Motorcycles can be incredibly fun vehicles to operate. Motorcyclists understand that they face more risks than drivers and passengers inside traditional passenger vehicles. While most people understand that motorcyclists can sustain severe injuries in the event they collide with other vehicles, “no-contact” motorcycle crashes can also occur and cause serious injuries to a motorcyclist. These incidents happen for a variety of reasons, and drivers in traditional vehicles are often still at fault, even though there is no contact. Here, we want to discuss no-contact motorcycle crashes, how they occur, and how liability is proven in these cases.
Driver Actions That Cause No-Contact Accidents
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, there were 2,977 total motorcycle crashes reported during the latest year across Commonwealth. Out of these incidents, there were 2,860 injuries and 174 fatalities.
A no-contact motorcycle accident can occur when the actions of a vehicle driver cause a motorcyclist to crash their bike. There are various ways that drivers in traditional vehicles can cause no-contact motorcycle crashes, including a vehicle:
- Drifting in and out of a Lane
- Merging on top of a motorcycle
- Cutting off a motorcycle
- Making unsafe lane changes
- Speeding or weaving between lanes of traffic
- Passing a motorcyclist dangerously
- Running a red light
- Brake-checking a motorcyclist
Any action that a vehicle driver takes that forces a motorcyclist to react could lead to a no-contact motorcycle crash. Vehicle drivers can be held liable for the resultant crash, even if there is no vehicle-to-vehicle contact.
Do I Have a Case?
If you or somebody you love has been injured or sustained property damage in a no-contact motorcycle crash caused by the negligence of another driver, you need to speak to an attorney as soon as possible. When working to determine whether or not you have a case, allow your attorney to examine the facts of the situation and help you choose the best path forward to securing compensation for your losses. You may very well have a case if there are injuries and there is property damage.
Proving the Driver Is Liable
Proving liability in the aftermath of a no-contact motorcycle crash can be difficult. However, in order for a motorcycle crash victim to recover compensation for their losses, they must be able to prove the fault of the other party.
If the other party involved in the accident stops at the scene, proving liability is still going to be complicated. The motorcyclist, or their attorney, will need to rely on eyewitness accounts, police reports, video surveillance from nearby buildings or homes, and expert witness testimony to prove liability in the case. The injury victim in their attorney needs to show that a reasonable and prudent driver would have reacted differently in a similar situation and would likely have avoided the accident.
In the event a vehicle driver leaves the scene of an accident, it can be very difficult to prove liability. Your Philadelphia motorcycle accident attorney may be able to obtain eyewitness statements or video footage in order to determine the identity of the at-fault party. However, it may be necessary to rely on your no-fault insurance coverage or uninsured motorist coverage to help cover compensation if the other driver cannot be located.