Why Don’t People In Vehicles Notice Motorcyclists?

People in enclosed motor vehicles like cars, trucks and SUVs have a legal obligation to share the road with pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists. Unfortunately, people in vehicles tend not to notice pedestrians and people on smaller or non-motorized vehicles. Claims that they didn’t notice the other person are very common after someone in a vehicle causes a crash with a motorcyclist.

As someone who enjoys riding on a motorcycle, you have probably made every effort possible to ensure that you are safe when you ride. From purchasing a bike that makes significant noise to investing in visibility gear, you may have tried to make yourself more noticeable to cars on the road. Unfortunately, your best efforts may still not attract the attention of someone in a car in time to avoid a crash.

The human brain must prioritize a lot of information while driving. When someone drives, their brain has to analyze their surroundings constantly and determine whether or not environmental factors pose a threat. Given that motorcycles are so much smaller than enclosed motor vehicles, research indicates that the brain simply doesn’t prioritize alerting a driver about the presence of a motorcycle nearby.

Unless the driver makes a special effort to look for pedestrians, bicycles and motorcycles, they may glance right past people and proceeded to drive directly into them. Not noticing a motorcycle is no excuse for causing a crash.

If you suffered injuries that required medical care or kept you from working, you can potentially hold a driver accountable if they crashed into you because they didn’t notice you on your motorcycle. An experienced attorney can help you seek the compensation you need and deserve.