If you ride a motorcycle, then you’ve probably been in a crash or two. Your bike may have been damaged in a crash or been involved in a collision. If you’re a motorcyclist, you know just how important it is to avoid an accident. In fact, these impacts are one of the top causes of death in the United States. Although you are probably aware of the most common safety measures you must take, reading this post will give you more insight into staying safe.
Become Familiar With How To Handle Accidents
Even the best safety measures will not provide you with information about what to do if you are involved in an accident. Taking the proper steps can mean the difference between a severe injury and not, even whether you have to foot the bill yourself or receive compensation.
Check Your Injuries
The first step is to check what injuries you have sustained. If you are unable to move, you should try to get the attention of other road users. In addition, if you sustain injuries to your neck or back, it is crucial to remain still to avoid further damage. If possible, you should call the emergency services as soon as possible.
Get Insurance Details From Other Parties
You can skip this step if you are the only person involved. However, if you are the victim, it is imperative that you obtain as many details from the person at fault. You can use this information if you go to court, and it could increase your chances of successful litigation.
Contact A Lawyer
You should take this step only once you have attended to your health. Nevertheless, if you are the victim, you will need to take action before it is too late. The type of lawyer you choose will depend on where your accident occurred, as each state will have different laws surrounding personal injury and civil cases. For example, if your accident happened in LA, you will need to look for motorcycle accident lawyers in Los Angeles who understand the complexities of California law. In any case, your chosen lawyer should have experience with not just personal injury but also motor vehicle accidents. By ensuring they have expertise in this field, you will significantly enhance your chances of prevailing in subsequent litigation.
General Safety Measures
Now that you are aware of what you should do when in an accident, you still need to understand how to prevent serious injury from happening in the first place.
Ride Only Bikes That You Can Control
Suppose you are new to the world of biking. In that case, it is probably not advisable to begin on a Ducati Panigale V4 R. The bike will completely destroy you. Not only will you be injured, but you’ll risk death (not to mention any injuries you may inflict on others). Therefore, you must ensure that you can fully control any bike that you ride.
No Ifs Or Buts, Always Wear A Helmet
If you must only wear one piece of protective clothing, it should be a helmet. This item will protect you from severe brain injury and even death. Not only that, but you could prevent life-altering injuries such as traumatic brain injuries that could leave you bed-bound for the rest of your life. Don’t be stupid; always wear a helmet, simple as that.
Protect Your Hands And Feet
Are you familiar with the terminology used to describe severe hand and foot injuries? They are known as a degloving incidence. Let that sink in for a moment and consider what it means. Now that you have that image in your head, you should understand the importance of earring protective gloves and durable boots. Even if your accident is not as serious as completely removing the outer layer of skin from your hand, you will still suffer from horrendous wounds that require you to stay in the hospital for weeks while you have skin grafted onto the affected areas. Boots will also reduce the chances of broken bones.
Check The Weather Before You Go Riding
It is essential to plan ahead so you can ride safely. In this case, it means checking the weather forecast and seeing if it is wise to ride or not. If you see a storm coming, it is wise to postpone it for another day. If you are honest, it is also desirable to ride in cold and wet conditions, not to mention far more dangerous.
Riding a motorcycle is a thrilling experience. By understanding what to do in case of an accident and what safety precautions to take, you will have a far better experience.
