A motorcycle rider knows the importance of being vigilant and staying focused on the road. Unfortunately, not all drivers appreciate this. Distracted driving is one of the top causes of automobile accidents in general and motorcycle crashes in particular.
By better understanding the role that distracted driving plays in causing motorcycle wrecks, the victim has the opportunity to present the strongest argument for the compensation they deserve. Count on Gill Law Firm. We have successfully advocated for the rights of Arizona personal injury victims and are prepared to go to work for you.
What Is Distracted Driving?
Put simply, anything that takes a driver’s focus away from safe operation of the vehicle is considered distracted driving. Everyone who uses public roads and highways has an obligation to drive safely and not engage in behavior that could put others in jeopardy. But distractions abound, with common examples being:
- Cell phone usage (making phone calls, texting, sending emails, etc.)
- Excessively talkative or disruptive passengers
- Eating or drinking while attempting to drive
- Personal grooming such as shaving and combing hair
- Reaching for items in the vehicle
- Listing to the radio too loudly to pay attention to the road
- Daydreaming
- Looking away, including at other traffic accidents (commonly known as rubbernecking)
The motorcyclist may be able to compile evidence of these and other distractions which led to their accident. For instance, checking cell phone records can show whether a driver was using their phone at the time of the crash. Eyewitness statements, video footage, and forensic crash analyses are other examples of evidence.
Why Distractions Are Especially Dangerous For Arizona Motorcyclists
Distracted driving puts everyone on the road at risk, but motorcyclists face inordinate danger. They lack the steel frames and other safety features of passenger vehicles and are much smaller and lighter than automobiles and trucks. A crash, even at a relatively low speed, can have catastrophic consequences.
Motorcyclists are also harder to see, especially in high traffic and poor weather conditions. Many drivers do not check their blind spots and are more conditioned for watching for other vehicles rather than motorcycle riders. Even a relatively quick distraction can cause a driver to overlook a motorcyclist in close proximity, increasing the chances of a serious accident.
How Distracted Driving Can Cause an Arizona Motorcycle Crash
When a driver is distracted, it takes very little time to become a threat to nearby motorcycle riders. Being distracted may lead to:
- Veering over into a rider’s lane and sideswiping the motorcycle
- Making a turn or lane change without seeing the rider
- Failing to anticipate a motorcyclist’s maneuvers
- Delaying the time in which to decelerate and apply the brakes
- Not seeing the motorcyclist in rear view or side view mirrors or blind spots
- Crashing into the rider from behind
Why You Need Legal Counsel
As mentioned above, there are various ways to prove a driver was distracted and caused an accident. But obtaining phone records, for instance, may require a subpoena to the cell phone carrier. An attorney is best suited to handle this.
Your lawyer can also investigate the accident scene and determine if there were witnesses or surveillance cameras which may have observed or captured the wreck. The motorcyclist may have recorded video of the crash, which may later need to be admitted in court pursuant to the rules of evidence. Finally, there are accident reconstruction experts who can analyze the crash scene and explain how it is consistent with distracted driving.
These are only some of the ways in which Gill Law Firm of Buckeye, Arizona can gather the evidence you will need to prove a distracted driver caused your crash. Find out more by reaching out to our office and starting your case today.