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May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
It’s motorcycle season, let us all do our part to make it safer.
Motorcyclists in Canada are 17.4 times more likely to die in a traffic collision when compared to car drivers[i]. This probably isn’t that surprising. There is just a smaller margin for error when you don’t have seat belts, airbags and roll cages. One forgivable mistake in a car can be lethal on a motorcycle.
The most dangerous areas for motorcyclists are intersections and driveways. Unfortunately, other drivers frequently site that they did not see the motorcycle when making a left turn or pulling out into traffic. This could be in part because when a driver scans the intersection or looks before pulling into a lane of traffic they simply aren’t looking for a motorcycle. Many of us are guilty of driving on autopilot, and it can be very easy to miss a motorcycle or bicycle when you are looking for other cars or SUVs. It is so very important to remind ourselves, especially in the summer months to look out for motorcyclists, mopeds and bicycles. In these circumstances, the drivers not on a motorcycle are typically the ones at fault.
However, other factors that play into motorcycle collisions such as speed, alcohol and drug consumption, as well as inexperience. In these circumstances the motorcyclist may have caused or contributed to the cause of the collision. This is not necessarily a bar to recovery for the motorcyclist or their family. Each case is very fact specific and one should consult with an experienced injury lawyer to learn more about their rights in those circumstances.
We must all do our part to make the roads safer. We must remind ourselves, especially in the summer months, to stay alert to motorcyclists especially at intersections. We must all keep free from distracted driving. We must all watch our speed and ensure that we are not mixing drugs or alcohol with driving.
This article was written by Personal Injury Lawyer Catherine Shearer. For additional information, please do not hesitate to contact catherine.shearer@mckenzielake.com or on Instagram @guelphinjurylawyer.
