According to Iowa State University Institute for Transportation (InTrans), more than 8,656 motorcycle accidents have occurred on Iowa roads since 2016. At least 5.5% of these crashes have led to rider fatalities, 23.6% have resulted in significant injuries, and 40.5% have caused other injuries.
The truth is, riding a motorcycle in Iowa cities like Davenport and Bettendorf is inherently riskier than driving a regular passenger car. But why do so many motorcycle crashes happen, and, just as importantly, who can be held liable for them? In this blog, the Quad Cities personal injury lawyers at Winstein, Kavensky, and Cunningham, LLC break down the most common contributing factors in Iowa motorcycle accidents, plus what you can do if you’ve been hurt.
#1: Left-Turning Vehicles
Although other motorists turning left isn’t necessarily a cause of motorcycle accidents, statistics show that left-turning vehicles are involved in about 31.4% of multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes.
While turning vehicles aren’t automatically at fault for all left-turn accidents, it’s not uncommon for a vehicle turning left to strike a motorcyclist going straight through an intersection. Although the motorcyclist would have the right of way in this situation, other vehicles often overlook them due to their small size. In other cases, the left-turning vehicle misjudges how far away and how fast the motorcyclist is traveling.
#2: Driving Under the Influence
Driving under the influence of alcohol is a significant risk factor for motorcycle accidents in Iowa and across the United States. Alcohol consumption and/or drug use can cause impaired judgment, reduced eye, hand, and foot coordination, and increase the difficulty of multitasking, steering, or controlling your speed while driving a car or riding a motorcycle.
Data obtained from the NHTSA’s Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (FIRST) indicates that 31.6% of all fatal motorcycle accidents in Iowa between 2015 and 2019 involved at least one motorist with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over the legal limit of 0.08%. InTrans also found that 9.4% of all reported motorcycle accidents (including injury and property damage only crashes) involved a motorist who was under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or both.
#3: Losing Control of the Motorcycle
InTrans has found that approximately 29% of all motorcycle accidents in Iowa since 2016 have been precipitated by the motorcyclist losing control of their vehicle. In addition, around 18% of motorcyclist fatalities from 2015 to 2019 involved the rider leaving the roadway or hitting a curb and ending up in a ditch, culvert, or embankment.
There are many reasons why a rider might lose control of their bike, including distraction, rider inexperience, speeding, swerving to avoid a vehicle, animal, or object, wet weather, and poorly-maintained roads. Loss of control may also occur due to defective products such as faulty brakes.
#4: Speeding
Speeding was a factor in 25.9% of fatal motorcycle crashes in Iowa between 2015 and 2019. Speeding-related crashes refer to motorists who were driving over the posted speed limit and those who were racing or driving too fast for current conditions, such as heavy traffic, wet weather, reduced visibility, or a curve in the road.
If you were in a motorcycle crash in which another driver was speeding, you could be entitled to compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company. Contact WKC Law Firm today for a free consultation.
#5: Angled Collisions
Single-vehicle accidents accounted for 54.8% of motorcycle deaths between 2015 and 2019. For the remaining 45.2% of fatal motorcycle crashes, the most common type of crash with another vehicle on the road was angled collisions. Angled collisions occur when two vehicles collide at an angle between 90 degrees (also known as a T-bone accident) and 180 degrees (more commonly known as a rear-end collision).
According to FIRST, 56.1% of all fatal multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes occur because of an angled collision. Angled collisions themselves are often preceded by one vehicle changing lanes without looking. Motorcyclists are particularly susceptible to being hit from an angle because their small size means they usually end up in a bigger vehicle’s blind spot.
How An Attorney Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Davenport or Bettendorf motorcycle accident through no fault of your own, you could be entitled to significant compensation for your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering. But to ensure you get the settlement you deserve, you’ll need the guidance of an experienced motorcycle accident attorney.
At WKC Law Firm, we’ve been serving the Quad Cities for more than 50 years. Our legal team has 120 years of combined experience representing clients both in and out of the courtroom. To request your free consultation, call us at (309) 794-1515. You can also get in touch with us online via LiveChat or by filling out this form.
Should you decide to work with us, we charge no fees unless we make a financial recovery on your behalf. Call us today! Our team is also available for home and hospital visits, in addition to evening and weekend appointments.