2 Ways To Lessen Your Chance Of Being Killed Or Seriously Injured In A Motorcycle Crash
If you ride a motorcycle, you are at greater risk of having a fatal accident on the road. In fact, people who ride motorcycles are 35 times more likely to be involved in a road accident that results in death than people who ride in passenger cars. In addition, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, of all the accidents that occur on the road, 11 percent involve motorcycles.
Many motorcyclists realize that donning a helmet can help save their life, but there are additional measures that riders can take. Here are a few things that you can do to help lessen your chances of being killed or seriously injured in a motorcycle accident:
Don't allow yourself to be sandwiched between vehicles.
If a car is stopped in front of you at a traffic light or stop sign and you notice another car approaching you from the rear, move your bike to the outer or inner side of the lane. If the car approaching the back of your bike fails to stop and your bike is improperly positioned, you will be sandwiched between the two vehicles. Remaining on the outer perimeter of the lane can help ensure that you are out of harm's way if an accident occurs.
If the car in front of you is approaching a stop sign and there is enough room for you to safely pass, try to pull in front of the vehicle. If that car is rear-ended, your bike will not be sandwiched between two automobiles, since it is leading the line of cars. A direct hit in the rear of a motorcycle is likely to cause serious injury to the rider, but a sandwiched bike may result in an even greater tragedy.
Don't speed near the edges of the road or around curves.
The edges of the road can be particularly hazardous because of the sand, grass, gravel or other debris that may be located there. When you are riding at a high rate of speed, this debris can make it easy for the wheels of your bike to spin erratically and for you to lose control.
Wiping out can occur more easily also if you don't control your speed properly as you round a turn or a twisty area of roadway. Not only are you more likely to crash rounding a turn at a fast speed, you may also encounter road debris on a curve that can exacerbate the situation. Be sure to enter a curve slowly for greater control. You can always increase your speed as you are riding out of it.
Although you may strive to be safe as you operate your motorcycle, an accident may still occur due to the negligence of another motorist. If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, schedule a consultation with a personal injury attorney, like one from Shaw Leslie Law Office, in your area.