When motorcycle accidents happen, other drivers are often at fault. They could turn in front of a motorcycle, for instance, when making a left turn. They could pull out in front of a motorcycle when they’re supposed to yield for through traffic.
But when these crashes take place, drivers will sometimes say that they never saw the motorcycle. They don’t understand how they caused the accident because they didn’t know the bike was there. How is this possible?
1. Motorcycles blend in
One potential reason is that the motorcycle blends into the road. If someone is riding a dark-colored bike on black pavement, especially if they’re in low light conditions, the bike may not stand out. If the driver just glances quickly, they may not see that motorcycle.
2. Inattentional blindness
Another issue is called intentional blindness, where someone can look directly at a motorcycle without seeing it. This is because your brain is always piecing together a lot of information, and this sometimes causes you to see what you expect. A driver who isn’t expecting to see a motorcycle may honestly not see it, even when they’re looking right at it.
3. Large blind spots
Finally, some oversized vehicles have huge blind spots. A pickup truck driver may not see a motorcycle ahead of them at a red light. An SUV driver on the interstate may not see a motorcycle next to them and sideswipe the bike when changing lanes.
Have you been injured in one of these motorcycle accidents? If so, you need to know how to seek financial compensation for medical bills and related costs.