May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
Your favorite motorcycle crash attorney wants to remind you that May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. This dedicated time serves as a crucial reminder for everyone on the road to stay vigilant.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash than occupants of passenger vehicles. These sobering statistics highlight exactly why motorcycle safety awareness is so critical in today’s fast-paced world. Whether you are on two wheels or four, practicing proactive safety habits at all times is the ultimate way to prevent tragedies and save lives.
Mastering Motorcycle Safety as a Rider
If you are going to ride a motorcycle, you must take active responsibility for your own well-being. By implementing a few non-negotiable habits, you can drastically reduce your risk of injury. Every rider should consistently follow these three foundational pillars: wearing the appropriate gear, strictly adhering to the rules of the road, and never riding under the influence.
Investing in and Wearing the Appropriate Safety Gear
You should never twist the throttle without the proper protective gear. In the event of a slide or a collision, your gear is the only thing standing between you and the asphalt. Think of it as your personal body armor.
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High-Quality Helmet: Always choose a Department of Transportation (DOT)-approved full-face helmet to protect against traumatic brain injuries.
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Leather or Kevlar Apparel: A heavy-duty leather or reinforced jacket and specialized riding pants offer vital abrasion resistance against road rash.
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Gloves and Boots: Sturdy, non-slip boots protect your ankles, while reinforced gloves shield your hands and improve your grip on the handlebars.
Bonus benefit: Beyond the lifesaving protection, modern riding gear is highly engineered, making you look and feel incredibly stylish and confident while carving up the road.
Strictly Following the Rules of the Road
Operating a motorcycle requires a completely different skillset and mental approach than driving a car. You cannot afford to cut corners or take unnecessary risks.
Completing a certified motorcycle safety course is one of the most valuable investments you can make. These programs confirm you have the adequate hands-on knowledge, balancing techniques, and defensive maneuvers required to navigate unpredictable traffic.
Never place yourself in harm’s way by breaking traffic laws, speeding, or weaving through traffic illegally. Knowing and obeying the specific rules of the road for motorcyclists ensures that your riding habits remain predictable to the drivers around you.
Never Ride Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs
It cannot be overstated: drugs and alcohol including legal recreational substances and certain prescribed medications—will severely impair your judgment and physical coordination.
Alcohol and drugs directly attack your central nervous system, which drastically delays your reaction time and destroys your situational awareness. When you are on a bike, you need split-second reflexes to avoid sudden hazards like potholes, debris, or shifting traffic. Motorcycle riding demands your absolute focus even when you are fully alert. Riding under the influence is an extreme gamble that could easily cost you your life or freedom. If you drink, do not ride.
Motorcycle Safety as a Passenger Vehicle Driver
Safety is a two-way street. Drivers of cars, trucks, and SUVs share an equal responsibility to make the road safer for motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians. Because motorcycles have a smaller profile, drivers must train their eyes to actively look for them.
Eliminating Distracted Driving Entirely
Distracted driving has become an epidemic on modern roads. To protect vulnerable motorcyclists, motorists must remain entirely vigilant behind the wheel.
Keep your hands on the wheel and your mind on the task of driving. No cell phones, no texting, and no fiddling with the navigation system while the vehicle is in motion. A single second of distraction is all it takes to drift out of your lane. Putting the phone away could literally mean the difference between causing an unfortunate, fatal accident or ensuring everyone enjoys a safe trip home.
Always Checking Twice for Motorcycles
A shocking number of multi-vehicle motorcycle accidents begin with a driver claiming, “I just didn’t see him!” Because of their narrow silhouette, motorcycles easily disappear into a vehicle’s blind spots or blend into the background clutter of highway traffic.
Make it a permanent habit to check twice before changing lanes, merging, or turning at intersections. Look once for cars, and look a second time specifically for motorcycles. Taking an extra half-second to glance over your shoulder can save a rider’s life.
Obeying All Traffic Laws and Giving Space
Just like motorcyclists, passenger vehicle drivers must obey all traffic laws, speed limits, and road signs to maintain an orderly driving environment.
Furthermore, remember to give motorcycles plenty of space. Increase your following distance to at least three to four seconds behind a bike. Motorbikes can stop much more quickly than cars, and a minor rear-end fender bender for a car can be a catastrophic, life-threatening event for a rider. By driving defensively, keeping your distance, and respecting lane boundaries, we can work together to ensure that Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month yields safer roads all year long.
DO YOU NEED A MOTORCYCLE CRASH ATTORNEY?
If you are in a motorcycle accident that results in a personal injury- no matter the severity—and you are not at fault, you may be eligible for compensation. If this may be your case, you should consult with a personal injury attorney with experience in motorcycle accidents so that you can better your chances of a payout in court.
OUR MOTORCYCLE CRASH ATTORNEY CAN HELP YOU
If a motorcyclist is injured in an accident due to the negligence of another driver, the motorcyclist can recover compensation for losses that result through a personal injury lawsuit. Compensable losses include property loss, medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
Furthermore, if a loved one was killed in a motorcycle accident, family members may be able to recover damages in a wrongful death lawsuit. If you are a loved one was injured in a motorcycle accident, do not hesitate to contact a Texas motorcycle accident attorney at Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., who will review the facts of your case and represent you through this difficult period.
CONTACT HERRMAN & HERRMAN IF YOU HAVE BEEN INJURED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ACCIDENTS:
We can help you if you have been harmed by the following:
- Car accidents – Our lawyers have extensive experience handling car accident cases. We will work to identify the party or parties at fault for the crash and build a case to demonstrate persuasively how the parties caused the accident and your injuries. We will seek fair and full compensation through a negotiated settlement or at trial if necessary.
- Truck accidents – Thousands of large commercial trucks travel the roads of Texas every single day. Unfortunately, careless truck drivers and trucking companies disregarding safety put innocent people at risk of serious injuries. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, let our experienced Texas personal injury lawyers stand up to the trucking companies and insurers on your behalf.
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycle riders often suffer grievous injuries in crashes caused by other motorists. Too many motorcycle accidents in Corpus Christi are caused by careless drivers who don’t look for motorcycle riders or violate their right of way. Our personal injury lawyers will work to cut through the bias and stigma against motorcycle riders. Our goal is to seek the financial compensation that you’ll need to recover from a serious motorcycle accident and injuries such as bone fractures, road rash, or traumatic brain injury.
- Product liability – Product manufacturers have a legal obligation to make products that are safe for their intended uses and to warn consumers of any risks that may come with the product. When products have design or manufacturing defects or undisclosed dangers, the product manufacturer may be legally responsible for injuries suffered by consumers. Our attorneys can help you evaluate whether you have a valid product liability claim.
- Brain injury – Brain injuries can leave accident victims with disabilities that leave them unable to work or perform many tasks of daily living. Seeking compensation for a brain injury in an accident often proves incredibly complex. The brain injury survivor may seek compensation for anticipated future medical care and the medical care already provided. Our personal injury lawyers can help you through the difficult recovery process following a brain injury and will fight to make sure you have the resources you need.
- Spinal injury – Spinal cord injuries could cost millions of dollars of care over the course of the victim’s lifetime, especially when those injuries result in partial or complete paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. If you or your loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you deserve compassionate legal representation. Our attorney can help you determine whether you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injury and expenses related to living with the disability, such as making a home more accessible.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party, your family deserves to seek accountability and compensation from those at fault for the wrongful death. Our caring and dedicated attorneys can help guide you and your family through this difficult and painful time and seek justice for your loved one.
