You too Can Prevent Fatal Motorcycle Accidents

If You Hear Them… 

If you hear a motorcycle, you should be on instant alert: there’s a motorcycle on the road somewhere and it’s probably pretty close to me. Motorcyclists are famous for hanging out in blind spots, especially if you have a larger vehicle or one that is particularly prone to blind spots. If you can’t see a motorcycle, but you can hear them, you need to consider the possibility that they’re in your blind spot. When you’re changing lanes, make sure to signal ahead of time so that other motorists—specifically motorcyclists—know your intention is to change lanes. Don’t suddenly just drift into another lane. Slowly transition into the lane, ensuring that there isn’t anyone in your blind spot. You should always be careful when changing lanes, even if you don’t hear or see any motorcyclists.  

Don’t Text and Drive 

Motorcycles are significantly less safe than other vehicles as they just don’t offer a whole lot of protection and they leave the driver vulnerable to all sorts of calamity. While motorcyclists may have decided to forego the safety that a sedan provides, they didn’t decide to drive on the road while you’re distracted. The summer months and spring months are prime time for motorcyclists. While you shouldn’t be texting and driving in the fall and winter, you especially shouldn’t drive distracted in the summer and spring months when there are motorists on the road who are even more susceptible to harm and roadside fatalities. Do not text and drive. If you need to use your phone while driving, you should pull over at a safe place before interacting with your phone. If you want to talk on the phone while you’re driving, you should consider using your car’s Bluetooth capabilities—which by now are standard. If you need to use your phone for GPS, it should be on the dashboard where it will not obstruct your view. Keeping your phone in your lap can be dangerous as you’ll need to take your eyes off the road to look at the directions. When motorcyclists are out, you’ll need to be paying attention at all times. 

Keep Your Distance 

It is important for cars to keep their distance, especially from motorcyclists. While you don’t think a motorcyclist is going to do something, there’s often no way of telling what they’re going to do for sure. Do not drive at close distances to another motorist’s bumper. If a car or motorcyclist is up your tail pipe, it’s time for you to get out of the way. While you may feel like you’re being pushed around on the road, remember, it’s not worth it to get into a road rage contest while you’re in the car—this is especially true if you’re the person on the motorcycle.  

Anticipate Other Drivers 

It’s important to pay attention at all times. You need to pay attention to what other drivers are doing and attempt to anticipate what they’re about to do. For example, if you see a driver that’s got his blinker on, it’s pretty safe to assume that he’s trying to get in your lane. While you may not love the idea of another driver getting in your lane—especially in rush hour traffic—you should not speed up as fast as possible so as not to let them in. This can have fatal consequences, especially if that driver wasn’t paying attention when they were drifting into your lane. While you’d technically be in the right, you might find that it doesn’t matter who was right and who was wrong when you’ve got life threatening injuries. Anticipate other drivers and let them in when necessary. 

Wear the Right Safety Gear 

If you have a motorcycle, it’s important to wear the proper safety gear. While nobody’s forcing you to wear a helmet—and people often hate the idea of wearing a helmet—you should wear one anyway. Leather pants and gloves may also be appropriate when going for a bike ride. You may need to wear long sleeves, a vest, and gloves. A vest can be important since it can offer protection against road abrasion if you fall off your bike. The same is true for the leather pants, and gloves. It’s important to wear proper eye protection as well.  

If You’ve Been Injured in a Motorcycle Accident

If you’ve sustained injury in a motorcycle accident due to a negligent driver, Moxie Law Group is here for you. Contact us today to get started on your free consultation.