
What Happens When a Car Hits a Motorcycle?
Automobiles are designed to protect passengers with safety belts to hold them inside the vehicle and multiple airbags to soften the impact. Motorcycle riders do not have these safety features. Here we will look at what happens when a motorcycle is hit by a car.
On Impact
The force of the impact is mostly determined by the rate of speed each vehicle is traveling. The direction each vehicle is traveling will affect the force of the impact as well. If the two are traveling directly at each other the force of the impact will be much greater than if they are both traveling in the same direction such as in a sideswipe collision.
Absorbing the Force of Impact
Most newer cars are designed to absorb much of the force of impact and they have safety belts to hold passengers firmly in their seats so they are not ejected. Most vehicles are equipped with airbags to further protect the passengers from being thrown around. Motorcycle riders have no such protections. A motorcycle rider will more often than not be thrown from their bike with all of the force of the impact.
Type of Collision Affects Trajectory
Most often an ejected motorcycle rider will be thrown forward and will continue to travel in the direction they were headed. Many front-end collisions or collisions where the motorcycle runs into the car will result in the rider being thrown over their handlebars and possibly over the vehicle it collided with. This can be especially dangerous because it can result in internal injuries or head trauma.
When a motorcycle is sideswiped or T-boned the rider is generally thrown over off of their bike. This can still be quite dangerous as the rider is sent sliding across the asphalt with all of the force of impact. This can result in broken bones and extremely painful road rash. There is also the possibility of the rider being thrown into oncoming traffic.
If you or someone close to you has been injured in a motorcycle accident by a negligent driver Casas Law can help you determine if you are owed compensation for their negligence. Contact us today and get a free case evaluation.