A crash Tuesday injured a San Diego police officer riding on a motorcycle near Qualcomm Stadium. The accident happened on the exit of Interstate 15 near westbound Friars Road. Unfortunately, exit ramps can be a common location for accidents to happen. The changing speed of vehicles and the changing environment exiting the freeway can be disorienting or confusing for drivers.

If you are not following speed guidelines and being aware of your surroundings, you may find yourself in the midst of a San Diego car accident. After a San Diego car accident in which someone else has sustained injuries and you may be at fault for the crash, you could find yourself the subject of a personal injury claim.

Motorcycle safety is a serious concern in California. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, motorcycle accident fatalities are on the rise. Between 2013 and 2014, these deaths spiked by more than 12 percent. Motorcycle fatalities also grew with every 100,000 motorcycle registrations within the state from 54 to 60 between the same time period.

Drivers can do their part to avoid accidents by always checking potential blind spots for motorcycle riders. Use all of your mirrors and look out all the windows to ensure that there’s no biker in the lanes next to you before you merge onto the highway or onto an exit ramp.

Since bikers have less protection than individuals inside a car, they can be critically or fatally injured if struck and thrown off the bike.