Spring is just around the corner. With warmer weather will come better riding conditions for motorcyclists. While hopping on your bike and taking to the road can be an enjoyable, relaxing experience, it can also be a dangerous one. That’s why even though we’re still in the later part of winter, now is a good time to start thinking about what you can do to protect yourself when you’re out on your motorcycle.
Top safety tips for motorcyclists
Motorcycle accidents are more common than a lot of people like to think. In fact, in 2021 alone, approximately 83,000 people were injured in these wrecks, with almost 6,000 additional people being killed. Those statistics are scary, especially if you’re someone who regularly rides.
But there are steps that you can take to better protect yourself out on the road. This includes doing the following:
- Remaining visible to other drivers: Many motorcycle accidents occur because riders are lost in other vehicles’ blind spots, or they simply aren’t seen. You can increase your visibility by wearing brightly colored clothes and riding in spaces that are visible to those in front and to the side of you.
- Wearing proper protective gear: You never hope or expect to be involved in a motorcycle accident, but you should prepare for the worst. This means wearing a helmet every time you ride, as well as other protection like a proper motorcycle jacket.
- Assuming the worst of other drivers: You can’t leave your safety in the hands of other drivers. If you do, you’ll be taken by surprise and end up getting hit. Instead, assume the worst of other drivers. Anticipate that they can’t see you, even when they should, and expect them to act erratically. By doing so, you’ll be better equipped to take evasive action when the need arises.
- Identifying an escape route: When you’re riding, you should always position yourself so that you have an escape route. If you need to slow down or change lanes to give you those avenues of escape, then carefully do so.
- Keeping a proper distance: A lot of motorcyclists make the mistake of thinking that their bike’s maneuverability allows them to ride aggressively. As a result, these motorcyclists often ride too closely to the vehicles in front of them, which increases the risk of being involved in an accident.
Have you been injured in a motorcycle accident?
Despite how diligent you are about safe riding, there’s a chance you’ll be involved in a motorcycle accident at some point in your life. If you’re hurt in a motorcycle wreck, then you need to think about taking legal action to protect your interests and your future. Failing to do so could leave you in a financial predicament where you don’t have the financial resources needed to pay for your medical care and rehabilitation, or to offset your lost wages. This can make for a hard road ahead.
Fortunately, there are concrete steps you can take to protect your interests. You can take photographs of the accident scene, talk to witnesses, obtain police reports, track your damages, and keep a journal of how your injuries impact your life. By doing so, you’ll generate the evidence needed to strongly support a personal injury case.
A motorcycle accident can reshape your life, completely devastating it if you let it. But you don’t have to allow that to happen. Just be prepared to take aggressive legal action to protect your interests.
