Riding a motorcycle can be a lot of fun. It can also be very dangerous. If you aren’t careful when you are riding your motorcycle, you could seriously injure yourself. Additionally, as any motorcycle rider will know, other road users are a real threat. Unfortunately, many drivers pay no attention to motorcyclists, which often causes major accidents.
If you can stay safe while riding your motorcycle, you are guaranteed to have a good time. In this article, you will find a list of things that you can do to keep yourself safe whenever you are out on your bike:
Hire An Attorney
An attorney isn’t going to prevent you from having an accident but having one on retainer can definitely help after an accident takes place. According to this Decatur motorcycle accident lawyer, motorcycle accidents are often particularly severe. For this reason, they need to be taken very seriously. If you are ever involved in a motorcycle accident that wasn’t your fault and was caused by another person’s negligence, you need to make a claim for compensation, which a lawyer can help you with. The only way to take dangerous drivers off of the road and protect other motorcycle riders is by punishing them.
Wear a Helmet
In addition to having a lawyer on retainer, you should also always wear a helmet. Whenever you set out on your motorcycle without a helmet, you are taking your life into your hands. If you are involved in a minor accident and aren’t wearing a helmet, it can become fatal. Helmets exist solely to protect motorcycle riders, not other road users. Make sure that your helmet is sturdy, well-made, and road legal. There are some helmets that aren’t suitable to be worn on the road, such as those made from flimsy materials.
Pay Attention
When you are on a motorcycle, not only do you need to pay attention to the road to make sure that there aren’t any debris or objects that could get in your way, but you also need to make sure that you are watching other drivers. Unfortunately, as mentioned in this article’s introduction car drivers can be very careless when it comes to accommodating motorcycle riders. As any experienced motorcycle rider will tell you, you need to have eyes in the back of your head. Make sure that you constantly check your mirrors, watch the road, and know what the vehicles around you are doing.
Passenger Etiquette
If you frequently ride your bike with a passenger, you need to make sure that you educate them on correct motorcycle passenger etiquette. There is a lot that can go wrong if your passenger isn’t clued up on what is acceptable and what isn’t when riding on the back of somebody’s motorcycle. For example, in the smartphone era when everything is recorded or photographed and selfies are commonplace, you need to make it very clear that it is unacceptable at any point to take out one’s phone and begin taking photographs. Passengers need to hold on tightly, for their safety and for yours.
Weather Watching
In addition to watching other road users, you also need to watch the weather. If it begins raining, snowing, or becomes very windy, it’s usually best to put your motorcycle away and go for a ride another day. If the weather’s particularly aggressive, riding a motorcycle can be extremely dangerous. This is especially true if you aren’t an experienced rider. It is easy to make mistakes when the weather is bad, not to mention if visibility is poor other road users might not see you coming, and you might not see them.
Keep Your Distance
Whenever you are out on the road, you need to keep your distance from other road users. As already mentioned, drivers of cars are notoriously reckless around motorcycles. Some of them come incredibly close, which is very dangerous. Make sure that you are constantly aware of everything that is going on around you, including other vehicles and how close they are to you. If a vehicle comes too close, get away from them to safety.
Distraction
Make sure that you never ride distracted. Riders who are distracted are considerably more likely to be involved in an accident or crash. Distraction kills. If you are a rider who likes to listen to music, make sure it is at an appropriate volume. Additionally, never accept phone calls and talk when you are riding if you have your phone connected to your helmet.
If you are a motorcycle rider, then you need to go out of your way to keep safe. The road can be a very dangerous place for motorcycle riders. With this article’s advice and some common sense, you should be able to avoid accidents.
