Georgia’s relatively mild year-round weather makes it a great state for motorcycling. Operating a motorcycle comes with a great deal of responsibility, since motorcycle accidents can result in serious or deadly injuries.
While you may follow all Georgia motorcycle laws and always ride safely, you cannot control other drivers on the road, or the road conditions, and these are common factors in motorcycle accidents.
Weather can change road conditions
The weather conditions change the road conditions, and these changes can affect how your motorcycle operates. Although Georgia does not typically have harsh winters, snow and ice is sometimes possible, which can cause slippery and dangerous road conditions.
Additionally, hot summer weather can reduce traction on your tires, while the falling leaves in autumn can result in debris on the roads.
Poorly maintained roads
Highway and road maintenance workers have a duty to keep the roads clear and free of these types of hazards. They should also be performing regular road maintenance, regardless of weather conditions.
Roads and highways must be well lit and have clear markers indicating where the lanes are and no-passing zones. The roads should contain proper medians and guardrails to increase safety and there should be enough shoulder room available.
Sometimes other drivers on the road do not know how to handle motorcycles. Many drivers mistakenly believe that they do not have to adhere to the traffic laws if a motorcycle is involved.
Collisions on turns
Motorcyclists have the same rights to the road as other drivers. Many motorcycle accidents occur when a driver makes a left turn and collides with a motorcyclist, later claiming they did not see the motorcyclist coming.
You can reduce your chance of this kind of accident by doing everything possible to alert the driver’s attention to you and maintaining a healthy following distance from cars in front of you.
Drivers who cause a motorcycle accident are negligent. Recovery after a motorcycle accident can be a long and painful process. You might want to talk to a personal injury attorney about your legal options.