Are Rainy Conditions Likely to Lead to a Motorcycle Accident? 4 Tips on Maintaining Safety

Rainy conditions may not increase motorcycle accidents, but they can greatly influence them.

Rainy conditions are a rarity in the LA area.

The average amount of rainfall in Downtown Los Angeles accumulates to around 14 inches of precipitation a year. By comparison, New York City averages close to 50 inches of precipitation, and our neighbors to the north in San Francisco a little under 23 inches. 

The lack of rainy conditions are no doubt one of the many reasons why people flock to Los Angeles, including motorcycle enthusiasts.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles reported 155,065 registered motorcycles in Los Angeles County.  That’s almost 20 percent of the entire state (the next highest, San Diego County, is not even 10 percent).

Despite such a small amount of yearly precipitation, there are still days when the clouds get gray and rainstorms hit the area. Studies show that rain and wet pavement are two of the leading causes of car crashes, with wet pavement accounting for 78 percent of weather-related injuries. 

You obviously can’t control the weather, and you may already be out on a bike ride when rain starts to fall. If this is the case, are you more likely to be involved in a motorcycle accident?

Studies from the National Safety Council show that a majority of motorcycle accidents happen during clear or cloudy conditions, as opposed to rainy conditions, and not by a small amount. 78.22 percent of motorcycle accidents took place during clear or cloudy conditions, while only 1.72 percent occurred during rainy conditions. 

It should be noted that 19.48 percent of crashes were for other or unknown conditions, so the number of rainfall accidents could be higher. 

While the numbers show that more accidents occur during clear conditions as opposed to rainy conditions, it doesn’t mean your risk of getting in a motorcycle accident during rainfall is not high.

Most bike riders opt not to ride in the rain, largely because of the additional hazards with riding during rainy conditions. This may largely skew any number. 

Additionally, California motor vehicle deaths have overall been climbing upwards within the last ten years. 

If you are caught in rainy conditions on your motorcycle, there are a few tips to help you maintain safety:

• Do not speed  – speed limits are generally for normal driving conditions. Rain can disrupt many drivers’ routines, especially in Los Angeles. If you must ride in the rain, driving slower can help decrease your chances of a crash.
• Avoid sudden changes – any type of quick movement or jolt will be more affected by the wet conditions. It will be harder to keep control of your bike.
• Be extra cautious at intersections – an intersection is often a slippery road, and with other vehicles, it can be extremely dangerous.
• Pull over – if you are not in a rush, you can always pull over to a dry spot like a shopping mall or movie theater.  You can keep yourself entertained while you wait for the rain to let up. 

Picture a situation where a bike rider gets stuck in rainy conditions while they are out for a quick ride. At an intersection, another car fails to a halt in time, and they hydroplane into the rider forcing the biker to fly off the motorcycle and suffer several internal injuries.

Riding a motorcycle is dangerous with or without rainy conditions. Motorcycle accidents happen far too often.

Some of the more common injuries one may suffer after a motorcycle accident include:

• Neck and Back pain
• Traumatic Brain Injury 
• Broken bones 
• Cuts and lacerations 
• Road Rash
• Neck and Back injuries
• Organ damage or other internal injuries
• Scarring and Disfigurement 
• Wrongful death

If you or someone you know has been in a motorcycle crash during rainy conditions, you may be entitled to compensation.  Our motorcycle accident lawyers at C&B Law Group are ready to service accident victims across Los Angeles and Southern California.

The attorneys at C&B Law Group believe we have the experience, resources, and staff to help ensure we help you get the compensation you deserve. We will try recover economic and non-economic damages such as:

• Current or future medical expenses related to your accident injuries
• Lost wages if you are unable to work due to injuries
• Pain and suffering, including psychological trauma like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

We may also seek punitive damages if we believe they can be recovered.

With decades of combined experience, our team of LA motorcycle injury lawyers vows to do our best to satisfy each customer.

C&B Law Group has offices in Burbank and Echo Park, but we service clients all over So Cal, including cities such as:

• Glendale
• Bakersfield
• Long Beach
• Inglewood
• Fontana
• Norwalk
• San Bernardino
• Santa Ana
• Riverside
• Victorville

Your initial consultation with us is free. Contact C&B Law Group today regarding your motorcycle accident injury.