Motorcyclists always need to keep their heads on a swivel. They need to watch the cars and trucks around them, understanding that other drivers are going to make mistakes. In many motorcycle accidents, the rider themselves hasn’t done anything wrong. It’s just that the drivers around them have committed a mistake, which puts the motorcyclist in extreme danger because they have less protection.
For instance, one of the most common errors is when a driver pulls out in front of a motorcycle, fails to yield the right of way or turns left in front of the motorcycle. The motorcyclist is simply driving straight down the road, but another driver suddenly cuts them off, and they only have a split second to react before the collision.
Inattentional blindness
One reason that this happens is a cognitive issue called inattentional blindness. This is when a driver looks at a motorcycle, doesn’t see it, and then cuts it off.
This often happens because drivers do not expect to see motorcycles, and they only see what they expect on the road. The brain is constantly filtering information, deciding what is important and then filling in the gaps.
When a driver isn’t intentionally looking for motorcycles, they may not see them at all. They are looking for other vehicles like their own: Passenger cars and pickup trucks. Their brain filters out anything that doesn’t meet this qualification, so a driver who quickly glances at the road may think that they see an empty stretch of pavement. And this is why so many drivers, after causing a motorcycle accident, will legitimately claim that they never saw the bike—even if they looked directly at it.
Have you suffered serious injuries due to another driver’s negligent mistake? Be sure you know how to seek financial compensation.
