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Motorcycle Sideswipe Accidents

Posted on August 17, 2022

Sideswipe accidents can be dangerous for any motorist, but particularly for motorcyclists. These incidents could lead to an impact that causes a motorcyclist to immediately crash the bike, or they could force the motorcyclist into oncoming lanes of traffic or off-road. Here, we want to discuss how motorcycle sideswipe accidents occur, some common injuries that happen as a result of these incidents, and whether or not motorcyclists can recover compensation.

Defining a Motorcycle Sideswipe Accident

Sideswipe accidents can affect any type of vehicle, but motorcyclists need to be much more aware of their surroundings to avoid these incidents. Additionally, motorists in traditional vehicles need to be aware of their surroundings to avoid these collisions, particularly when there are motorcycles in the vicinity.

As the name implies, a sideswipe accident is a type of collision that occurs when one vehicle comes into contact with one side of a motorcycle. These incidents can occur in a way variety of ways and at varying speeds, and the severity of the incident depends on several factors. Motorcycle sideswipe accidents are most often caused by:

  • Abrupt lane changes
  • Distracted driving
  • Impaired driving
  • Vehicle drivers not checking their blind spots
  • Vehicle drivers failing to look in their mirrors

Types of Damage That a Sideswipe Can Cause

Sideswipe accidents can lead to varying types of vehicle damage or injuries, and this will depend on factors such as the speed the vehicles were traveling and the directness of the impact. In some cases, a side flip incident will only result in a “grazing” of the motorcycle, but there are certainly times when a direct side impact collision could result in the motorcycle crashing completely onto the roadway.

If a sideswipe collision is more superficial, this may only result in scratching of the paint or some minor dents or dings on the motorcycle. However, even a superficial collision could result in a significant injury, particularly for a motorcyclist’s legs if they are swiped by the vehicle.

For anything more than a relatively superficial sideswipe, the motorcycle damage and injuries to the motorcyclist are likely to be much more severe. A harder impact will likely result in the motorcyclist either crashing immediately into the ground or being forced into oncoming traffic or off the road. This could cause a motorcyclist to sustain significant injuries, including lacerations, fractured bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord trauma, and more.

Recovering Compensation After a Motorcycle Sideswipe Accident

Motorcycle sideswipe accident victims should be able to recover compensation if the other driver was responsible for causing the incident. Any motorcyclist who has been affected by a sideswipe collision should work with a skilled personal injury lawyer who has experience handling motorcycle accident claims. An attorney will work to gather all the evidence needed to prove what happened. This can include photographs or video surveillance from the scene of the incident, statements from my witnesses, and accident reports.

If necessary, an attorney will enlist assistance from an accident reconstruction expert who can examine the scene of the incident, the property damage, and all of the other evidence that has been gathered to put together 3D models to show insurance carriers or personal injury juries what happened.

Injured motorcyclists should be able to recover compensation for their medical expenses, property damage expenses, and pain and suffering losses.