent it from staying on the desired path.

Traveling on a motorcycle on the road at sunset, point of view of the driver

Seek Legal Assistance Now to Fight for a Fair Compensation

If the motorcycle accident occurred due to someone else’s negligence, then you’re entitled to seek compensation. However, the amount of compensation often depends on your case representation.

Our motorcycle accident lawyer in South Carolina and North Carolina will investigate your case in-depth to determine the cause of the accident, how it occurred and who was responsible for it. All these details, supported with relevant evidence, will help us build a strong case and justify the claim amount.

At the Law Office of Jason E. Taylor P.C., our attorneys work on every case with integrity and passion. Settling for less is not an option for us. Therefore, we are ready to go the extra mile to fight for the compensation that you deserve. For more information or legal assistance, contact us today.

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Notice of Data Security Event
Updated March 28, 2025

The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor is providing notice of an event that may affect certain individuals’ information. Although we have no indication of identity theft or fraud in relation to this event, we are providing information about the event, our response, and additional measures individuals can take to help protect their information, should they feel it appropriate to do so.

What Happened? On October 28, 2024, The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor identified suspicious activity related to our email system. We quickly took steps to investigate and determined that an unknown actor may have accessed certain emails within our email system between August 7 and November 7, 2024. We then conducted a comprehensive review of the potentially affected emails and attachments to determine what information was contained therein and to whom the information related, which was completed on February 25, 2025. Unfortunately, we were unable to verify the addresses of certain affected individuals, so we are providing this notice to ensure potentially affected individuals receive information about the event.

What Information Was Involved? The information affected may include individuals’ Social Security number, driver’s license and state ID information, financial account number, and health information.

What We Are Doing. We are notifying individuals about this matter and providing guidance about free resources that are available to assist with monitoring relevant accounts, credit reports, and how to place a fraud alert or security freeze on one’s credit file. Further, as with our typical security practices, we will continue to evaluate our policies, procedures, staff training, and technical security measures to reduce the likelihood of an event like this reoccurring.

What Individuals Can Do. We encourage you to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing your account statements and monitoring your free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. We also recommend you review the below “Steps Individuals Can Take To Help Protect Personal Information”.

For More Information. If individuals have questions about this matter, we have a dedicated assistance line with agents ready to answer their questions. Please contact our toll-free dedicated assistance line at 1-800-939-4170, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. through 9 p.m., excluding holidays. You may also write to us at The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, Attn: Compliance, P.O. Box 2688, Hickory, NC 28603.

Sincerely,

The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor

STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TO HELP PROTECT PERSONAL INFORMATION

Monitor Your Accounts

Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of their credit report.

Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit. If consumers are the victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should consumers wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.

As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a “credit freeze” on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer’s express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in a consumer’s name without consent. However, consumers should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in their credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application they make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, consumers cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on their credit report. To request a credit freeze, individuals may need to provide some or all of the following information:

1. Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
2. Social Security number;
3. Date of birth;
4. Addresses for the prior two to five years;
5. Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID card, etc.); and
7. A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if they are a victim of identity theft.

Should consumers wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Equifax Experian TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/ https://www.experian.com/help/

https://www.transunion.com/credit-help
1-888-298-0045 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800
Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016
Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094

Additional Information

Consumers may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect their personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their state attorney general. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Consumers can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Consumers have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, consumers will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and the relevant state attorney general. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.

For District of Columbia residents, the District of Columbia Attorney General may be contacted at: 400 6th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001; 1-202-442-9828; and oag.dc.gov.

For Maryland residents, the Maryland Attorney General may be contacted at: 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; 1-410-576-6300 or 1-888-743-0023; and https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/.

For New Mexico residents, consumers have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in their credit file has been used against them, the right to know what is in their credit file, the right to ask for their credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting bureaus must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to consumers’ files is limited; consumers must give consent for credit reports to be provided to employers; consumers may limit “prescreened” offers of credit and insurance based on information in their credit report; and consumers may seek damages from violators. Consumers may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active-duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We encourage consumers to review their rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by visiting www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf, or by writing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580.

For New York residents, the New York Attorney General may be contacted at: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 1-800-771-7755; or https://ag.ny.gov.

For North Carolina residents, the North Carolina Attorney General may be contacted at: 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; 1-877-566-7226 or 1-919-716-6000; and www.ncdoj.gov.

For Rhode Island residents, the Rhode Island Attorney General may be reached at: 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903; 1-401-274-4400; and www.riag.ri.gov. Under Rhode Island law, individuals have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this event.
STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TO HELP PROTECT A MINOR DEPENDENT’S PERSONAL INFORMATION

Typically, credit reporting agencies do not have a credit report in a minor’s name. To find out if a minor has a credit report or to request a manual search for a minor’s Social Security number each credit bureau has its own process. To learn more about these processes or request these services, consumers may contact the credit bureaus by phone, writing, or online:
Equifax Experian TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/help/article-list/-/h/a/request-child-credit-report/
https://www.experian.com/help/minor-request.html
https://www.transunion.com/fraud-victim-resources/child-identity-theft

1-800-685-1111 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013 P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016

To request information about the existence of a credit file in a minor’s name, search for a minor’s Social Security number, place a security freeze or fraud alert on a minor’s credit report (if one exists), or request a copy of a minor’s credit report consumers may be required to provide the following information:
● A copy of their driver’s license or another government issued identification card, such as a state identification card, etc.;
● Proof of address, such as a copy of a bank statement, utility bill, insurance statement, etc.;
● A copy of the minor’s birth certificate;
● A copy of the minor’s Social Security card;
● The minor’s full name, including middle initial and generation, such as JR, SR, II, III, etc.;
● The minor’s date of birth; and
● The minor’s previous addresses for the past two years.

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