Arizona Motorcycle Lawyer for Head-On Car-Motorcycle Collisions
Head-on collisions, also known as frontal impacts, are among the most frightening and most dangerous types of auto accidents, especially for motorcyclists. They typically occur when a negligent driver swerves onto the wrong side of the road and collides with an oncoming vehicle.
Head-on collisions are so dangerous because the force of both moving vehicles increases the total force of the accident. A head-on collision between two vehicles traveling 50 miles per hour (MPH) is the equivalent of a vehicle hitting a stationary object at 100 MPH. While the driver of a car has a several-thousand pound vehicle to absorb this tremendous force, a motorcyclist has no such protection.
Causes of Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions can occur for a number of reasons, but almost all involve some amount of negligence on the part of one of the drivers. Frequent causes include passing without sufficient room, failure to negotiate a curve, or weaving in and out of traffic. The chances of a head-on collision are also greatly increased if the driver is impaired, such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI), or distracted, such as talking or texting on a cell phone.
Since head-on collisions are frequently the result of driver negligence, if you or someone you love has been the victim of such an accident, you should contact an attorney. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a head-on car-motorcycle collision in Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert, or elsewhere in Maricopa County, you should contact an Arizona motorcycle attorney.
Higher Risk for Motorcyclists
Head-on collisions are a special danger for motorcyclists for a number of reasons. First of all, motorcyclists are at a higher risk for all types of multi-vehicle accidents because inattentive drivers do not see them. Studies have shown that the failure of motorists to detect and react to motorcycles in time is the predominant cause of car-motorcycle accidents. In head-on accidents, a driver who is swerving or attempting to pass is less likely to see a motorcycle than another car, and is therefore more likely to have a collision.
Greater Chance of Severe Injuries or Death
In addition to the higher risk for head on collisions, motorcyclists are at higher risk for severe injuries or even death in the event of a head-on collision. Head-on collisions can frequently throw the motorcyclist over the handlebars and into the oncoming car. A head-on collision also exposes a motorcyclist's head and chest to the brunt of the impact, and these two body parts have been found to be the most deadly in motorcycle accidents. A motorcyclist will absorb the full force of the collision, which can cause traumatic injuries or death even if the motorcyclist has taken proper precautions, such as wearing a safety helmet.
Contact an Arizona Motorcycle Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been involved in a head-on car-motorcycle accident in Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler or elsewhere in Maricopa County, you should seek medical attention immediately, and it is recommended that you contact an experienced Arizona motorcycle attorney to discuss your case. For more information on motorcycle accidents in Arizona, please visit www.azmotorcycleaccidentlawyer.com/.
