Motorcycle Injury lawyer safety tips are helpful to all riders out there.  Even experienced motorcycle riders should review them to make their motorcycle rides as fun and safe as possible.

Riding a motorcycle is so much more than a way to get from Point A to Point B. It’s the adrenaline rush of the open road, the freedom of feeling the wind rush past you, the rumble and thrill of all that power at your disposal.

It can also be dangerous, and even deadly.

If there is anyone who understands just how dangerous riding a motorcycle can be, it’s a motorcycle injury lawyer. Before you pull on your boots and start up your bike, heed this advice from an attorney on how to keep yourself safe.

9 Safety Tips From A Motorcycle Injury Lawyer

1. Make Sure You Can Handle Your Ride

We understand how tempting it is to buy the biggest, baddest bike you can.

However, don’t bite off more than you can chew. It’s crucial that your motorcycle actually fits you. Your feet don’t rest flat on the ground when you’re seated? You can’t easily get on or the bike? It simply seems too heavy?

If so, you should look at a small model.

Looking for a commuter cycle or one to start out with? Try something in the 250- to 300-cc engine range. A more experienced rider who’s planning on hitting the highway should choose one in the 500- to 750-cc range. That way, you’ll be able to keep pace with traffic.

2. Take a Safety Course

This is one of the most important tips a motorcycle injury lawyer can give you.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers courses all across the nation. They can teach you how to ride safely during everyday conditions. They can also teach you advanced techniques like performing evasive emergency maneuvers.

Some courses are free, while other will set you back a few hundred dollars.

However, an approved motorcycle safety class may make you eligible for a discount from your insurance company. In some states, having taken a course lets you skip the written test or even the road test.

You can even get a discount on bikes and accessories from some manufacturers.

3. Wear Your Helmet

You’ve probably been lectured by everyone from fellow riders to your grandmother about the importance of wearing a motorcycle helmet. Will you listen to a motorcycle injury lawyer, who sees tragic cases of injury and even death day in and day out?

Wearing a helmet while you ride can literally save your life.

Helmets reduce the risk of death by 37%, and they lower the risk of head injury by 69%. (Trust us, if you survive an accident but are left with traumatic brain injury, your quality of life will suffer.)

4. Drive Defensively

The safety of a motorcycle rider isn’t his responsibility alone. It’s also dependent on the cars that are traveling around him. In fact, some 60% of motorcycle crashes are the fault of car drivers.

That doesn’t mean you’re powerless to protect yourself, however.

Driving defensively means watching out for erratic drivers. The same thing goes for those who are distracted by their cell phones. Be wary of drivers who make sudden lane changes without signaling. They might be careless, or they simply might not see you. 

Don’t tailgate, don’t speed, and don’t weave in and out of traffic. 

5. Avoid Inclement Conditions

If you’re a recreational motorcycle rider, you can usually avoid riding in bad weather, but it’s not always possible. Sudden thunderstorms do pop up.

Even hail and icy conditions aren’t always avoidable.

Knowing how your bike handles (on slippery surfaces and in strong winds), reducing your speed, and cornering carefully can all help you avoid an accident. 

6. Check Your Bike Before You Ride

If you have worn-out brakes or if your tires are low on air, you’re asking for trouble.

Routinely examine your ride. Get it into a mechanic (or fix the problem yourself) the moment you find anything amiss.

7. Check Yourself, Too

Choosing the right clothes and footwear can keep you safe.

It’s that simple. Heavy leather gear will protect you from road rash. Goggles or a helmet visor can keep your eyes safe from flying debris (and insects). 

A Motorcycle injury lawyer also sees a fair number of cases in which bike riders weren’t visible to the drivers around them. Especially if you ride at dusk or after dark, you should choose at least one piece of gear in a bright, reflective color. 

8. Watch Out for Road Hazards

You know how easily your bike can slide out when the tires hit leaves, sand, stones, or other natural debris. So, use extra caution in areas where this might be likely.

Potholes and damaged roads can also pose a danger to riders.

Keep your eyes peeled and do your best to avoid these hazards — or at least slow down before you hit them.

In some cases, negligence by a municipal authority may be to blame for such conditions. Consult a motorcycle injury attorney if you have sustained an injury because of poor road maintenance or fallen hazards.

9. Do Not Speed, Do Not Drink

Two of the best safety tips that a motorcycle injury lawyer would offer?

Maintain a safe speed and a safe distance from other drivers, and whatever you do, don’t ride while intoxicated.

Both speeding and riding drunk or high will increase the odds of a motorcycle accident. They also increase the chance that an accident will be fatal.

While you can’t avoid every danger on the road, riding sober and at a safe speed will drastically reduce the potential for injury and death.

If You Have Experienced an Accident