Article: Unsecured Loads – The Risks to Motorcyclists

Arizona Motorcycle Lawyer for Unsecured Loads – The Risks to Motorcyclists

Across the streets and highways of Maricopa County, landscaping trucks trailing streams of grass clippings and dust are a familiar site. But sometimes loss of larger debris can pose a risk to other vehicles. Landscaping and construction trucks, heavy equipment movers, and even families hauling a new mattress home potentially threaten other motorists when they fail to properly secure their load.

Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable to these risks due to the exposed position of the driver and decreased maneuverability at high speeds. If you or a loved one is injured due to a collision or loss of control caused by debris for an unsecured load, an experienced Arizona motorcycle attorney can provide information and guidance to help you recover from injury and receive compensation from those responsible.

The Impact of Unsecured Loads

Each year, unsecured loads cause about 25,000 accidents in North America.  In addition to many injuries, these accidents result in approximately 80-90 fatalities. The Motorcycle Accident In-depth Study (MAIDS) reports 16% of the accidents studied involved “contaminated” roadways– meaning loose debris, gravel, or oil played some part in a collision with another vehicle or fixed object.Arizona Law: Secure Your Load

The growth of Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale, and other Maricopa County cities coupled with a large construction industry ensures cargo carrying vehicles can be found across the valley. The law recognizes the potential risk, and states in Arizona Revised Statute 28-1098.B “a person shall not operate a vehicle on a highway with a load unless the load and any covering on the load are securely fastened in a manner to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached or in any manner a hazard to other users of the highway.” Unfortunately, some drivers lack the skill to properly tie down their load, or just do not take the time. Even when drivers make the effort, cords can slip or fail due to improper maintenance.

The Risks to Motorcyclists

Unsecured loads pose several specific risks to motorcyclists due to the motorcycle’s lack of protection and decreased maneuverability at high speeds. Riders should be aware of these risks, and plan ahead whenever possible to minimize the risk of an accident caused by unsecured load.

Flying debris

One road debris accident in Arizona in 2006 caused the fatality of a driver when a piece of metal crashed through his windshield and pierced an artery near his heart. The risk of flying debris is even greater for motorcyclists because even small objects like gravel have a massive impact when striking an exposed rider. Larger low density debris, such as leaves or branches from a landscaping truck would bounce off a car, but could obstruct a motorcyclist’s vision and cause loss of control.

Failed Avoidance Maneuver

Motorcyclists know their safety relies on their ability to drive defensively and use factors such as following distance and lane position to their advantage. However, when a vehicle suddenly loses its load, a driver has barely seconds to react. The MAIDS report found that 13% of motorcycle crashes studied involved failed avoidance maneuvers. With so little time to react to another driver’s negligence, motorcyclists risk hitting the debris, skidding, or colliding with other vehicles or the embankment.

Unstable Surfaces

Motorcycles are particularly vulnerable to unstable road surfaces. Gravel, sand or dirt from construction or landscaping trucks could cause loss of stability, sliding downhill on inclined roadways, increased braking distance, or increased risk of skidding or wiping out during an avoidance maneuver.

Reactions of Other Drivers

The biggest threat to motorcyclists is still the drivers of larger vehicles who “just didn’t see them.” Sudden lane changes by other drivers put motorcyclists at risk of being clipped or sideswiped. If an inattentive driver swerves to avoid flying road debris, too often it can lead to a far more serious injury to the motorcyclist sharing the road.

Contact an Arizona Motorcycle Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident due to an unsecured load 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 http://www.azmotorcycleaccidentlawyer.com/.

 

Maricopa Association of Governments, Save Lives: Secure Your Load, 2009

MAIDS Motorcycle Accident Study: Lessons from 921 Crashes, http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/maids_motorcycle_accident_study/index.html 2009