Preventing Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents are particularly hazardous for the rider because there is no barrier between riders and the road. The rate of injury or fatality is very high in a motorcycle accident. Being less visible to other drivers and more vulnerable to hazardous weather conditions means motorcycle riders are 35 times more likely to be fataly injured in an accident. Fortunately there are some steps the rider can take to decrease the likelihood they will be in an accident and to lessen the severity of injuries they could possibly sustain.

Wear the proper attire
A helmet is an absolute must. In 2006, 1658 lives were saved just because the rider was wearing a helmet, 752 could have been saved had they been wearing one. Eyewear, gloves, long pants, and a riding jacket that are made of durable material and fit snugly are also good ideas to protect eyes and skin. Gloves will help to give you a better grip and therefore better control of your motorcycle. Wearing bright colors will make you more visible to other drivers during the day and reflective articles of clothing would be very helpful at night to alert other drivers. A lack of visiblity is a common cause of motorcycle accidents.
Dont drink and drive
Statistically, most motorcycle accidents involve alcohol. Two years ago almost 5,000 motorcycle accidents involved alcohol, and that number is only expected to rise. Alcohol drastically reduces your reaction time, causes blurred vision, and the ability to make rational decisions, just to name a few adverse reactions that affect your driving ability.
Make sure the motorcyle is in good working order
Check to make sure the headlight, turn signals and brake light are all working properly, and that they are within easy reach. Test them before each ride. A failure in any of these devices means failure to make other drivers aware of your intentions, making turns and braking particulary dangerous. Carefully read your owner's manual before setting out and be familiar with the controls.
Be properly licensed and take a training course
Almost a quarter of drivers are inproperly trained or don't possess motorcycle licenses. Maryland law requires riders to be 18 or over and compelete the Motorcycle Safety Program. The more experience you have the less likely you are to be in accident. New drivers may want to stick to roads that are not heavily trafficked. Do not overestimate your driving skills, accidents are regularly caused by arrogance and the habit of ignoring rules and regulations.
Be a responsible driver and obey the rules of the road
Speeding is a major cause of fatal motorcycle accident. In 37% of fatal accidents the motorcycle operator was found to be speeding. Do not ignore traffic signs or signals, and pay close attention when traveling through intersections, where accidents are more likely to occur. Keep a good distance between you and cars around you. Be especially careful in adverse weather conditions.
Always be alert
Keep a watchful eye on bad drivers that may be in your vicinity. Identify hazards in the road and be prepared to negotiate them. Drivers of other vehicles are not always observant as they should be, especially when sharing the road with a motorcycle. Avoid sharing lanes with other vehicles as they are likely not see you until it is too late and a crash is inevitable. Always use your turn signals when making turns or changing lanes, helping to increase your visibility to other drivers.

If you would like any other information please feel free to contact our firm. We also have additional information on our blog, specializing on information about auto accidents in Maryland.

Maryland Cerebral Palsy Lawyer | Maryland Auto Accident Lawyer | Maryland Personal Injury Lawyer | Baltimore Injury Lawyer | Maryland Injury Lawyer

Baltimore
220 North Liberty Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-234-0100 a

Columbia
10440 Little Patuxent Prk
Suite 300
Columbia, MD 21044
410-740-8700

Greenbelt
6301 Ivy Lane
Suite 700
Greenbelt, MD 20770
800-895-5333

Rockville
2275 Research Boulevard
Suite 500
Rockville, MD 20850
800-895-5333

Glen Burnie
7310 Ritchie Highway
Suite 608
Glen Burnie, MD 21061
410-590-3332

Hagerstown
511 East Franklin Street
Hagerstown, MD 21740
301-733-2120

Law Firm Web Site Design & Optimization By OptiLaw

Areas of Practice

Online Resources

Auto accidents

Medical Malpractice

Personal Injury

workers compensation

bankruptcy

blogs

Preventing Motorcycle Accidents