Why Distracted Drivers Heavily Impact the Safety of North Carolina Motorcyclists

At Dewey, Ramsay & Hunt, P.A., our Charlotte personal injury lawyers know that motorcyclists are exceptionally vulnerable to catastrophic injuries during traffic collisions in North Carolina.

The lack of protection, stability, and maneuverability on two wheels, combined with their overall exposure to reckless drivers who disregard the importance of sharing the roads with riders, causes significant injuries and tragic fatalities throughout the state.

According to the North Carolina Traffic Crash Facts, 2,972 motorcyclists were injured in traffic collisions last year — a 6% increase from the previous year, and 202 were killed — a 14.8% increase from the prior year.

While it is impossible to tell which of these statistics represent crashes involving distracted driving, it is fair to say that drivers who are not solely focused on the task of driving are adding to the collision, injury, and fatality statistics here and across the country.

When motorcyclists are traveling alongside distracted drivers, the rider typically pays the price.

Examples of How Distracted Driving Can Cause Motorcycle Accidents in North Carolina

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines distracted driving as any non-driving activity a person engages in while operating a motor vehicle. Such actions can distract the person from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of crashing.

Distracted drivers come in many forms, including those who take their eyes off the road to read text messages, those who take their hands off the wheel to reach for something elsewhere in the vehicle, and those who are mentally distracted by passengers, to-do lists, or personal and professional challenges.

All distractions can affect a person’s ability to exercise sound judgment and decision-making when operating a motor vehicle.

When motorcyclists are sharing the road with distracted drivers, they become vulnerable to the much larger vehicle’s reckless movements, which may include, but are not limited to:

• Failing to check for a motorcyclist in their blind spot.
• Lacking the necessary reaction time to avoid a collision with a motorcyclist.
• Rear-ending a motorcyclist stopped at a traffic light or stop sign.
• Turning without seeing the motorcyclist.
• Veering over into a motorcyclist’s lane.

Contact Our Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys in Charlotte Today

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident caused by a distracted or otherwise reckless driver, our skilled personal injury attorneys in Charlotte at Dewey, Ramsay & Hunt want to hear your story during a free consultation by calling 704-377-3737 or contacting us online.

We provide unique legal services tailored to each client’s needs and do not get paid unless you do.

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Because every case is different, the description of awards and cases previously managed by our law firm does not guarantee a similar outcome in current or future cases.