Motorcyclists are much more vulnerable on the roadway than those inside traditional passenger vehicles. Motorcyclists simply do not have the same type of protection that others have, and any type of accident could lead to a severe injury. In some cases, motorcycle accidents can occur even if the motorcyclist does not come into contact with another vehicle on the roadway. These incidents are called “no-contact” motorcycle accidents.
Here, we want to define no-contact motorcycle accidents and look at some of the most common ways that they occur on the roadways in Denver and throughout Colorado.
No-contact motorcycle accidents can occur in a wide variety of ways, and quite frankly, they can occur anytime a motorcyclist goes out to ride. However, these accidents do not affect just motorcyclists. No-contact crashes can occur between two passenger vehicles as well.
Unfortunately, motorcyclists in Colorado do face a higher risk of being involved in no-contact motorcycle accidents simply due to the nature of the type of vehicle involved. The size, weight, and shape of a motorcycle necessitate that riders maintain certain speeds and operate the vehicle in a certain way to ensure that two wheels remain on the ground at all times and that they keep the forward momentum going. Anytime the actions of other drivers or pedestrians on the roadway compromise a motorcyclist’s ability to maintain upright and forward motion, this can result in a no-contact crash.
Some of the most common causes of no-contact motorcycle accidents in Colorado include the following actions taken by other drivers:
Additionally, no-contact motorcycle accidents can also occur if pedestrians or bicyclists walk out or ride out in front of a motorcyclist suddenly.
In order to properly examine how a no-contact motorcycle accident could be the fault of another driver, we want to bring you this hypothetical situation involving a vehicle driver and a motorcyclist at an intersection with stop signs.
Let us suppose that a motorcyclist is passing through an intersection and has the right of way and does not have to stop. Let us imagine that a driver coming to a stop sign decides that they are in a hurry and chooses to go through the stop sign without coming to a complete stop. The motorcyclist could see the driver running through the stop sign and maneuver quickly to avoid a possible collision. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for motorcyclists to crash after taking evasive actions to avoid a collision. In this scenario, it is entirely possible for the motorcyclist to avoid striking the vehicle but end up driving off the road or into oncoming traffic.
Even if the motorcyclist never comes into contact with the original vehicle they were trying to avoid, they could still end up crashing and sustaining severe injuries in this “no-contact” scenario.
If you or somebody you love has been injured in a no-contact motorcycle accident caused by the actions of another driver, bicyclist, or pedestrian, you should reach out to a skilled Denver motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can get involved in these cases and conduct a complete investigation to determine liability. Even though a no-contact incident may present more challenges when it comes to securing compensation, it is not impossible. An attorney can walk you through the entire process.
