A driver pulls out in front of you as you approach on your motorcycle. They were waiting at a stop sign, and it was clear to you that they needed to yield the right of way until you passed. They even looked right at your bike. But then they still pulled out anyway, causing you to slam into the side of the car. 

That driver’s defense is perplexing: They claim they didn’t see you. Maybe they even accuse you of speeding, though you know you were driving the speed limit. They just don’t understand how else you could have “appeared out of nowhere.” 

Why does this happen?

The truth is that the driver may have looked right at you on your motorcycle and simply not seen you. The problem is in the way that the human brain filters information. 

When driving, a person can experience information overload. They have to look at and think about so many things. Their brain tries to make up for this by filtering out things that are unexpected or unneeded. 

In short, drivers see motorcycles less often and are less prone to expect them to be there. When they look to see if the road is clear, what they’re really looking for is a car or a truck. This may be unintentional, but the brain knows it and may not register the motorcycle as easily. 

What is the solution?

The solution is vigilance. The motorcycle is there and the driver can see it. They need to take an extra beat and give their brain more time to process all of the information to make sure the road is clear.  

Unfortunately, drivers don’t always do this, and they cause accidents as a result. If you get injured while riding your motorcycle by a negligent driver, you may have a right to financial compensation.