A very common type of motorcycle accident occurs when a driver pulls out in front of a motorcycle. Often, that driver will say they never saw the motorcyclist. They may claim the motorcyclist was speeding or something similar.
However, motorcyclists often counter that they were not speeding and were clearly visible the entire time. They may even say the driver looked right at them and then proceeded to cut them off anyway.
How could something like this happen? It may be due to inattentional blindness.
The way the brain works
The key thing to understand is that the brain constantly sorts and filters information as a person lives their daily life. It’s impossible for someone to fully process all the information in their visual field at once. The brain often fills in gaps with what it expects to see or prioritizes what it deems most important at the time.
If a driver quickly glances to the left to check for cars or trucks before pulling into the road, they may not expect to see a motorcycle. As a result, their brain can actually filter it out. This is why the driver may be just as surprised as the motorcyclist when an accident occurs.
The general fix for this issue is for drivers to slow down and really concentrate on what they’re observing. Even taking an extra second gives the brain more time to process information, making it more likely that they will notice an approaching motorcycle.
Unfortunately, many drivers are in a hurry, so they glance quickly without fully appreciating what they’re seeing. To them, it feels as though the motorcycle isn’t there at all.
Seeking compensation
If you’ve been injured by a negligent driver while riding your motorcycle, you could be facing extensive medical bills, lost wages and other costs. Take the time to explore your legal options to seek compensation.