Motorcycles: 6 Tips for Safer Driving

 

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/

Categories: accident attorney, accident lawyer, accidents, accidents involve, helmet usage, local laws, motorcycle accident, motorcycle accidents, motorcyles, orlando motorcycle

Medically Unfit to Drive: Hanging up the Keys

 

Changes in your health can impact your life in many ways. From the food you eat to the activities you participate in, your medical fitness can have far-reaching implications on aspects of your life that you may not have considered. One of these is your ability to drive. Some medical diagnoses and even the addition of new medications can mean you need to think about hanging up your keys for good. But how do you determine when you’ve crossed the line from good driver to road menace? 

 

Moving Away From the Wheel: Factors to Consider

When you receive a new diagnosis or medication from your doctor, it’s important that you understand the full impact it can have on your life. While driving can make your ability to get around a lot easier, some medications and illnesses can make getting behind the wheel dangerous for yourself and others.

According to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a relationship has been found between increased crash risk and declines in vision, hearing, and reaction time, all of which can be brought on by various medical conditions. Here are some factors to consider when deciding if you’re not fit to continue being on the road. 

1) Are you currently diagnosed with a neurological disorder?

As people go through the stages of life, neurological disorders such as strokes or Alzheimer’s Disease can become more prevalent. Currently, strokes are the third leading cause of death for Americans, and it’s effects can greatly impact your ability to drive. Be sure to discuss your condition with your doctor, who can do a full assessment to ascertain if you’re mentally competent enough to drive.

 

2) Does your illness or medication cause any vision issues?

Although getting a vision test is the norm for getting and keeping your driver’s license, vision problems can pop up between tests, thus putting your driving ability at serious risk. Additionally, some medications can cause dizziness or blurred vision, making driving on more dangerous roads such as a mountainous region like Denver a huge risk.

 

3) Are you suffering or recently diagnosed with a joint or movement-related disorder?

It may come as a surprise to some that movement-related issues could pose a problem to drivers. After all, you’re probably driving to avoid having to move too much. However, simple tasks such as turning around to park, being mobile enough to turn the wheel or even using a stick shift can be greatly compromised by mobility issues.

 

4) Are you taking multiple medications?

Medication interaction is a serious issue for drivers across the United States, and the wrong combination of medications can make you as dangerous as a drunk driver. One Denver car accident attorney states that ”a driver who is improperly medicated is a driving menace. Both your doctor and your pharmacist can advise you on any of your medications and how they might affect your abilities. Additionally, be aware that the effects of some medications can be severely heightened with the use of alcohol.

 

Keeping both you and your passengers safe while driving may always have been a priority for you. However, a new diagnosis or medication can greatly jeopardize your safety on the road. Get to know your medication and how it affects you before getting behind the wheel and ensure you discuss your condition with your doctor. The more information you have the more likely you will keep your road journeys safe.

Writer Melanie Fleury has a father who is on several medications that affect his motor skills. He has to remain very diligent about knowing the side effects of each medication before attempting to operate a vehicle. She hopes that others in the same position take the same care to be mindful of what their body can and cannot do. She used the blog of a Denver car accident attorney to learn more about the consequences of driving when medically unfit.

 

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianteutsch/43051087/

Categories: accident attorney, car accident, denver car, drive, Driving, medically, medically unfit, medication, Medications, movement related, nbsp, unfit