How Does Distracted Driving Cause Motorcycle Accidents?

What Are the Most Common Causes of Distracted Driving Motorcycle Accidents?

In an area with as much traffic congestion as the DC metro area, distracted driving can be a deadly habit. From tour buses to large trucks, our highways are filled with all different types of vehicles that may not see motorcycles if their eyes are off the road for even a few seconds. Risks to motorcyclists increase as the day goes on. A vehicle that can already be difficult to see on the road becomes even more invisible at night. That makes it even more important all drivers on the road are staying vigilant to prevent distracted driving accidents.

When you’re on the road, there is no shortage of ways you could be distracted. From eating to talking on your cell phone, distractions are difficult to handle while also trying to keep focused. This is especially true when navigating new roads you’re unfamiliar with. Unfortunately for motorcycle riders, they are more difficult to spot on the road, and therefore more susceptible In 2020, motorcycle fatalities happened 28 times more frequently than passenger car occupant fatalities according to the NHTSA.

According to the NSC, “distracting tasks can affect drivers in different ways and can be categorized as visual, manual, and cognitive distraction.” A distracted driving motorcycle accident can include all three.

Visual: This type of accident is what you commonly think of as distracted driving. Visual distractions are quite literally anything that takes your eyes off the road.
Manual: This type of distracted driving accident involves anything that takes your hands off the wheel. Maybe you’re eating or drinking, playing with the radio, adjusting your seat, monitoring backseat passengers.
Cognitive: This type of accident is when you disconnect mentally from what is happening on the road in front of you.

Here are a few of the more common distractions on the road for motorcyclists and other drivers:

Using your cell phone: This includes talking, texting, checking email, scrolling social media networks, and more. A hands-free device does not take away the distraction either.
Eating and drinking: Both of these take at least one hand off the wheel, and spills or accidents could distract you further.
Playing with the car radio or GPS: Whether you’re changing stations or trying to more clearly see a map, electronic systems in your car can be quite distracting.
Talking to passengers: This could also include monitoring backseat passengers, like young children in car seats.
Zoning out: Maybe it’s a route you’ve taken hundreds of times on your commute home that has you feeling more comfortable daydreaming on your drive home. But you can never predict who you are sharing the road with on any given day, so you have to stay vigilant and focused.
Applying or checking make-up: Whether you’re taking a quick look in the rearview mirror or digging through your console looking for a missing item, these tasks can wait until you’re safely at your destination.
Generally not looking at the road: While these are common specific examples, we all know there is no limit to what can take your eyes off the road. It could be another driver, something happening on the side of the road, animals, and more, that take your attention away.

What Should I Do If I Get Hit By A Distracted Driver?

Distracted driving is one of the greatest dangers on the road, causing thousands of car accidents and motorcycle accidents on the road each year. In 2020, there were 3,142 fatalities due to distracted driving, according to the NHTSA. You may think checking a quick text or email on your smartphone or watch is an innocent way to make the most of your drive. It’s not. The NHTSA equates the five seconds it takes reading or sending a text to driving the entire length of a football field with your eyes closed.

So what happens if you are a motorcyclist in a distracted driving accident? There are a few things you should do immediately following the motorcycle accident:

Once you are safe, call 911 for emergency assistance. Even if you don’t feel you need medical attention, you will want to ensure the accident scene is properly documented by the authorities.
Get the contact information from every single person on the scene of your distracted driving motorcycle accident. You will want the information of anyone else involved in the accident as well as any witnesses.
See a doctor. Often an accident can cause adrenaline to increase in your system, which can mask the pain from sustained injuries. Or in some cases, your injuries are internal and may take longer to show up externally. Either way, it’s imperative you get checked out by a medical professional. This will also be critical in proving your injuries during a personal injury case.
Do not admit any kind of fault to other passengers, witnesses, or the police.
Keep everything. If you have a detailed record of all of the medical attention you receive, it will help in your case. Include everything in your records, from medical bills and prescriptions to lost wages and time spent traveling to appointments.
Speak to a lawyer. Your insurance company will likely call shortly after a distracted driving motorcycle accident (or maybe you called them). Do not accept an offer from your insurance company before consulting with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer. Your insurance company doesn’t have your best interests in mind, so you’ll want to make sure you have someone fighting for you.

What Are the Most Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries?

Whether you’re on the Beltway or driving around your neighborhood, there’s always the risk of a distracted driving accident on DC, Maryland, and Virginia streets. The risks are even greater if you’re a motorcycle rider who doesn’t have the same protection as someone driving a passenger vehicle. Due to this, it’s not uncommon that a distracted driving motorcycle accident ends in injury.

Some common injuries to motorcyclists include:

Traumatic Brain Injury or skull fracture
Spinal injuries
Whiplash
Broken or fractured bones, limbs
Soft tissue damage
Road rash or scraped skin
Internal injuries
Back injuries

Should I Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

The short answer is: Yes. If you want to ensure you get proper compensation for your injuries so you can go back to living your life, you should have an experienced DC accident lawyer by your side. Distracted driving accidents in particular are far too common and can be far too destructive. They can also be hard to prove and you may need the expertise of an experienced DC distracted driving attorney to help.

If you’re a motorcycle rider in the DC metro area who has been injured due to someone else’s negligence you should not fight against big insurance companies on your own. Regardless of how good your motorcycle coverage is, your insurance company will act in their own interests. This means doing everything it can to avoid compensation for motorcycle accident victims. This is where an experienced DC, Maryland, and Virginia motorcycle accident attorney can step in.

Accidents, where one party was largely unprotected on a motorcycle, can often lead to more severe sustained injuries. Your recovery may take some time and effort and you shouldn’t do it alone.

How Can a DC Distracted Driving Motorcycle Accident Attorney Help My Case?

An experienced DC Metro area motorcycle accident attorney has the skills, experience, and connections to make your case the strongest it can be. Here are just a few things your lawyer will investigate to prove you were injured at the hands of a negligent distracted driver:

The police report
Witness statements
Cell phone logs
Video footage (CCTV, cell phone, etc.)
Admission of guilt from the other driver

Evidence found in these documents could help prove your case. But a lawyer will know better what to look for as they dig into the details of your accident. They also have expertise in understanding what you are owed. This amount can include everything from doctors’ visits to pain and suffering. Your motorcycle accident lawyer will want to evaluate:

Medical bills, lost wages (including potential future income)
Pain and suffering or impact on the quality of life
Any necessary rehabilitation or physical therapy
Wrongful death cases for family members of the deceased

At Regan Zambri Long, we have a team of experienced DC distracted driving accident and motorcycle accident lawyers who can help you recover. With years of experience, let us use our knowledge, expertise, and connections to win your case. Contact us today for a free consultation so we can discuss the specifics of your case. We only get paid if we win your case.

Regan Zambri Long Motorcycle Accident Attorneys On Your Side

If you are riding a motorcycle through DC, Maryland, or Virginia, the reality is you may find yourself traveling with distracted drivers. Maybe they didn’t see you and they veered into your lane. Or maybe they were texting and didn’t stop in time, rear-ending you at a red light. In some cases, motorcyclists are hard for other drivers to see, or it’s harder for them to anticipate their movements.

Whatever the case may be in your motorcycle distracted driving accident, we have a team of accident attorneys to make sure you are not trying to recover alone.

If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident caused by a distracted driver, an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer at Regan Zambri Long is here to help. For years, our team has been helping motorcycle accident victims. We have the winning record and determination to ensure you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.