Thought riding motorcycles is fun as well as a popular thing to do in California, but there are thousands of motorcycle accidents that take places in this state every year, learning the causes of those accidents is important in trying to prevent them. The top cause of accidents is negligence on behalf of the motorcyclist; pushing the limits of the machine, driving while drunk, speeding and lack of attention are all major factors that can lead to an accident.

Because there's almost nothing between the bike rider and pavement, except the clothing he or she wears, bikers are exposed to serious injuries during an accident, which can many times become a fatal accident either during the event or later due to injuries that could not be resolved with medical attention. Although motorcycle clothing has been especially designed to reduce injuries and broken bones, body surfing across a gravel road at 40 or 50 miles an hour peels away leather quickly and exposes the body to all types of injuries.

Approximately 66% of all motorcycle accidents include another vehicle. Because motorcycles are small, they are easy to overlook on roadways. This allows inattentive drivers to move into the motorcyclist's lane. People are 27 times more likely to die from a collision when riding a motorcycle than in a vehicle. In addition, bikers and their passengers are injured five times as often as passengers of other vehicles.

The other three major causes of motorcycle collisions are under the control of the operator. Flying down the road on a fine-tuned, fast-running machine makes a biker feel invincible. While enjoying the sensations of wind rushing past and the highway flowing smoothly beneath the tires, people often over estimate their expertise in handling this powerful, heavy contraption. It does not take much to create a catastrophe; a road design defect, an unexpected pedestrian action or a fast approaching corner can create opportunities for loss of control and overturned cycles. Fuel leakage and sparks from sliding metal create fires while the biker tries to avoid being crushed by heavy equipment or smashed against stationary objects like trees, rocks and guard rails.

Bikers cannot control the action of other drivers, however they can protect themselves from their own negligence by knowing their capabilities, the bike's responsiveness, obeying speed limits and being aware of the riding surface.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a motorcycle, take the time to contact a professional accident lawyer to see if you qualify for compensation for damages caused by the other driver. Don't wait, you need to act quickly in order to secure the best possible outcome for your claim.