Three Tips to Prevent Motorcycle Accidents

Three Tips to Prevent Motorcycle Accidents

In one recent year, more than 6,300 people in the U.S. lost their lives in motorcycle crashes. That’s nearly 15% of all traffic deaths, despite motorcycles making up just 3% of registered vehicles and less than 1% of total miles driven. 

Unfortunately, these numbers aren’t going down. They’re rising. Despite advancements in crash-avoidance and safety technologies, the risk to riders remains alarmingly high. 

While you can’t control how other people drive, you can take some steps to protect yourself. Many motorcycle accidents happen because of preventable factors like distracted drivers, limited visibility, and unsafe road conditions. 

These three tips to prevent motorcycle accidents are grounded in data and built around one goal: helping riders reduce their risk on roads where others often don’t pay enough attention. They won’t eliminate the danger entirely, but they can give you a better chance of staying safe.

Key Takeaways

• Motorcyclists face a much higher fatality rate per mile traveled than drivers of other vehicles.
• Many motorcycle accidents occur because drivers fail to yield or detect motorcycles in traffic.
• Road hazards like gravel, potholes, and slick pavement are far more dangerous to motorcycles than to cars.
• Speeding reduces a rider’s ability to respond to hazards and is linked to a high percentage of crashes.
• Visibility tactics, smart lane positioning, and braking techniques improve rider safety.
• A motorcycle accident lawyer can help protect your rights and pursue fair compensation if a crash occurs.

Motorcycle Accident Risks: What Puts Riders in Harm’s Way

Motorcycles leave riders exposed. There’s no steel frame, no airbags, and no crumple zones—just your skill, your gear, and the behavior of everyone else on the road. That alone puts you at a higher risk. But the data reveals more.

Visibility issues play a major role

Most motorcycle crashes involving other vehicles occur because the other driver didn’t see the rider. In many of those cases, a driver turns left in front of an oncoming motorcycle or merges into its lane without realizing it's there.

Road conditions are more dangerous for motorcycles

A bump in the road is an inconvenience for a car, but it can be a disaster for a rider. Debris, potholes, or a patch of gravel can cause a loss of control in an instant. The National Safety Council identifies road surface issues as a frequent factor in single-vehicle motorcycle crashes.

Speed is a leading factor

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding contributes to nearly one-third of all fatal motorcycle crashes. When other motorists or riders speed, they have less time to react to avoid a collision. Speeding also increases the severity of a collision, no matter who is at fault. 

Tip #1: Make Yourself Impossible to Miss

The most common phrase riders hear after a crash is: “I didn’t see you.” Unfortunately, it’s often true. Drivers aren’t trained to look for motorcycles, and in many cases, they don’t mentally register them even when they’re clearly visible. This psychological phenomenon, known as inattentional blindness, is a top contributor to motorcycle collisions.

Motorcyclists must assume they are invisible in traffic. Defensive riding starts with visibility. Here are some strategies to help you lower your risk of being struck by another vehicle:

• Stay out of blind spots. Don’t linger beside vehicles, especially trucks and SUVs with large blind zones.
• Wear high-visibility gear. Bright or fluorescent colors increase the chance you’ll be seen in peripheral vision.
• Use your headlight at all times. Even during daylight hours, a running headlight improves contrast and visibility.
• Flash your brake lights when slowing. Tap the brakes lightly before fully decelerating to alert drivers behind you.
• Use your horn if needed. A quick honk can break a driver’s tunnel vision when merging or turning.
• Position yourself for maximum visibility. In your lane, favor the left or right third depending on traffic and road layout.

Never assume a driver sees you. Ride with the mindset that they don’t and adjust your riding accordingly.

Tip #2: Scan Ahead and Assume the Worst

Riding a motorcycle requires strong focus and awareness. It also demands constant scanning and anticipation. You’re not just watching the car in front of you. You’re watching the road surface, the weather, side traffic, intersections, and what’s over the next hill.

According to recent crash data, many single-vehicle motorcycle crashes result from road hazards that would barely affect a passenger car. These hazards are more likely to cause serious injury or ejection when you're riding exposed.

Common road hazards to watch out for:

• Gravel or loose sand, often at intersections or curves
• Potholes or broken pavement, especially in poorly maintained areas
• Wet surfaces, including manhole covers, paint lines, and metal grates
• Debris in the road, such as tire fragments, fallen branches, or construction materials
• Animals or pedestrians, particularly in rural or suburban areas
• Sudden changes in elevation, like raised crosswalks or uneven pavement at rail crossings

Preparation is everything. Keep a safe following distance, maintain a safe speed, and slow down when approaching intersections, curves, or areas with poor visibility. If you're unsure what lies beyond a bend or hilltop, approach with extreme caution.

Tip #3: Know Your Limits and Ride Within Them

Every rider has a limit on skill, speed, and judgment. Crashes happen when those limits are pushed too far, often unintentionally. Riders misjudge how fast they’re going into a corner, or they accelerate into a merge lane without accounting for debris or stopped traffic ahead.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding remains one of the top contributors to motorcycle fatalities. High speeds shorten your reaction window and lengthen your stopping distance. In a crash, speed is also the biggest factor in injury severity.

Smart strategies to avoid a motorcycle accident:

• Stick to the speed limit, especially in unfamiliar areas or when riding at night
• Avoid tailgating, even if traffic is dense; it only takes a second for conditions to change
• Brake smoothly, using both front and rear brakes together—abrupt inputs can cause skids
• Enter curves at conservative speeds, giving yourself time to correct if necessary
• Resist the urge to show off or push boundaries, even in low-traffic situations

ABS (antilock braking systems) have been shown to reduce fatal crash rates by up to 22%, yet many motorcycles on the road still lack this feature. If you’re shopping for a bike or considering upgrades, choose one with ABS for added safety.

Safe Riders, Dangerous Roads: Why the Odds Aren’t Always Fair

Motorcyclists often ride cautiously, wear protective gear, and follow traffic laws, yet they’re still at risk. That’s because most crashes involving motorcycles and other vehicles are caused by the other driver, not the rider. In one recent study, two-thirds of these collisions occurred when a car or truck violated the motorcycle’s right-of-way.

You can do everything right and still face danger from someone else’s distracted driving, speeding, or carelessness. That’s what makes proactive safety measures so important. You need every possible advantage on roads full of dangerous drivers—roads that weren’t designed with motorcycles in mind.

The Life-Saving Impact of Helmets and Safety Gear

Wearing a helmet is a smart and potentially life-saving choice. According to the IIHS, helmets reduce the risk of death by 37% and the risk of traumatic brain injury by 67%. Despite this, not all states require riders to wear them. Missouri, for instance, now allows adults to ride without helmets under certain conditions. This change has drawn concern from safety advocates.

Even in states with relaxed helmet laws, riders who choose to wear DOT-approved helmets give themselves a critical layer of protection.

Aside from motorcycle helmets, there is additional gear that helps prevent serious injuries:

• Armored jackets and pants with abrasion-resistant materials
• Gloves with knuckle and wrist protection
• Boots that support the ankles and prevent twisting injuries
• Eye protection that blocks debris and wind

Gear won’t prevent every injury, but it can be the difference between walking away with mild or moderate injuries and suffering catastrophic injuries.

State Laws Can Impact Your Motorcycle Accident Claim

Accident prevention is the goal, but when a crash happens, legal protections become just as important as safety gear. Motorcycle accident claims are often complicated by unfair assumptions and allegations that the rider was at fault. That’s where state laws around fault and recovery play a major role.

Comparative fault laws can impact your recovery

When more than one person contributes to a crash, your right to recover compensation depends on your state’s comparative negligence laws. These rules determine whether you can still pursue damages if you’re found partially at fault and how much you can recover. They also underscore the need for an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer to defend you and your claim against unfair blame for the accident.

There are four main models:

• Pure comparative fault: You can recover compensation regardless of how much you were at fault, but your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
  Missouri follows this model.
• Modified comparative fault (50% bar rule): You can recover compensation only if you're less than 50% at fault. If you’re 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing.
  This is the rule used in Kansas.
• Modified comparative fault (51% bar rule): You can recover damages if you're 50% or less at fault. But you're barred from recovering if you're 51% or more at fault.
• Pure contributory negligence: If you’re found even 1% at fault, you’re barred from recovering any compensation. Only a few states and Washington D.C. use this strict model.

Because motorcycle riders are often unfairly blamed, it’s especially important to have a legal team that can challenge inaccurate police reports, gather video footage, and consult experts who understand motorcycle dynamics.

Statutes of limitations vary by state

Every state sets a legal deadline called a statute of limitations for filing a motorcycle accident lawsuit. These time limits vary widely. Some states allow as little as one year, while others give up to six years. Most fall somewhere in the middle, with a two- to three-year window being the most common.

The deadline for filing a personal injury claim is often different from the one for wrongful death. If a loved one dies in a motorcycle crash, the clock usually starts on the date of death, not the date of the accident, and the time limit may be shorter than in personal injury cases.

For example: 

• Missouri: You have five years to file a personal injury claim and three years to file a wrongful death claim.
• Kansas: You have two years for both personal injury and wrongful death claims.

These deadlines apply whether the crash involves a distracted driver, a dangerous road condition, or another act of negligence. But waiting too long to file can hurt your case, especially if critical evidence like dashcam footage or eyewitness testimony becomes unavailable. Acting early gives your legal team more time to investigate and protect your rights.

FAQs About Motorcycle Accident Prevention and Claims

You Can Reduce the Risk, But You Shouldn’t Have to Ride in Fear

Motorcycle riders carry an unfair burden. They're expected to be perfect in a traffic system that often overlooks them. You can wear your gear, maintain your bike, follow the law, and still end up in a hospital because a distracted driver didn’t look twice.

You can reduce your risk by staying alert, staying visible, and riding within your limits. Those choices don’t guarantee safety, but they do give you more control in a world full of unpredictability.

And if the worst happens? You shouldn’t have to fight for fair treatment alone. An experienced motorcycle accident attorney can use your state’s laws to make the civil justice system work for you. 

Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers Stands with Riders Throughout Missouri and Kansas

Presley and Presley Trial Lawyers has earned national recognition for handling complex, high-stakes cases involving serious injuries and wrongful death. As a boutique law firm, we take on only a select number of cases, allowing us to devote focused attention, investigative resources, and strategic insight to every claim.

Our team of nationally recognized personal injury lawyers has recovered life-changing settlements and verdicts for clients injured in catastrophic motorcycle crashes and fights to hold negligent drivers and insurers accountable. Whether your crash happened in downtown Kansas City, on I-35 or I-70, or in a rural part of Missouri or Kansas, we have the experience and commitment to help.

We offer free consultations and never charge a fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Call (816) 931-4611 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation today. Your recovery deserves a team that knows how to fight and win.