In crashes involving a passenger vehicle and a motorcycle, the motorcyclist is usually at fault.

• A. True
• B. Often true
• C. False
• D. Cannot be determined

Answer: (C)

Fault in crashes between a car and a motorcycle isn’t determined by the vehicle type. The main idea is that who is at fault depends on the specific actions and right-of-way violations at the scene—speed, signaling, yielding, lane changes, and adherence to traffic laws. Car drivers often fail to see motorcycles or fail to yield when turning or merging, which can put them at fault. But the motorcyclist can also be at fault if they speed, lane-split where illegal, or mishandle a maneuver. Because fault varies with the circumstances, the statement that the motorcyclist is usually at fault isn’t reliable.