What Are the Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?

May 19, 2022 · 3 min read

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 80 percent of motorcycle accidents result in injury or fatality. The high rate of injury and fatality is attributable to the motorcycle structure, where the rider and the passenger are not covered as it is with cars. For survivors, motorcycle crashes can lead to severe, life-altering injuries such as spinal cord injury, head injury, and traumatic brain injury. Motorcycle crashes may occur due to the negligence of another party, such as a motorist. If you suspect your motorcycle accident resulted from the carelessness of another party, file a motorcycle accident claim. Through the claim, you can recover damages for property damage, lost wages, medical expenses, permanent disability, pain, and suffering. While the compensation can greatly vary depending on crash severity, work with a reputable motorcycle injury attorney to maximize reimbursement for your claim. To avoid getting involved in a motorcycle crash, you need to understand what causes these accidents and how to avoid them. Learn the top causes of motorcycle accidents.

Inexperienced Riding

Inexperienced riding is one of the top causes of motorcycle accidents. NHTSA reports that in 2019, 30 percent of riders involved in fatal accidents did not have valid motorcycle licenses. For amateurs, driving too fast, making unsafe moves, or attempting risky stunts can quickly turn into a crash. Also, some people will just start riding without getting training first. An untrained motorcyclist can endanger their life and the lives of other road users. Before getting on the road, every motorcycle rider should get adequate training and learn how to operate motorcycles, gauge conditions, and manage different situations. If you haven't completed your motorcycle classes, finish your classes before you hit the road. And if you're a newly licensed rider, avoid risky behaviors such as speeding, which increases the odds of an accident.

Lane Splitting

Lane splitting is where a motorcycle rider rides between lanes of still or slow-moving cars. Lane splitting is illegal in most states, but riders continue to risk their lives in this unlawful act. Lane splitting is especially perilous to inexperienced motorcyclists. Lane splitting is very dangerous since riders are less visible to drivers, and collisions are almost unavoidable due to the limited space between rider and vehicle. For instance, a collision is harder to avoid if a driver or passenger unknowingly opens a car door while a rider is lane splitting at high speed. As a motorcyclist, avoid lane splitting completely to protect yourself against related crashes.

Left Turns

One of the leading causes of motorcycle versus vehicle collisions is left-hand turns by cars. In most cases, left-turn accidents are fatal especially when a motorcyclist speeds. Common situations when these accidents occur include when the rider is passing, moving straight, or overtaking another vehicle. Most motorists misjudge the rider's speed and distance, make a left turn, and cause the accident. To avoid left-turn accidents, keep your eyes on the road and maintain a safe distance from any car that appears about to take a turn. Also, observe vehicles waiting at an intersection, traffic gaps, and vehicles driving into a parking lot.

Road Conditions

Most riders overlook roadway conditions, unaware they could easily cause a crash. While a motorist might fail even to notice some road conditions, the same elements can cause a major motorcycle crash. These conditions include roadway defects such as potholes, lack of road signs, poorly lit roads, lack of guardrails or dividers, poorly designed intersections, and sand, debris, or loose gravel on the road. As a rider, always evaluate the road conditions and develop a safe plan to ride in the situation. While some causes of motorcycle accidents are avoidable, others are beyond riders' control. If you're a motorcycle crash victim, work with a reputable attorney to receive maximum compensation. Contact us at Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney for legal guidance and representation in your motorcycle accident claim.

Jul 16, 2026

How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth in Nevada?

After a crash in Reno, NV, you have the right to get compensation for your losses and damages from anyone who was at fault. Many people start this process by asking "how much is my car accident claim worth,” but it's not possible to put a number on your case without knowing the details. Talk to a lawyer as soon as you can, and keep reading to learn about the main elements that will shape the number. How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth in Reno, NV? The value of your claim is going to depend heavily on several factors, the four most important of which are: Liability Total damages Comparative negligence Skill and experience of your lawyer 1. Liability Liability is determined by who was negligent. Negligence happens when someone doesn't act the way a reasonable person in that situation would to protect themselves or others. In car wrecks, liability often comes down to asking, "Who failed to perform their duty towards other road users by failing to follow the laws or acting unreasonably?” If you can show someone was speeding, ran a red light, was driving distracted, or similar, you can usually hold them liable. 2. Total Damages Your damages break down into two categories: economic and non-economic. Economic These are the concrete financial losses, like medical expenses, lost wages from missed work, lost earning capacity if you can't return to the same job or hours because of your injuries, and property damage. These are the foundation of your claim. Non-Economic Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and any lasting changes to your daily activities or relationships belong in this group. There is no fixed formula that automatically applies for calculating these. It all depends on the severity of your injury, how long recovery takes, whether the effects are permanent, and how the injury has altered your normal routine. It also depends on your attorney: a good attorney will know how to calculate this fairly and argue for it effectively. 3. Comparative Negligence Nevada uses the 50% comparative negligence rule, and that can affect your claim. So long as you're not more than 50% at fault, you can claim compensation, but your claim will get reduced by the same amount as your fault. So if you're found to be 15% at fault and are owed $23,000 in compensation, you'd end up with about $19,550. It's very important to have a lawyer if you have some fault in the incident, as your lawyer can make sure you're protected from any attempt to call you more at fault than you are. 4. Your Lawyer It matters whether your lawyer is experienced in personal injury cases and skilled at: Gathering evidence and putting it together clearly and effectively Negotiating with insurers and understanding their tactics for minimizing claims Dealing with the red tape of the Nevada legal system Arguing and winning in court, if needed To get the help your claim needs, visit Bradley Drendel & Jeanney in Reno, NV now or call us at 775-335-9999 for a free consultation. We've been protecting Nevada personal injury victims for over 70 years.

Aug 27, 2026

What Should You Do Immediately After a Truck Accident?

After a truck accident involving a large commercial vehicle, the things you choose to do (or forget to do) can have a big effect on your future claim. Here's what to do after a truck accident in Carson City, NV. What to Do After a Truck Accident in Carson City, NV Check for Injuries Check yourself and everyone in your vehicle for injuries the moment the vehicles stop, and remember that adrenaline can easily mask pain, broken bones, or internal injuries for a time, so always get checked out later even if you feel fine at the moment. If anyone feels dizzy, has neck pain, or struggles to breathe, help them stay still and wait for help unless there's a life-threatening emergency, such as a car fire. Call 911 right away so police and emergency medical crews can respond. If your car can still move and the roadway is unsafe, pull as far off the travel lanes as possible. Talk to First Responders When officers reach the scene, give them a factual account of what you saw and felt. Stick to the sequence of events and don't make any guesses about fault or offer any opinions. Ask for the report number and the name of the investigating officer before you leave, because that official record is an important piece of evidence you may need later. Get Evidence If you're well enough to do so, snap pictures of everything you can. Capture the positions of both vehicles, the truck's company name, the USDOT number on the truck and its license plate, and any visible cargo. Include pictures of any skid marks, junk in the road, weather conditions, traffic signals, and the surrounding roadway generally. Take pictures of your own injuries and the interior of your vehicle. Exchange Information Exchange basic information with the truck driver and any other involved drivers, if it is safe to do so and you are all well enough to do so. You should get names, registration, and insurance information from everyone, but from the truck driver you'll also need commercial license details and the motor carrier's name. Collect contact information from any witnesses who stopped. Talk to Your Insurer Notify your own insurance company as soon as you can, but provide only the basic facts of the collision. Avoid making any recorded statements to the trucking company's insurer until you understand the full scope of your losses and have talked to a lawyer. Be aware that commercial carriers love to send adjusters to the scene quickly and press you to make a recordered statement as soon as possible; the goal is to get you to say something they can use later to limit their losses. Always refer them to your lawyer. Contact a Lawyer As soon as you're able, contact a lawyer with experience in truck accident claims. These claims often involve multiple parties, from the driver and motor carrier to cargo loaders, third-party mechanics, and sometimes equipment manufacturers. Each may have different insurance layers and different defenses. Contact Bradley Drendel & Jeanney today in Reno, NV for a free consultation. We've served all of Nevada and Northeastern California for over 70 years.

Jun 18, 2026

What Is a Contingency Fee?

When an unexpected injury disrupts your life, you may have the right to bring a legal claim to get reimbursed for your losses and damages. But doing so on your own is hard for many reasons, not least of all because you've got to concentrate on healing and getting back to normal life. You might have thought of contacting a lawyer here in Reno and wondered just what a personal injury lawyer contingency fee is all about. Defining the Contingency Fee Arrangement A contingency fee is a payment structure where your lawyer only gets compensation if your case is successful. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney fees. This arrangement is especially common in personal injury because it removes the barrier of having to come up with immediate legal costs just to pursue your rights. The lawyer's payment comes as a percentage of whatever is recovered. How the Personal Injury Lawyer Contingency Fee Typically Works When you go this route, your lawyer invests time, resources, and expertise with the understanding that payment depends entirely on their success. The percentage is agreed upon in advance, and sometimes it can increase if the case ends up requiring more work or has to go to trial. You and the lawyer sign a written contract that spells out the exact percentage and scale, how it applies to the total recovery, and other key terms. Once the funds arrive from your award, your lawyer deducts their fee according to the agreement, handles any liens or medical repayments that have to be reimbursed from it, and distributes the remainder to you. Written Agreements and Nevada Requirements Nevada rules basically require that the contingency fee agreement be in writing and signed by you, clearly state the method for calculating the fee, include the specific percentages that apply at different stages, and address how expenses are to be handled and whether you remain responsible for those if the case does not succeed. Fees vs Case Expenses The contingency percentage covers the lawyer's time and skill. Case expenses are other things, like court filing fees, the cost of getting expert witness reports, medical record retrieval, investigation expenses, and costs for doing deposition transcripts. In many personal injury cases, the lawyer advances these costs and only recovers them from the settlement proceeds if the case succeeds. Advantages of the Contingency Structure Access With this arrangement, you can afford to retain experienced representation without draining all your savings or taking on debt just to get started. Confidence With this arrangement, your lawyer has skin in the game. Their recovery depends on winning, and the amount they get depends on maximizing your compensation. Breathing Room Instead of worrying about monthly legal bills, you can focus on medical treatment and getting your life back on track. Talk to a Reno Personal Injury Lawyer to Learn More Call us today at Bradley Drendel & Jeanney in Reno, NV, where our nearly seven decades of focus on personal injury cases make us one of the state's most established firms.