Hitting road debris can cause serious injury for Motorcyclists

A common scenario leading to a motorbike accident comes from poor road conditions, including debris left on the roads.

Especially at high speeds, motorcyclists are at risk of losing control of the motorbike and coming off the bike due to dangerous debris left on the road. Needless to say, this is extremely hazardous as oncoming traffic may not be able to stop in time before causing serious injury.

Without the protection of a car’s ‘four walls’, the motorcyclist is vulnerable to external elements that may impact his control of the motorbike.

Recently in Australia, a 27 year-old motorcyclist collided with a shipping pallet that fell out of a passing truck. The rider lost control and was thrown off his bike. Paramedics were quick to attend the incident but luckily the driver did not seem to suffer any serious injuries.

But this is just one example of where a claim can be made for the negligence of others leading to a debris accident on a motorbike.

Debris can come in many forms, including:

All of these can pose a great danger to a motorcyclist. Since they have to balance on two wheels, a disruption to the motorbike’s path can cause the motorcyclist to lose parity with their bike. Motorcyclists are taught to run over small debris and carefully swerve if is it a large obstacle. However, the motorcyclist may not always have the luxury of seeing the obstacle until it is too late.

Swerving hazards

Swerving itself can be a hazardous manoeuvre, putting the rider at risk of over-swerving and also prompting other road users to react in the same way. This can cause a chain reaction until a collision occurs. Although the debris can be small, one false move can cause a more serious collision.

Debris does not always have to hit the road first; sometimes, it is flying towards the motorcyclist at head or torso height.

Last year in the U.S., a motorcycle was hit by a foam pad from a boat that was being towed on the interstate. Although motorcyclists are not generally expected to look out for boat parts that might launch into their path, they are encouraged to be more wary of vehicles carrying extra loads that may unexpectedly come unattached.

The motorcyclist in the above incident, a Mr Jankowski, spoke about how lucky his recent purchase of a motorcycle jacket prevented more serious injury:

“I had just bought the jacket that day thinking I’d come back next week and get the gear and have the full set, I happened to use the jacket I just bought to help me save quite a bit of pain.”

Without bumpers, car walls, or a car windscreen, the only thing that stands between flying debris and the driver is the protective gear they wear.

Protective clothing

It is a legal requirement for motorcyclists to wear a protective helmet on the roads. They are also heavily encouraged to wear protective gear such as a durable jacket, gloves, trousers and boots. Motorcyclists must do all they can to keep themselves safe on the roads. If a small rock propelled by a car wheel in front can crack a screen… Imagine what it could do to a motorcyclist’s unprotected face?

If you are a motorcyclist and you have been involved in a road traffic accident that was not your fault, speak to our team of specialist motorbike injury lawyers to see how we can help you claim financial compensation.