Motorcycle Safety Tips

From our beautiful weather to the endless stretches of scenic highway, there are numerous reasons why both residents and visitors don’t hesitate to hop on a motorcycle here in the Sunshine State. Here on the tail of the introduction of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Get Up to Speed on Motorcycles campaign which came during Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in May, this seems like a fine time to discuss motorcycle safety tips.

The Dangers of Riding Motorcycles

Sadly, riding a motorcycle can increase your risk of being involved in a crash that can result in severe injuries or even death. These open air vehicles unfortunately lack many of the safety features present in cars. There is no metal structure that would offer a barrier of additional protection in the event of a collision between your body and another vehicle. Instead, anything that comes into contact with a motorcyclist is likely to hit him or her directly. That means that when a collision occurs, the impact is more likely to result in injuries that can have lasting complications. The NHTSA has asserted that, disturbingly, motorcyclists accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2015 this recreational vehicle accounts for just 3 percent of all registered vehicles in the United States. Sadly, this indicates that motorcyclists are about 27 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to die in a motor vehicle crash. In addition, upwards of 5,000 motorcyclists perished in 2017 in motorcycle accidents.

Understanding Safety Tips

Fortunately, implementing even a few safety tips can help reduce the risk of a crash. These tips include:

• Use protective gear. While riding, you should strive to use protective gear such as gloves, eye protection, a jacket, and likely most importantly – a properly fitting helmet.
• Don’t ride impaired. Drinking or using recreational drugs may seem more tempting before riding a motorcycle than driving a car due to the fun nature of these vehicles and the fact that many people ride them for leisure. However, mixing these behaviors with driving is never a good idea and doing so can be downright dangerous when the wrong situation arises while a motorcyclist is impaired.
• Slow down. The faster you go, the less time you have to see and react to any potential hazards you encounter. You should especially slow down when the weather is bad or when you are driving in an unfamiliar area.

We Step in Where Advice Ends

Unfortunately, car accidents can lead to serious implications when a motorcycle is involved. If you find yourself with injuries after a car accident, there is no reason to let the medical bills pile up and overwhelm you. You should understand that you have every right to compensation if you were injured and someone else was at fault for the accident. As the experienced Tampa personal injury attorneys of the Pendas Law Firm, we offer a blend of compassion and aggressive legal representation. We have a passion for helping accident victims hold the parties that are responsible for their injuries accountable and ensuring that the maximum deserved funds are obtained. We look forward to conversing with you as soon as you contact us for a free consultation that comes with no obligations.

The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Orlando, Ocala, Fort Lauderdale, Bradenton, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Miami, Fort Myers and Daytona Beach areas.

Resource:

transportation.gov/connections/may-motorcycle-safety-awareness-month

https://www.pendaslaw.com/what-to-do-if-you-witness-an-accident/