The Dynamics of Toronto Motorcycle Accidents

Because motorcycles are smaller than the vehicles with which they share the road, their riders need to be more aware of the corresponding increased risk of injury. Increased awareness will lead to more motorcyclists wearing more protective gear, such as protective jackets and pants.

If you have been involved in a crash, there is a lot to consider, and it is in your best interest to contact a local injury lawyer to discuss the various Toronto motorcycle accident dynamics as well as potential recovery of damages.

General Considerations

The main issue with a motorcycle accident is the severity of the injuries. Sadly, often drivers fail to detect motorcycles riding close to them. They either do not see them, or when they finally do, it is too late. Accidents between motorcycles and automobiles may be caused by distractions like cell phone use, fatigue, or even driver inexperience.

The problem is that the injuries that the motorcyclist suffers can be especially devastating. When a lawyer investigates a motorcycle accident, they will be sure to examine whether the driver of the motorcycle (and motorcycle passenger) were wearing their helmets and whether the accident was caused by the other vehicle or the motorcyclist.

Additionally, there are many single-vehicle motorcycle accidents. Another consideration is that some bikers drive in groups, and some groups perform tricks in the middle of the highway and are involved in an accident. That can be a significant problem for them.

Common Causes of Injury

Two common types of motorcycle accidents are sideswipes, which are very damaging, and accidents caused by spills, where there is spillage on road, like an oil spill. In those cases, if a motorcyclist drives through the spill and falls, this can cause a serious accident.

Whatever the cause of the accident, when a motorcyclist is thrown from the seat of the bike, the result can be serious injury, including burns and severely broken bones, and sometimes death.

It is very common to get second and third-degree burns if the rider gets knocked off the bike and the only thing between the rider and the engine box are the person’s clothes. Determining the seriousness of injuries is an important consideration when investigating the various dynamics of Toronto motorcycle accidents.

Determining Liability

In Ontario, the amount of responsibility each party had in the accident is taken into account when it comes to assignment of liability. The main concern for the plaintiff with respect to liability will be how their actions or lack thereof contributed to the accident. That is why it is best if a person has a lawyer who helps him or her navigate issues of fault.

When it comes to the standards by which riders are judged, motorcyclists in Ontario have to abide by the same rules of the road as all other drivers. Likewise, they have to be properly licensed and have their insurance in place.

Available Licenses

There are different types of motorcycle licenses in Toronto. There are motorcycle safety courses a person take, and these courses can possibly reduce the time a person needs in order to take a second road test.

An individual may not need to take the M1 road test, but again, there are three main types of motorcycle licenses in Ontario: the M, M with condition L, and M with condition M.

M is for full-speed motorcycles, M with condition L is for mopeds and motorized scooters or what is called a “limited-speed” motorcycle, and M with condition M is for three-wheeled motorcycles. These are the three main types of licenses, and there are others.

How a Toronto Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Might Be Able to Help

A Toronto lawyer always looks at each accident individually and on its own merits. The first step is to determine exactly how this accident happened, and a variety of factors such as how the conduct of the different drivers involved in the accident caused or contributed to the accident, what injuries were sustained, what effect the injury has on the person’s life, and whether the injury affects their livelihood and  activities. In short, there are a number of dynamics of a Toronto motorcycle accident a lawyer will review in order to determine the best course of action in each individual case.