How motorcyclists can remain safer on the road
On behalf of Steven Crell of Steve Crell Law posted in Personal Injury on Tuesday, May 17, 2016.
Indiana motorcyclists can stay safer on the road by being aware of a number of myths regarding their preferred mode of transportation. One is that compared to open-face ones, full-face helmets provide less visibility. Federal standards require all helmets to have a field of view of at least 210 degrees. In addition to not restricting peripheral vision, full-face helmets protect riders from wind, rain and bugs.
Another myth is that cars can easily hear and see motorcycles. Loud pipes do not help in alerting vehicles up ahead because most of the sound tends to be lost behind the motorcyclist. Riding near the dividing line is one way to stay out of motorists’ blind spots. Motorcyclists should also wear reflective clothing.
Beginners might think that leather is only for fashion and that big bikes are better to start on. They may also have heard that in an accident, a rider should lay a bike down. Leather actually protects riders from cuts and scrapes in addition to being warm. Big bikes can be among the most difficult to ride and control due to their weight. Motorcyclists generally do not have time to lay a bike down in an accident. In addition, the slower speeds on roads and streets do not make them safer than interstates. A 2007 study found that the vast majority of accidents between motorcyclists and vehicles happen on non-interstate roads.
Without the protective shield of a vehicle around them, a motorcyclist is much more vulnerable to sustaining personal injuries in a collision than automobile occupants, and a motorcyclist’s life can be changed forever in an instant due to the inattention of a careless car driver. Sometimes, insurance companies are not responsive to the needs of the person injured in an accident and will only offer a little compensation. A person injured in a motorcycle accident might want to contact an attorney about the situation to discuss filing a lawsuit or other options.
