Many people choose to drive a motorcycle because it is exhilarating and economical. However, if involved in an accident, the injuries sustained can be severe, if not fatal. Motorcyclists are not protected like occupants in enclosed motor vehicles, so it is important that they take several safety precautions to remain safe while riding.
Motorcyclists must be extremely careful and have heightened awareness while navigating Georgia’s roads. Unfortunately, accidents can happen even when a motorcyclist is riding with the utmost caution. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, a Duluth motorcycle accident lawyer from Barrios Virguez can help you file a claim to recover compensation for your injuries.
Dangers of Motorcycles
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle accident than passenger vehicle occupants. The high fatality rate for motorcyclists is due to several factors, including their lack of protection and reduced visibility. To help stay safe on Georgia’s roadways, riders and other drivers should consider the following motorcycle safety tips.
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Safety Tips for Motorcyclists
The Georgia Department of Driver Services offers motorcyclist education courses for all skill levels. Rider training is essential because new riders are generally more likely to be involved in accidents, but with proper training, they can learn how to avoid and react to hazards while riding.
Wear Safety Gear
Georgia law requires all motorcyclists to wear helmets while riding. In addition to protecting your head, it is recommended that you wear long sleeves, pants, boots, and gloves to protect yourself and reduce road rash and other severe injuries in an accident.
Inspect Your Motorcycle Before Riding
You should always check your headlights, taillights, and turn signals before every ride to ensure they are in working order. You should also examine your tires, mirrors, brakes, horn, clutch, and throttle and be sure there are no gas or oil leaks under your motorcycle.
Check the Weather
Check the weather forecast before you ride and, if possible, consider an alternative transportation method if rain, ice, or snow are predicted. With a lack of visibility in such weather, a motorcyclist’s risk of an accident increases, as does their chance of injuries due to the lack of a windshield.
Drive Defensively
Motorcycles are smaller and more difficult to see than most passenger vehicles, so you should assume you are invisible to other drivers. Keep your headlights on, signal in advance, stay out of drivers’ blind spots, and be aware of vehicles that are turning.
Safety Tips for Other Drivers
Motorcycles are difficult to see and are often overlooked. Keep this in mind, especially when going through intersections and making left turns, as an accident that causes minor injuries to the driver of a passenger vehicle can be fatal to a motorcyclist.
Beware of Blind Spots
Because of motorcycles’ narrow profiles, it is easy for them to be hidden in several blind spots around your vehicle. Always be extra careful when changing lanes or turning, as 41% of all motorcycle accidents are due to drivers’ failure to see motorcycles.
Pass Carefully
Motorcycles are typically more difficult to control than other vehicles, and when you pass, your vehicle can create a gust of wind that causes the motorcycle to lose stability. As such, give the motorcyclist enough time to ensure they have control of their motorcycle before returning to your lane.
Dim Your Headlights
Motorcyclists typically do not have the luxury of a windshield, making them more sensitive to bright lights. Ensure your high beams are off when approaching a motorcyclist, as they can be blinding.
Share the Road
Because motorcycles are small, it can seem like a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle can both fit in one lane. This is not the case, however, and motorcycles are like other vehicles in that they need room to maneuver safely on the road.
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Safety Tips for Both Motorcyclists and Drivers
Motorcycle accidents can be challenging due to the severity of injuries. At Barrios Virguez, our motorcycle accident lawyers have extensive experience navigating medically complex cases. The following are safety tips that can prevent these devastating collisions.
Obey Traffic Rules
It is important for all drivers to adhere to traffic rules and yield to drivers who have the right of way. Use your turn signal, and always ensure a motorcyclist or other driver with a turn signal on is actually turning before attempting to pass.
Drive Sober
No operator of a motorcycle or other motor vehicle should ever drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as impaired driving results in decreased reaction times, poor judgment, and diminished motor skills. The Insurance Information Institute (IIHS) reports that 31% of motor vehicle accident fatalities in 2021 involved drunk driving.
Avoid Distractions
Talking on the phone, texting, eating, and changing the radio station can decrease any driver’s reaction time and awareness of the traffic around them and, as such, should be avoided. Motorcyclists are already difficult to see and are at higher risk of accidents, so distracted driving should be avoided by them and other drivers.
Avoid Tailgating
Motorcycles have a shorter braking distance than other vehicles and can slow down by simply downshifting, so it is important for drivers to leave extra following distance than they would for others. Also, motorcyclists should not tailgate other drivers because they lack protection and can face serious or fatal injuries if they collide with a vehicle in front of them.
Slow Down
As indicated in the safety facts link above, NHTSA reports that speeding accounted for 34% of all motorcyclist fatalities in 2020. Speeding gives both motorcyclists and other drivers less time to react to changes in traffic or to respond to obstacles in the road, increasing the chances of a serious accident.
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Get Help After a Collision from a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Duluth
If a motorcyclist or other driver makes one driving error or poor decision, a serious or even fatal accident can result. While rewarding, driving a motorcycle can be incredibly dangerous if all drivers do not follow the above safety tips. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by someone’s negligence, contact a Duluth motorcycle accident attorney at Barrios Virguez so we can discuss filing a claim for compensation on your behalf.
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