People love to ride motorcycles because of their speed and maneuverability. However, what brings excitement can also bring danger. Riders must be aware of changing weather conditions in addition to inattentive drivers of the cars and trucks around them.
No matter your age, skill level or experience, there are numerous tips that can help you prevent a motorcycle accident and avoid catastrophic injuries.
- Always wear a helmet with a face shield or protective eye wear: Wearing a helmet is the best way to protect against serious head injuries. From direct vehicle impact or sliding across the pavement, head trauma is a distinct possibility in nearly every motorcycle accident.
- Wear appropriate gear: Riders should make sure to wear not only heavy protective clothing, but also reflective gear to increase their visibility to other motorists. Leather clothing, gloves and boots can protect the body from severe injuries.
- Follow traffic rules: This can mean following the speed limits and traffic signals as well as general safety rules such as no lane-splitting and no passing on the shoulders.
- Ride defensively: This advice can generally be boiled down to assume you are invisible. From cars and trucks not looking before changing lanes to distracted driving, riders must always assume they are at risk.
- Be awake and ride sober: Riding under the influence of drugs or alcohol can lead to loss of reflexes and dulled senses. Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous for riders.
- Avoid distractions: While more common in other vehicles, driving distractions still exist for riders. From having phone conversations to manipulating a GPS unit, riders must take care to focus only on the task at hand.
Due to the lack of protective safety features, a motorcyclist will always be on the losing end of a vehicle collision. With only a helmet and heavy clothing protecting them from impact both with the other vehicles and the road surface, riders can suffer devastating injuries. The results can be head injuries, brain injuries, neck injuries, spinal cord injuries, road rash and paralysis. In serious collisions, it is not uncommon for the accident to prove fatal.
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, do not hesitate to discuss your legal options for monetary compensation with an experienced personal injury attorney.