As motorcycle lawyers, we make it a point to become experts in motorcycle safety and know the ins and outs of staying safe while riding. That’s why we created this comprehensive guide – so you can be better informed about the risks associated with motorcycling and the potential consequences of participating in a dangerous activity. Our guide will help you become a safer and more responsible rider so that you can enjoy the ride without worrying about jeopardizing your safety or the safety of those around you. So if you’re ready to level up your motorcycle safety game, read on – it’s time to get educated!
MOTORCYCLE SAFETY INSPECTION GUIDELINE
Before you start riding, you should always do a safety inspection to ensure your bike is ready for the road.
General Check
First, check the bike for noticeable issues like a crack, loose part, or leak. Make sure to look closely for anything that needs repair. If anything is broken, repair it before taking the bike for a ride or inspection.
Tire Check
Next, inspect the tires to confirm they have enough tread and the correct tire pressure. Place a penny with Lincoln’s head pointing toward the tire to verify there is enough tire tread. If you can see Lincoln’s hairline on the tire’s surface, it is time to replace the tires. Make sure to check both tires and various places around each tire. Uneven wear on either tire could indicate unsuitable inflation, wheel misalignment, or another tire problem.
Brake Check
After the tires, move on to the brakes. While you can check by looking for grooves in the brake pads, it is best to test the front and rear brakes to guarantee they work properly.
Electrical System Check
Next is the electrical system. Start with the battery and the terminals attached to it. Inspect the terminals for any corrosion. There are plenty of at-home or DIY solutions to wipe off corrosion on the terminals. After checking the battery and terminals, turn the bike on to see if there are any warning lights and that everything else lights up correctly. Check the headlights, taillights, turn signals, brake lights, and horns to ensure they work perfectly. After that, check the handlebars to ensure they have the full range of motion.
Fluid Check
After the electrical system, check the bike’s fluids. This inspection means checking the engine oil, fork oil, brake fluid, and transmission fluid. Refill or replace any fluids that need it. After reviewing the fluids, check the hoses to verify everything is connected and that there are no leaks or cracks.
Now that you have checked your motorcycle, you must now check you have the proper safety gear.
MOTORCYCLE SAFETY GEAR LIST
Our bike accident lawyers understand, as a motorcycle rider, you want to look cool and stylish. But nothing looks cooler than staying safe on the road! That’s why always wearing safety gear when riding a motorcycle is essential. Plus, the safety gear looks cool too. Invest in some quality safety gear today so that you can ride with confidence tomorrow.
FULL FACE HELMET
Arguably the most critical safety gear for motorcycle riders, helmets protect your face and brain if you ever are in a crash. Only some states have a mandatory helmet law, but legality is not the most crucial reason for wearing a motorcycle helmet. In an accident, your head is especially vulnerable to life-threatening injuries. A helmet can be the difference between life and death in an accident, so you must take it seriously. While half-helmets look stylish, studies have shown that nearly half of the head injuries sustained during a motorcycle accident damage the chin, face, and cheeks. For these reasons, we recommend a full-face helmet to protect your face along with your head, keep bugs out of your eyes, and, as a bonus, make it easy to wear Bluetooth headphones. Also, a full-face helmet looks cooler and adds mystery to your appearance. The top three factors to consider when deciding what helmet best fits you are the safety rating, the way the helmet fits, and the age of the helmet.
HOW TO CHOOSE A HELMET
SAFETY RATING
When choosing a helmet, confirm it does meet the DOT standards. While it is illegal to sell helmets that do not pass the Department of Transportation’s test, companies can work around this by selling them as a novelty instead of motorcycle helmets. Some third-party companies, like the Snell Foundation, test the effectiveness of motorcycle helmets. The Snell Foundation tests helmets to a higher standard than DOT, proving what helmets go beyond and offer the best protection during an accident. Any helmet that has both the DOT and the Snell certification is trustworthy.
HELMET FIT
The helmet a rider wears should fit snugly on their head. Anything less than a tight fit can cause issues and affect the rider’s safety. If the helmet fits loose and lets too much airflow, the noise inside your helmet can reach dangerous levels, possibly contributing to hearing loss.
HELMET AGE
Nearly every helmet is only designed to withstand one impact. This impact can be as severe as a motorcycle accident or as simple as accidentally dropping it on the ground. Either way, once the helmet has suffered its first significant impact, any use as a practical motorcycle helmet is risky. This fact and the fact that most manufacturers recommend replacing a helmet after three years are why it is best to buy a new helmet instead of a used one.
After deciding what helmet best fits you, choose your gloves, boots, jacket, pants, or suit.
GLOVES
As with every other item on this list, gloves are crucial to protecting yourself in the event of an accident. Yes, they look cool, but more importantly, they will likely be the first thing you use to catch yourself if you fall off your bike. Without gloves, you will probably break bones, lose skin, and lose some fingers.
BOOTS
Motorcycle boots not only look cool, but they also provide traction and protection for the bones in your feet in a crash. Unfortunately, there are tons of stories of riders getting into accidents and their regular sneakers flying off their feet, leaving their feet extremely vulnerable to severe injuries. When choosing a motorcycle boot, getting something durable and offering over-the-ankle protection is vital.
JACKET & PANTS OR SUIT
Motorcycle jackets, pants, and suits are not just fashion statements but necessities. These pieces offer protection from the elements and road debris and provide riders with added safety in an accident. Motorcycle jackets are protective yet lightweight, allowing for maximum flexibility and comfort on the bike. Most motorcycle jackets and pants are abrasion-resistant and constructed with armor for additional impact protection in the event of a crash. Motorcycle suits offer similar protection as jackets and pants but are arguably more waterproof. With the number of dangers on the road, riders should always prioritize the highest quality motorcycle gear to ensure their safety. Quality jackets, pants, and suits can make all the difference in keeping a person safe and providing a rider with peace of mind.
Safe riding practices
Now that your motorcycle is safe to ride and you have the correct gear to stay safe, let’s talk about safe riding practices!
Abide By the Speed Limit
One of the best things to remember while riding is to ensure you’re going the speed intended on the roadway. That means that posted speed limits aren’t just for cars. They’re for all vehicles—except trucks in some circumstances. Speeding makes your reaction time shorter. So it can result in an accident if you do not respond quickly or adequately to an event on the highway.
Do Not Lane Share
In Texas, lane sharing is illegal. Lane sharing means that motorcycles ride between cars, passing over the solid yellow line or dashed white line or alongside cars within the same lane. Even if you think lane sharing will save you time or that your dexterity will eliminate any risk, you may be putting yourself or others in danger. You could fall into a blind spot, which can cause an accident and severe injuries to both you and the person in the cars around you.
Do Not Ride Under The Influence
Like drinking and driving in Texas is highly illegal, drinking and motorcycling are too. This legality also goes for drugs of any kind. Call a friend, family member, or a cab or rideshare to take you home if you’ve been drinking. Additionally, please read the labels on your prescriptions or allergy pills and ensure you heed any warnings not to operate machinery after taking them.
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.
ABOUT HERRMAN & HERRMAN PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS
With over 100 years of combined experience among the legal team of Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., our Texas personal injury attorneys have successfully resolved over 20,000 cases. When representing injured Texas residents, we fight for justice against wrongdoing and aggressively pursue the best resolution to complex personal injury claims.
If you or a loved one was injured, please get in touch with us for a free initial consultation and case evaluation. Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., is a locally based law firm that holds negligent individuals and companies accountable for their wrongdoing. We are not a personal injury mill that advertises nationwide. We provide individualized advocacy in attending to all aspects of claims that involve. Our firm has offices in the following locations: Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi South Side, Dallas, Brownsville, McAllen, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and Ft. Worth, TX.
We remain by our client’s side, handling all aspects of their claims and attending to all legal, medical, and financial needs. That dedication combines experience, legal knowledge, and insight from a former insurance adjuster and several former insurance defense attorneys. Whether our clients suffer from physical pain from an accident or the emotional grief of death, we treat clients with compassion. We put their mind at ease during difficult times by answering their questions concerning the length of their claim, medical bills, financial compensation, and their overall need for a lawyer.
Check out some of our other blogs!
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