Motorcycle Safety Tips

With California becoming more populated each year, more people are turning to motorcycles for the daily commute. With more motorcycles on the road, the odds of an accident increase. Annually there are over 100,000 motorcycle accidents and about 5,000 fatalities nationwide. Here are some facts from California alone:

  • There are over 800,000 registered motorcycles in California (the largest volume of motorcycles in the nation
  • 16,505 motorcycle accidents occurred in 2017 resulting in 15,527 injuries and 541 deaths
  • Roughly 80 percent of all motorcycle accidents result in injury or death each year
  • Motorcyclists are killed 26 times more often than passenger car riders on a per-mile basis
  • 22 percent of fatal motorcycle accidents involve an intoxicated rider
  • Close to 25 percent of riders in fatal accidents didn’t have a valid license
  • Roughly 75 percent of all motorcycle accidents involve a collision between a motorcycle and a car
  • “Super-sport” riders are 4 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than any other type of bike rider
  • Motorcycle fatalities from lack of a helmet increased 9 percent 2015-2016
  • 60 percent of motorcycle accidents occur after sunset
  • Most dangerous counties (fatalities and injuries)
    • Los Angeles (4,493)
    • San Diego (1,667)
    • Orange County (1,346)
    • Riverside (940)
    • San Bernardino (857

Motorcycle Safety Tips for Cars!

Driving with a motorcycle near you isn’t like driving with other cars. Motorcycles are smaller, hard to see, and don’t have much protection if they get into an accident. A few things you can do to increase safety are:

  • Always signal and check mirrors
  • Check your blind spot especially if you’re in a larger vehicle
  • Give motorcycles the whole lane
  • Give motorcycles extra following and passing distance

Allow additional time for the motorcycle to change lanes or make a turn

Practicing these and other good driving habits could be the difference between life and death.

Motorcycle Safety Tips for Riders!

Riding a motorcycle takes different skills than driving a car. It’s essential to understand some basic motorcycle safety tips to ensure your next ride is a safe one.

  • Always wear a helmet 

Helmets reduce the severity of head injury during an accident. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that “Helmets are about 37 percent effective in preventing motorcycle deaths and about 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries.” Picking the right helmet can be confusing here are a few things to look for when choosing:

    • DOT sticker
    • Thick liner
    • Riveted, sturdy chin strap
    • Manufacturer’s label
    • Snug fit and solid retention

  • Wear appropriate gear

Wear protective gear that will minimize injuries in case of an accident or a skid. Wearing leather clothing, gloves, and boots with nonskid soles can protect your body from severe injuries. Attaching reflective tape to your gear will make it easier for other drivers to see you.

  • Follow traffic rules.

Follow the speed limit, the faster you go, the longer it will take you to stop. Be aware of local traffic laws and rules of the road.

  • Ride Defensively

Don’t assume that a driver can see you. Nearly 66% of all motorcycle accidents are caused by a driver violating a motorcycles right of way. 

    • You should always ride with your headlights on. 
    • Stay out of a driver’s blind spot. 
    • Signal well in advance of any change in direction. 
    • Watch for turning vehicles.

  • Be awake and ride sober

Don’t drink and ride. You could cause harm to yourself and others. Fatigue and drowsiness can impair your ability to react in time. Make sure that you are well-rested when you hit the road.

  • Preparing To Ride

Make sure that your motorcycle is fit for the road. If something is wrong with your motorcycle, it will be useful to find out before hitting the road. To make sure that your motorcycle is in good working order, check the following:

    • Tires: Check for any low tire pressure, cracks or bulges, and signs of wear in the treads 
    • Under the motorcycle: Look for signs of oil or gas leaks
    • Headlight, taillight, and signals: Test for high and low beams 
    • Hydraulic and Coolant fluids level should be checked weekly

  • Once on the motorcycle, complete the following checks:

    • Clutch and throttle: Make sure they are working smoothly 
    • Mirrors: Clean and adjust all mirrors
    • Brakes: Test front and rear brakes 
    • Horn: Test the horn

What should I do after a motorcycle accident

Even if you take every safety measure, you can still end up in an accident. Every moment after an accident is essential and can impact your future legal actions and rights. Here are a few steps to take to ensure you take the right steps.

  • Safety first! If you are able to move away from the road and traffic. When you are in a safe area, check for injuries. Do not do anything that will put you or others at risk of injury or cause further property damage.
  • Call the police. The police can help get you medical attention and also file an official report of the accident. Do not remove your gear and helmet; your neck and spine need to stay protected, wait for paramedics.
  • Gather as much information as possible. Take photos of the scene and all damages to the vehicles involved. Collect contact and insurance information for everyone involved. Look for any potential witnesses and get their statement and contact information also.
  • Contact an attorney. It is crucial to talk to an attorney before calling your insurance company. The attorney can advise you to take the right steps to ensure maximum compensation and coverage of medical and property damage.

7 Advantages of Hiring a Motorcycle Accident Attorney

1.Compensation For Damages

When involved in an ongoing accident claim, getting in touch with a motorcycle accident attorney will drastically help you. Doing it on your own doesn’t give you the greatest odds of success. Hiring an attorney, on the other hand, does.

After an accident, the opposite party’s insurance company will do everything to avoid paying you. But if you have an attorney by your side, they will fight to get the compensation you deserve. 

2. Help You File the Claim

Filing a claim on your own isn’t the best way to go. That’s because insurance companies have many safety measures in place that prevent you from properly doing it.

Filing an insurance claim is somewhat tricky.

The right way to do it is to have an attorney do it. An experienced attorney can easily navigate through the safety measures and tricks of the insurance company. 

3. Get Legal Assistance

Hiring an attorney will help you overcome obstacles in your claim posses. An attorney can also help you in navigating through the legal system. 

Hiring an attorney will ensure that the proper things will be said, and appropriate actions will be taken to get the maximum compensation. When you hire an attorney, their team will work vigorously to negotiate with the insurance companies to get you additional compensation. Compensation for future medical costs, lost wages from work, pain and suffering, vehicle repair costs, and much more.

4. Keep You Up To Date

Your attorney will handle all the communications and negotiations with the insurance company. Your attorney will contact you with updates and instructions on what to do, as the claim prosses continues. Once a settlement is agreed on, your attorney will send you a check with your compensation. 

5. Help You Negotiate A Settlement

Every accident case is different based on your injuries and the amount of damage done to your vehicle. An experienced attorney will be able to negotiate with the insurance company to get you additional compensation. It is crucial to get an attorney that has experience dealing with car accident cases, to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. Our network of attorneys have an excellent track record of successful cases they will help you get compensation for:

  • Present and future medical costs
  • Property damage
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost income
  • Lost earning capacity
  • And much more

Getting the right attorney could make the difference of a few thousand dollars on your settlement. 

6. Representation in Court

The majority of the time, personal injury claims get settled out of court. In rare situations, where a settlement is not agreed on, you would have to go to court. If this happens, your attorney will be able to prepare you for court and support you on the day of court. 

7. Legal help on contingency bases

The American Bar Association explains that “In a contingent fee arrangement, the lawyer agrees to accept a fixed percentage of the recovery, which is the amount finally paid to the client. If you win the case, the lawyer’s fee comes out of the money awarded to you. If you lose, neither you nor the lawyer will get any money, but you will not be required to pay your attorney for the work done on the case.”

In simple terms, what this means is that you only pay if you win. Don’t miss out on a settlement because you are worried about legal fees. Our network of attorneys have years of experience working on personal injury and accident cases that are contingency-based.

Our network of attorneys have years of experience and a long list of successful cases. For years our attorneys have aggressively represented injured bikers and the families of bikers who have died in fatal accidents. They will use every resource possible to get you the best medical help, cover expenses of your damaged motorcycle, and get you the highest compensation possible. If you or a loved one has been injured, contact us today. CALL US ANYTIME (281) 475-4535 or fill out a consultation form here to start the process.