Motorcycle Riding: 5 Important Dangers to Understand

 

Anyone who is interested in owning a motorcycle should take the time to carefully consider all of the risks that accompany this mode of transportation. Fortunately, there are several different techniques that you can utilize to help minimize your danger of becoming injured during an accident. However, in order to put these techniques into place, you must first be cognizant of all of the specific dangers that you face.

 

 

1. Issues with Respect 

Unfortunately, many motorists do not provide motorcyclists with the proper amount of respect, and this can lead to accidents and several other issues. Because of this, you will need to keep an eye out for other drivers who are not giving you the proper amount of space so that you can take the necessary precautions to prevent an accident from occurring.

 

 

2. Increased Risk of Accidents 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcycles are involved in 9 percent of all traffic fatalities in the U.S., but they only represent 2 percent of the vehicles that are legally registered to be on the road. There are many reasons that this happens, including the fact that motorcycles can be harder for other motorists to see. Therefore, you need to be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times to help minimize this risk. If you are involved in an accident, you should contact a local attorney immediately.

 

For example, an accident that occurred in Tampa, Florida, on November 12, 2013, caused a motorcyclist to be hospitalized with serious injuries. It will be in that particular injured driver’s best interests to contact an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer Tampa, FL group to help them take legal action against the responsible party so that they can recover the cost of their medical bills and vehicle repairs.

 

 

3. Fatalities are Higher Without a Helmet 

Although many motorcyclists prefer not to wear a helmet while they are riding, this will dramatically increase their odds of perishing during an accident. In fact, statistics indicate that 44 percent of the people who die nationwide each year while riding a motorcycle are not wearing a helmet. Additionally, this issue is much more severe in areas that do not have helmet usage laws in place such as South Carolina where almost 82 percent of all motorcycle fatalities can be linked to a head injury.

 

 

4. Single Vehicle Crashes are Common

You are much more likely to be involved in a single vehicle crash on a motorcycle than in a standard passenger vehicle. This is most likely due to the fact that it can be difficult to gauge the proper speed and lean required to navigate through roads that have a lot of curves and steep hills. Keep in mind that it is also easier to panic when you are on a motorcycle because you have less protection from the elements.

 

 

5. Familiarize Yourself with Local Laws 

Every area has the right to create specific road laws, and they typically apply to every motorist. However, there are some laws that are specific to motorcyclists, including whether or not you are allowed to drive side-by-side or between vehicles during a traffic jam. Failure to learn each of these laws for any area that you drive through could lead to legal difficulties or an accident.

 

Ultimately, staying safe on a motorcycle requires a lot of experience, common sense and knowledge of every applicable law. As long as you take the proper steps to protect yourself, you should be able to enjoy riding your motorcycle without needing to worry about whether or not you have done everything possible to help yourself avoid becoming seriously injured during an accident.

 

 

Lisa Coleman shares some important dangers that motorcyclists should understand and be made aware of for safe riding. She recently read online how a motorcycle accident lawyer Tampa, FL based could help when an injury has occurred for such an accident.

 

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nick_knouse/1434140008/

Categories: accident, accident injuries, accident lawyer, accident nbsp, car accidents, helmet laws, lawyer tampa, motorcycle accident, motorcycle laws, motorcycle riding, nbsp, nbsp nbsp

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

5 Ways Motorcycles Benefit Your Health

Popular culture generally paints an unfavorable portrait of bikers and motorcycle riding in general. Even as mainstream culture becomes more accepting of motorcycling as a primary means of travel, many people still dismiss bikers as rough hooligans who are looking for trouble or have just gotten out of jail. However, motorcycle riding can be anything but troublesome if you approach it with the right amount of respect and anticipation. In fact, motorcycle riding can be quite beneficial to your health in several important ways.

 

Motorcycle Riding Provides Mental Stimulation

Riding a motorcycle is quite different than driving a car. When you drive a car, you generally do not have to exert too much thought about your actions unless you are in heavy traffic or traveling around curved roads. You may be like many people and simply use the cruise control while you are driving. However, riding a motorcycle requires mental effort to control your ride. You must be ready to weave in and out of traffic as needed and always think ahead to make sure you control your cycle safely.

 

Motorcycle Riding Provides Exercise Benefits

As one Orlando motorcycle accident lawyer states, “motorcycles are both fun and practical, and many people enjoy using motorbikes for commuting or simply for the pleasure of the ride.” Along with being stimulated mentally, you also can be challenged physically when you ride your cycle. Motorcycles are quite heavy, even though they look small and compact. As you control the handlebars, shift the gears, and manipulate other components of the bike, you may find that your arms, legs, and torso are worked out quite extensively.

 

Motorcycle Riding Provides Social Interactions

Bikers everywhere form a unique brotherhood that welcomes fellow riders often without question or hesitation. Even if a person starts out riding alone, he or she may easily find new friends as that person starts attending cycle shows or meets other bikers out on the road. Bikers typically form fast friendships that last a lifetime and are more supportive than mainstream friendships formed at school or work.

 

Motorcycle Riding Relieves Stress and Depression

Many cyclists report being in vastly better moods once they climb on their cycles and take to the road. When bikers head out on the open road, they are capable of finding relief from their everyday worries and stresses and even experience relief from depression and fatigue. Their moods are elevated because they feel free and at ease on the open road.

 

Motorcycle Riding Requires that You Take Care of Your Safety

If you have always been someone who neglected your personal safety, cycling can help you become more concerned with your physical wellness. When you are out on your bike, you must pay attention to avoid crashes and becoming injured. As you learn to take care of yourself, you can learn to appreciate your own wellness and the need for you to remain safe at all times. Many cyclists experience a boost in confidence and self-awareness after they take up motorcycle riding.

 

Motorcycling is anything but the deviant hobby that the public may readily dismiss it as. You can improve your mental and physical health in several important ways when you take up riding a motorcycle.

 

Writer Melanie Fleury loves a ride on a motorcycle on occasion. This does not mean that she is oblivious to the possible dangers. However, as Steinger, Iscoe & Greene, an Orlando motorcycle accident lawyer, state on their website, ”the dangers are more due to careless or dangerous drivers that are near the motorcyclists.” She makes sure that she keeps a distance between herself and those that can be a potential risk to her.

 

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elsie/4983322551/

Categories: accident lawyer, benefit, health, motorcycle, motorcycle accident, motorcycle riding, motorcycles, nbsp, nbsp motorcycle, open road, orlando motorcycle, riding

Head Case: How Motorcycle Helmets Help Save Lives

The feel of the wind rushing through your hair as you cruise down the open highway on your motorcycle is exhilarating. You feel free and uninhibited. There’s nothing that can compare to the experience. However, freedom often comes with a price that many are not willing to pay.

 

Motorcycle accidents are often more serious than regular automobile accidents because there is less machinery to protect the driver. Additionally, those who decide to skip the helmet so they can feel the wind in their hair, often suffer severe head trauma during an accident—or worse.

 

Motorcycle riders should be aware of some sobering statistics before they set out to ride without protection:

 

• According to figures issued in a 2012 study by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), motorcycle drivers have a 67 percent higher chance of surviving a motorcycle accident if they wear helmets. Passengers wearing helmets increase their chances of survival by 69 percent.

 

• States that do not have universal helmet laws for all riders have seen a 55 percent increase in fatal motorcycle accidents and traumatic brain injuries. (Same CDC study).

 

• Contrary to popular belief, motorcycle helmets do not impair vision or hearing. It’s an urban legend that the driver cannot hear oncoming traffic when wearing a helmet.

 

Some states don’t have universal helmet laws. Indiana, for example, is one that currently doesn’t. At this time, only those people 18 and younger, or those with a learner’s permit, are required to wear a helmet when operating a motorcycle in that state.

 

Wearing a helmet is only the first line of defense when riding a motorcycle. Indianapolis personal injury attorney Randy Sevenish, a rider himself, states that even the most experienced rider, wearing full protection, must constantly be on the lookout for negligent drivers or dangerous road hazards.

 

Helmet Construction

Motorcycle helmets come in many different styles, but their construction is similar. A helmet consists of an outer shell, made from a durable material, and an inner lining constructed from shock absorbing materials.

 

The law in many states (including Indiana) requires that anyone operating a motorcycle must use protective eye wear. When looking for a helmet, you may want to opt for one that has a face guard. This eliminates the need for goggles, and provides extra facial protection in the event of an accident.

 

When purchasing a helmet, you should look for one that is DOT certified. This certification means that the materials used in the construction of the helmet are the best choice for your protection. Vintage helmets should be avoided, as they may not meet these certification standards.

 

If You Are Injured While Driving a Motorcycle

In Indiana, regardless of whether you choose to wear a helmet or go bare headed, if you are injured in a motorcycle accident and you are not at fault you may be entitled to specific compensation under law.

 

It’s important that, once you’ve been treated and your injuries stabilized, you contact a personal injury attorney about the accident. A competent attorney can evaluate the accident and determine what forms of compensation you are entitled to. Compensation could cover medical costs, lost wages, extended medical care and even pain and suffering.

 

It’s a wonderful experience to own and drive a motorcycle. There’s something about the entire wind-in-your-hair thing that can really get your blood pumping. You can enjoy all the freedom a motorcycle has to offer however, while increasing your chances of surviving an accident, just by choosing to wear a helmet.

 

Freelance writer Richard Freeland contributes this article for veteran motorcyclists as well as those thinking about joining the ranks of motorcycle riding enthusiasts. Sevenish Law is an Indianapolis personal injury attorney firm committed to diligently fight for the rights of motorcyclists injured in accidents while pursuing their passion.

Categories: head injuries, health concerns, helmet laws, helmet nbsp, indianapolis personal, injury attorney, motorcycle accident, motorcycle accidents, motorcycle helmet, motorcycle helmets