What to do in a Loss of Control Motorcycle Accident

One minute you’re cruising the highway and the next you could be instantly thrown from your motorcycle.

A loss of control motorcycle accident is terrifying, and it can happen at any given moment due to weather conditions, malfunction or otherwise.

The federal government “estimates that per mile traveled in 2013, the number of deaths on motorcycles was over 26 times the number in cars.”

Additionally, a report from Progressive showed that in 2014, “there were more single vehicle motorcycle claims” than any other combined. This included rear-end, intersection, unrecovered and parking accidents. As many motorcyclists can attest to, there takes a degree of skill to maneuver around road conditions and other drivers who don’t see you.

In this blog, we will help walk you through what to do if you’ve lost control of your motorcycle, and how to do everything on your part to minimize damages to yourself and others.

Common Motorcycle Accident Scenarios

Summer months are the most common for claims and motorcycle accidents, as shown by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), since it’s at the peak of riding season for most.

Oftentimes, many accidents (with single vehicle motorcycle claims being a large percentage) are caused by the following:

• Lack of riding skills
• Weather terrain
• Construction and road maintenance
• Failure to abide by the rules of the road
• Failure to use precautions while driving
• Failure to drive defensively

Ways to Handle a Loss of Control Motorcycle Accident

Although there are many instances that we can’t control, knowing how to react, and being proactive can help immensely in the event of an impending crash.

Below are some helpful pointers:

• Don’t panic! The worst thing you can do is tense up and try something risky that could result in injury, or worse, death
• Make sure you assume no car sees you--as a smaller and uncovered vehicle on the road, your safety is always compromised in comparison to a car
• Take the time to acquaint yourself with your motorcycle, so you can judge its brakes and ability to take corners and rainy weather
• Wear safety gear such as a helmet, because if you fall off of your motorcycle, you will mitigate some of the injuries
• If the weather is bad, don’t ride
• Always look ahead--that way, if you feel your motorcycle is out of whack, you can pull over safely

Not as Simple as it Sounds

We realize talking abstractly about how to handle your motorcycle is easy, and the actual situation may not be. Chances are, you’re an experienced rider who has gone through drivers disregarding you, cutting you off, and making the roads that much more dangerous.

The main thing with losing control is making sure you can pull over safely, not affect any other cars or objects around you and minimize damages to your vehicle and yourself. This isn’t always possible, though. Being aware of your surroundings is paramount on the road in a motorcycle.

If you’ve been involved in a loss of control motorcycle accident, feel free to contact us for more information. In the event that a car cut you off or poor road maintenance caused you to crash, we’re happy to provide insights and point you in the right direction.