Motorcycle Accident Lawyer: 3 Deadly Motorcycle Mistakes

Attorney Claude Wyle | 888-981-0826 | Free Consult

“I see the biker getting blamed for almost every crash in almost every police report. Some of the best verdicts we’ve had and some of the best settlements we’ve had have been when the police report is dead against us .”

Motorcycle riders face many risks on the road. Other drivers have a hard time seeing them, and a motorcycle crash is far more likely to cause serious injuries.

Claude Wyle is a motorcycle accident lawyer and partner at Choulos Choulos & Wyle based in San Francisco, CA. In this interview, he outlines the three major mistakes that he sees motorcyclists make when riding.

To learn more, contact the attorney directly by calling 888-981-0826 or by submitting a contact form on this page. There is no charge for the consultation, and you never owe any out-of-pocket attorney fees.

Key Takeaways From Claude Wyle:

Wyle has been riding motorbikes and motorcycles since childhood; he labels himself as a believer in the “two-wheel lifestyle” and as a motorcycle accident attorney, he knows what riders should watch out for both before and after an accident occurs. He maintains that there are three deadly mistakes unique to motorcyclists that can cause a great deal of suffering.

#1 Deadly Mistake: Failing to wear proper safety gear.

First and foremost, riders should pay special attention to their helmet. It is important to wear one at all times while operating a motorcycle, and it should be approved by the Department of Transportation. Aside from non-DOT approved helmets being illegal to wear on the road, they don’t even come close to the level of rider protection offered by a DOT approved helmet.

An unfortunately common outcome in a motorcycle accident where the rider was not wearing a helmet or was not wearing a DOT-approved helmet includes the death of the rider or some level of brain damage, affecting not only the rider but their close family and friends as well. Leather, textile, and armored protective gear for a rider’s feet, legs, hips, upper body, and hands are imperative to surviving a motorcycle crash without permanent damage.

#2 Deadly Mistake: Assuming other drivers see you.

Wyle estimates that the most common cause of motorcycle accidents is the assumption that the motorcyclist is visible to other drivers. Due to the size difference between motorcycles and standard vehicles or buses, it is not difficult to see how a car or bus may not spot a motorcycle sharing the road with them, especially if the motorcycle is in their blindspot. Wearing bright and/or reflective protective gear is a good way to increase visibility to other drivers.

However, motorcyclists should always operate under the assumption that the drivers around them are not aware of their presence. Wyle suggests that motorcyclists should incorporate a margin of error into the operation of their bike at any time; giving yourself a cushion in any situation can help prevent accidents that might otherwise have occurred from a lack of visibility or attention from other drivers.

#3 Deadly Mistake: Don’t override the road or the bike.

Motorcyclists often crash due to riding more intensely on a road or a bike than it is designed for. Wyle recommends buying a track day if you want a place to ride your bike faster than traffic regulations allow for. Riding too fast, taking a turn too quickly, or otherwise taking chances on streets that were not made for motorcycles to race through can result in deadly collisions for motorcyclists and other vehicles as well. Standard streets are not built for motorcycles to operate at their full power; doing so can result in deadly consequences.

Even if a motorcyclist is partially at fault for the accident, they may still be eligible for legal compensation.

California, in addition to some other states, operates under the comparative negligence rule; this means that if another vehicle or rider was even partially at fault for the accident, the injured party may have an opportunity for recovery. However, it is important to note that in many cases, law enforcement officers and jurors alike have an inherent bias against motorcyclists, assuming that riders tend to take risks on the road or exhibit a lack of personal responsibility. Finding an experienced motorcycle accident attorney can help mitigate this phenomenon and ensure that an injured motorcyclist can still receive financial compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and more.

To learn more, contact Claude Wyle directly by calling 888-981-0826 or by submitting a contact form on this page. There is no charge for the consultation, and you never owe any out-of-pocket attorney fees.

Disclaimer: This video is for informational purposes only. In some states, this video may be deemed Attorney Advertising. The choice of lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely on advertisements.