Top Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Alabama – Know the Risks, Protect Your Rights

 Motorcycle riding is exhilarating—but in Alabama, it comes with a high level of risk. According to the Alabama Department of Transportation, motorcyclists are nearly 27 times more likely to lose their lives in a crash than those in passenger vehicles. Understanding the most common causes of these crashes is key to preventing them—and for injured riders, it’s crucial to knowing who’s legally responsible.

1. Drivers Failing to Yield

A leading cause of motorcycle accidents in Alabama is drivers failing to yield the right of way—especially when making left turns at intersections. Motorcycles are often missed due to their smaller size and a driver’s distraction or poor judgment.

2. Blind Spot Lane Changes

Motorcycles easily vanish in a car’s blind spot. When drivers don’t properly check before switching lanes, the result can be serious injury or even fatality for the rider.

3. Speeding

Speed is deadly. Roughly 1 in 4 fatal crashes involve high speeds. Both riders and vehicle drivers contribute to this issue.

4. Impaired Driving

Alcohol and drugs impair judgment and reaction time. Whether it's a car driver or a motorcyclist under the influence, the results are often tragic.

5. Poor Road Conditions

Loose gravel, potholes, or uneven pavement can throw a motorcycle off balance. Rural Alabama roads with limited maintenance are especially risky.

6. Distracted Driving

Texting, GPS use, or adjusting controls while driving can result in drivers missing motorcycles entirely. This is a growing danger on Alabama roads.

7. Inexperienced Riders

Beginner riders often make avoidable errors—like entering curves too fast or improper lane positioning—which leads to crashes, especially without proper training.

8. Left-Turn Collisions

Left-turn accidents are among the most fatal. Often, the car driver is at fault for not yielding to an oncoming motorcycle at an intersection.

9. Doorings in Urban Areas

In cities like Birmingham or Montgomery, parked drivers may swing open a door into the path of a passing motorcycle, causing devastating injuries.

10. Mechanical Failures

Brake failure, blown tires, or defective parts can lead to crashes. In such cases, the fault may lie with the manufacturer or repair service.

Read Blog:- Top Reasons Motorcycle Accidents Happen in Alabama

What To Do After a Crash

• Call police and get a written report

• Get medical help—no matter how minor the injury seems

• Take scene photos and gather witness info

• Avoid speaking with insurers until you talk to a lawyer

Why Legal Help Matters

Alabama follows a contributory negligence law—if you’re even 1% at fault, you may not receive compensation. That’s why experienced motorcycle crash lawyers are essential for investigating the crash, preserving evidence, and protecting your rights.

If you’ve been injured, don’t wait.
Visit our Google Business Profile to connect with our team at Southern Med Law for confidential legal support tailored to Alabama’s laws.

How to Challenge an Unfair IME After a Car Wreck in Alabama

 If you’ve been injured in a serious car crash in Alabama and the insurance company requests an Independent Medical Exam (IME), proceed with caution. While it sounds neutral, the IME is arranged—and paid for—by the insurance company. That raises serious concerns about bias. Worse, an unfavorable IME report can shrink your settlement or even lead to claim denial.

Let’s break down how Alabama victims can fight back when an IME report seems unfair.

⚖️ When Is an IME Unfair?

There are several warning signs that the IME isn’t truly “independent”:

• Financial Bias: Many IME doctors earn a large portion of their income from insurers, not from treating patients. That’s a red flag.

• Lack of Expertise: A general orthopedist evaluating a traumatic brain injury? Not ideal. IME doctors should match your injury type.

• Reputation for Favoring Insurance Companies: Some examiners have a track record of downplaying injuries or denying causation.

• Unprofessional Conduct: If the exam felt rushed, the doctor was dismissive, or they asked questions unrelated to your injuries, that’s a problem.

🛑 Procedural Issues That Could Invalidate an IME

The process itself matters. If the insurance company didn’t provide proper notice, scheduled the exam unreasonably far away, or failed to give you a clear understanding of what would happen, those could all be used to challenge the IME legally under Alabama Rule of Civil Procedure 35.

🧾 Document Everything Immediately After the IME

After the exam, write down:

• Date, time, and duration

• Doctor’s demeanor

• Tests performed

• Any inappropriate questions

• What was (and wasn’t) discussed

Your memory is fresh—details matter.

👨‍⚕️ Have Your Treating Physician Review the Report

Your own doctor has a history of treating you and understands your condition best. They can identify misinterpretations, factual errors, or unsupported conclusions in the IME report—and help prepare a formal rebuttal.

Learn More: How to Challenge an Independent Medical Exam in an Alabama Car Crash Case

🧠 Let Your Attorney Do the Heavy Lifting

An Alabama personal injury attorney knows how to:

• Investigate the IME doctor’s background

• File objections or motions to exclude flawed IME reports

• Prepare to cross-examine the IME doctor in deposition or trial

• Gather expert medical support to counter the report

This is not a DIY process. Challenging an IME takes both legal savvy and medical insight.

📞 Get Legal Help Now

If you’ve had an IME—or one is coming up—don’t face it alone. At Southern Med Law, we bring a rare combination of medical and legal expertise to help Alabama accident victims stand up to biased IMEs.

Call us today for a free consultation and protect your right to fair compensation after your car wreck.