Law

Safe Riding: How Motorcyclists Can Avoid Crashes

There are a number of steps that drivers and motorcyclists can take to help prevent motorcycle crashes. Motorcycle riders are 28x more likely to die in traffic crashes. Motorcyclist collisions with various vehicles and fixed barriers often lead to injuries such as broken bones, loss of limbs, neck and spinal cord injuries, as well as head and brain trauma.

What Makes Motorcyclists So Vulnerable?

Approximately 1.25 million American lives are lost in motor vehicle accidents. Additionally, 20 million to 50 million more people live with a disability acquired in a non-fatal accident. Motorcyclists are surrounded by inherent safety challenges like vehicle size and visibility. Being a rider takes balance, coordination, and good judgment, which means it is important for motorcyclists to have plenty of experience in techniques like downshifting and weaving.  Participation from all road users on safe riding practices will assist in providing lower instances of fatalities and injuries.

Understanding Motorcycle Safety

Riders should always wear proper protection. First, the best way to protect the brain is to wear a motorcycle helmet. The helmet should always meet the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS). Riders should always keep their arms and legs completely covered, ideally with leather or heavy denim. When riding, boots or shoes should be high enough to cover the ankles. Gloves should be worn to improve grip and help protect the hands in the event of a crash.

While on the road, drivers and motorcyclists have the same rights.  Riders should be given a full lane of travel and a maintained distance of at least three to four seconds. This distance allows optimal reaction time for the rider’s safety. Over one-half of crashes are due to drivers entering a rider’s right-of-way. A portion of drivers may unlawfully squeeze in beside a rider in their lane. Though, in most cases, drivers state that they never saw the motorcycle.  These circumstances have led to intersections posing the greatest potential for collisions among motorcyclists and other vehicles. Wearing bright or colorful clothing with reflective material makes riders more visible to other road users.

Common Mistakes Made By Divers

The outline of a motorcycle is much smaller than that of a car. Commonly, drivers may not see the motorcycle because they are on alert for other cars, and subconsciously dismiss motorcycles on the road. In many instances, drivers may see the motorcycle but misjudge its distance and speed. Smaller vehicles, such as motorcycles, are easy to misjudge because they appear further away and seem to be traveling slower than they truly are. Frequently, drivers inaccurately assume there is enough time to pull out in front of motorcyclists. This miscalculation can lead to diverse injuries or a fatality.

Legal Representation For Injury Cases

A motorcycle crash may lead to lifelong injuries and disabilities. Significant injuries may leave a victim unable to work during the recovery process. These injuries may also lead to lost wages due to a victim’s permanent impairments. Injury cases customarily coincide with expensive surgeries and medical treatments, overwhelming medical bills, and a need for physical rehabilitation and therapy. If victims or their loved one is injured, a personal injury lawyer can provide a victim with legal representation to receive proper compensation.

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