Avoiding Car-Motorcycle Accidents at Orange County Intersections

Intersections are a dangerous place for anyone on the road, but they pose a particularly significant risk to motorcyclists who share the road with much larger vehicles. Unfortunately, some drivers are distracted or simply don’t watch for motorcycles. These drivers may pull out in front of a motorcycle or suddenly swerve into its lane. Intersections are everywhere: on the highway, in your residential neighborhood, on county roads. Exercising extra caution at intersections could save your life. Here are a few tips for staying safe:

• Ride with your lights on. Ride with your lights on, and employ other visibility tactics (like brightly-colored clothing or reflectors) to help drivers see you.
• Give yourself some room. If possible, keep a little distance between yourself and other cars or riders on the road. Doing so will provide more room to maneuver if something goes wrong.
• Pay attention. Use your mirrors and keep your eyes open. If you are paying attention, you may be able to take evasive measures to avoid a car-motorcycle accident.
• Slow down. Slow down before an intersection, but don’t stop or change your speed while traveling through an intersection; drivers may interpret that as giving them permission to turn left in front of you!

The Orange County motorcycle accident lawyers with Russell & Lazarus would like to remind both riders and drivers that intersections pose a high risk for car-motorcycle accidents. You should be alert and aware at all times when you are approaching an intersection on a bike. If you have sustained serious injuries in a motorcycle accident in OC and need help, please reach out to our experienced personal injury attorneys today at (949) 851-0222 to learn more about protecting your rights and pursuing compensation.