What Is a Right Hook Motorcycle Accident?

A right hook motorcycle accident is where a vehicle turns right in front of the motorcyclist. This type of accident is also a common type of bicycle accident. Right hook accidents are considered to be among one of the more severe types involving motorcycles or bicycles and vehicles of all different sizes. Sadly, the bike rider is often left with serious injuries. Sometimes these can be debilitating, leaving them disabled physically, mentally, or both.

It can occur in several different ways, depending on the traffic configuration and movement, as follows:

1. A vehicle and motorcycle are both waiting at a red light. The driver of the vehicle decides they want to turn right. When the light turns green, they turn right, directly in front of the motorcyclist.
2. A vehicle passes the motorcycle just before reaching an intersection and believes they have sufficient clearance to pull in front of the motorcyclist and turn right. Instead, they cut off the bike rider and make it difficult for them to stop in time.
3. The motorcyclist is passing slower-moving traffic on the right. All of a sudden, one of the slow-moving cars decides to turn right to get out of the busy traffic. When they make the turn, they end up cutting off the motorcyclist.

In all right hook accidents, the motorcycle or bike will be on the right-hand side.

How Is Liability Determined?

In these types of personal injury cases, liability can be difficult to determine. This is why it is best to consult with and hire a motorcycle accident attorney. Sometimes it might seem clear who should be at fault when the car made a sudden right-hand turn in front of the bike rider.

Other times, fault may not be as easy to determine. It is often a question of how much time elapsed from the time the vehicle passed the motorcyclist before deciding to turn right. If there was enough time and the distance between the vehicle and bike was sufficient, then the motorcyclist could be found at-fault or partially at-fault.

If the motorcyclist is passing traffic on the right side on the shoulder and speeding by, then the bike rider could be found at fault. They could get into a right hook motorcycle accident because someone decided to turn right or exit the highway.

How Can One Prevent Right Hook Motorcycle Accidents?

The best way to reduce risks of right hook motorcycle accidents is to be aware of your surroundings at all times. This means you should check your mirrors every so often and be aware of traffic in your blind spots. Before turning right or changing lanes, verify nothing is in the blind spot and always use your turn signal to indicate your intentions.

Motorcyclists need to anticipate what another driver may or may not do. You need to be able to stop suddenly if a vehicle cuts you off. You should also try not to remain in a vehicle’s blind spot when approaching an intersection. If necessary, slow down so the motorist can see you in their side mirror.

What Can I Do if I Am in a Right Hook Motorcycle Accident?

The first thing you should do is call 911 and seek medical treatment. Even if your injuries seem minor, it does not mean they might not be complicated. Often, in motorcycle and bicycle accidents, there can be internal injuries you cannot see. If left untreated, these could lead to complications or even death.

After being treated, it is recommended to contact a motorcycle collision attorney as soon as possible. In Texas, you can call Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P. at 713-574-5089 for a free consultation and accident evaluation. Your motorcycle injury attorney will inform of you of your legal rights and how much compensation you could be entitled to receive.