Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in El Dorado County

Home » Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in El Dorado County
October 02, 2020
Edward Smith

Violations that Cause Motorcycle Accidents in El Dorado County

Driving a motorcycle is a blast, especially in a place as beautiful as El Dorado County. The Tahoe area and surrounding Sierra Nevadas offer some of the most incredible drives in the entire country, and residents frequently make use of the opportunity by taking their bikes out on local highways. However, driving a motorcycle can be dangerous, even for the most careful bikers. One of the best ways to stay safe is to improve your knowledge about what tends to cause motorcycle accidents in El Dorado County.

El Dorado County Motorcycle Accidents

Reports from local law enforcement groups, including the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD), state that 7,247 traumatic vehicle accidents happened in El Dorado County between 2009 and 2020. These crashes involved 988 motorcycle accidents. This shows that motorcycle collisions made up around 13.6 percent of injury-causing collisions across the county.

These 988 motorcycle crashes resulted in 1,068 individual injuries as well as 43 fatalities. Additionally, motorcycle collisions were around twice as likely to cause major trauma when compared to most accidents.

Most Common Violations

While there are many different factors that can cause a car accident, the large majority of collisions occur because of traffic violations. In El Dorado County, the below violations were the most common primary causal factors of traumatic motorcycle accidents and are listed beside the percent of collisions caused:

  • Speeding, 35.09
  • Improper turning, 20.49
  • Wrong side of the road, 11.36
  • DUI, 9.84
  • Right-of-way, 5.88

All other primary causal factors caused less than two percent of El Dorado County motorcycle accidents. These included tailgating, unsafely changing lanes, traffic sign violations, unsafe starting or backing, and more.

Motorcyclist Injuries

Even though most motorcyclists wear plenty of protective gear and practice defensive driving techniques, there is still a high risk of suffering a major injury, even in relatively minor motorcycle accidents. Because of this, motorcyclists who survive auto accidents frequently face a difficult recovery process that can include multiple medical procedures. These procedures can include invasive surgeries as well as physical therapy and long-term medication usage. Altogether, these costs can add up to a very high amount.

Claiming Compensation

Thankfully, it’s possible for motorcycle accident survivors to pursue compensation for medical expenses as well as other collision-related damages. By seeking help from a South Lake Tahoe motorcycle accident attorney, many people are able to hold insurers and/or at-fault groups or individuals financially liable for collision damages.

However, every case is different and the injury claim process can be complicated. Furthermore, liable parties frequently take action in order to avoid paying fair compensation. To ensure you are able to recover the payments you deserve, it’s important to reach out to an attorney right away.

Finding a Great Motorcycle Collision Lawyer

Because the damages that motorcyclists suffer in accidents can be so major, it’s important to know that your attorney has the right skills, experience, and resources to effectively take on your case. While many people think that finding the right lawyer will be stressful, it doesn’t need to be difficult. By learning a few key things to look for, you can easily learn how to get in touch with an excellent attorney. To get more details, take a minute to watch the following YouTube video:

Other Blogs by South Lake Tahoe Motorcycle Accident Attorney, Ed Smith

South Lake Tahoe Motorcycle Accident Attorney

I’m Ed Smith, a South Lake Tahoe motorcycle accident attorney. Crashes are often very serious. If you were severely hurt during a motorcycle collision, call me at (530) 392-9400 for free, friendly advice. I can also be contacted at (800) 404-5400, toll-free.

I have worked alongside people in South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County for nearly four decades. Learn more about us and our work by viewing the trial verdicts and case settlements we’ve achieved.

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