How Likely Are You To Get in a Motorcycle Accident in San Antonio, TX?
November 10, 2023 | Motorcycle Accidents
If you’re a motorcyclist, you know the pure joy that comes with getting out on the road. You also know that motorcyclists face unique hazards, and accidents are always a risk. Are you wondering how likely you are to get into a motorcycle accident in San Antonio? Here’s a closer look.
A Quick Look At Motorcycle Accidents in San Antonio
Motorcycle collisions only made up 1.1% of traffic accidents in San Antonio in 2022. Of the motorcycle accidents within the city, the majority involved a motorcyclist and one or more other vehicles. There were 349 motorcycle crashes with other vehicles and 175 single-vehicle motorcycle crashes.
Keeping Yourself Safe While Riding Your Motorcycle
If you’re a motorcyclist, you might be relieved to see that motorcycle crashes make up a small percentage of San Antonio car accidents. However, it’s important to never lose sight of the fact that riding a motorcycle is inherently risky. Although only 3% of registered vehicles in the United States are motorcycles, 14% of traffic fatalities were motorcyclists.
That’s a worrying figure, but you can minimize your risk of getting into a motorcycle accident when you take a few important steps.
Don’t Share a Lane With a Car
Motorcycles are much smaller than cars, so you might be tempted to ride alongside a car in the same lane. This is a bad idea — motorcycles are hard for drivers of vehicles to spot even when they’re obeying all traffic laws.
Cars really don’t expect to share a lane with a motorcycle, so a driver could very easily hit you while merging or changing lanes. Lane-splitting is a bad idea for the same reasons.
In a similar vein, it’s a bad idea to drive between parked cars and moving cars. You can easily hit a suddenly opened car door or a pedestrian who steps out between parked cars.
Don’t Speed
We all hear that speed kills, and that’s especially true when you ride a motorcycle. Speeding (and especially driving much faster than the posted speed limit) dramatically increases your risk of getting into an accident in more ways than you might think.
When you speed, you might not see an upcoming turn, so you might go into it too fast. If you panic and slam on your brakes while speeding, you might be catapulted off your bike. Also, driving too fast gives you less time to react and means you might not have enough time to go around a pothole, patch of ice, or other obstacle.
A common piece of advice given to drivers also applies to motorcyclists — always drive more slowly in rain or other kinds of bad weather. Rain makes the road slippery and reduces visibility, increasing your chances of getting into a crash.
Don’t Drink and Drive
This one sounds obvious. However, alcohol is a contributing factor in countless car and motorcycle accidents every year. It slows your reaction time and impairs your coordination.
That’s dangerous when you’re driving a car, but it’s even more so when you’re driving a motorcycle. Driving a car doesn’t require you to keep the vehicle balanced and upright, but riding a motorcycle does.
Make Sure You Know How To Handle Common Hazards
Road hazards that are no big deal for cars can prove to be disastrous for motorcyclists.
Here are a few you may have already encountered:
- Gravel or sand
- Wet leaves on the road
- Potholes
- Uneven lanes
- Train tracks
- Spilled oil
Understanding the right techniques for maneuvering around these hazards can make the difference between life and death. Reading about them can help, but taking a motorcycle course gives you the hands-on experience you need to learn and practice key skills.
Protect Yourself and Your Passengers on the Road
There’s no way to guarantee you won’t get into a motorcycle accident in San Antonio, Texas. But when you drive defensively and are proactive about safety, you can greatly reduce your risk of serious accidents and fender-benders alike.
Contact Our Motorcycle Accident Law Firm in San Antonio, TX
If you’ve been injured in an accident in San Antonio, Texas, and need legal help, contact our San Antonio motorcycle accident lawyers at George Salinas Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
George Salinas Injury Lawyers
6243 I-10 Ste. 955, San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 225-0909
https://www.salinastriallaw.com/
