Driving a motorcycle is often described as a very freeing experience, and this can be attractive to motorists of all ages, gender and lifestyles. After all, being on a motorcycle will allow you to feel the wind hitting your body in a way that is not comparable to simply rolling your window down in a passenger vehicle. However, motorcyclists are much more likely to be involved in deadly traffic accidents, so they need to place a major emphasis on safety.
Additionally, it is important for everyone who drives a bike to be aware that they have the legal right to contact a motorcycle accident attorney if another driver causes them to suffer from injuries or vehicle damage. The following are some motorcycle safety tips that can help prevent such accidents.
1. Always Wear a Helmet
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, helmet usage saves approximately 1,800 lives per year. Unfortunately, many people fail to wear a helmet, and this is linked to an annual average of 800 preventable deaths. A study that was conducted in 2007 indicated that helmet usage has been dropping dramatically despite the fact that statistics clearly prove that they prevent fatalities.
2. Familiarize Yourself with Local Laws
In some areas, certain types of motorcycles are allowed to drive between lanes during heavy traffic congestion. However, this is never safe, and you can also get into serious legal trouble if you do something like this in the wrong area. Due to this, you need to become very familiar with the local laws in each area that you drive through.
3. Wear Protective Clothing
It is understandable that wearing long pants, gloves and thick boots on a hot summer day can be uncomfortable, but your risk of becoming seriously injured during an accident will dramatically increase if you do not wear the proper protective clothing. In other words, if you are not willing to protect yourself, you should not drive a motorcycle.
4. Never Drink and Drive
Statistics have proven that approximately 50 percent of all motorcycle accidents involve alcohol. Therefore, it is always important to remember that you should never drive your bike unless you are sober. One Orlando motorcycle accident lawyer states “A motorcycle rider or passenger who suffers serious injuries or those whose loved ones are killed may have a personal injury claim against any driver who was negligent or who violated the rules of the road in a way that led to the crash.” As a cyclist it is important to understand you have rights if such an accident should occur.
5. Remain Alert at All Times
Approximately 75 percent of all motorcycle accidents involve a collision with another vehicle. Because of this, motorcyclists should always keep a close eye on the actions of other nearby drivers. If another driver does hit you, it is a good idea to consider contacting an experienced motorcycle accident attorney to help you receive compensation for any applicable medical bills and vehicle damage.
6. Be Careful with Road Curves
The majority of single vehicle motorcycle accidents are caused by a driver that under corners or enters a curve going too quickly. To avoid these issues, you should always follow the speed limit and decelerate appropriately when you enter a curve.
Ultimately, no matter how many safety guidelines you follow, it is still possible that you could end up in an accident due to someone else’s negligence. If this happens, it is definitely best to pursue your legal options by consulting with a lawyer.
Lisa Coleman shares some tips for a motorcyclist about some measures that can be taken to help ensure safety when riding, including their legal rights. She recently read online how an Orlando motorcycle accident lawyer firm can represent such a claim within the state of FL.
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nick_knouse/1434134368/