Riding a motorcycle comes with a unique set of dangers. Without the protective casing of a car, you are at greater risk for serious injuries if you become involved in an accident. Some of the most common ways to reduce risk include attending rider safety courses, wearing a helmet and staying alert while riding.
Another important safety measure to take while you are riding is to stay conspicuous. In general, motorcycles are almost invisible to people behind the wheel. Many accidents occur simply because a driver did not see a motorcycle. Regardless of the dangers, you still have the right to be on the road.
If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident due to a driver’s negligence, you could be entitled to compensation. Pursuing legal action after an accident can often be complicated. A Georgetown attorney can help you navigate the court system so that you can attempt to recover damages.
Draw attention to yourself
According to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, there are two strategic ways to make yourself more visible. The first way is passive. This refers to your riding gear and the motorcycle itself. For example, is your gear designed to be eye-catching to other motorists?
The other strategy is through a more active approach. This refers specifically to the actions you take while riding. For example, are you riding defensively?
Passive visibility
As mentioned above, your clothing and your bike play a part in staying visible. In order to draw the attention of drivers, you should always wear brightly colored clothing during the day and reflective clothing at night. Furthermore, your helmet should also have these characteristics.
In terms of your motorcycle, you should make sure that all lights work and have them on at all times. Brake lights, taillights, and turn signals should be easy to see. Consider installing a brake light that flashes so that drivers are more aware of when you are stopping.
Active visibility
Active visibility involves how you ride. For example, you should constantly have two possible plans in place to avoid an accident. This means anticipating that there could be an accident at any moment. If you are riding in the middle lane, be sure you stay in a space where you can easily move left or right to avoid an incident that might occur directly in front of you.
Riding defensively means that you should always assume that other people on the road are not going to see you. You could deck yourself out in flashing multi-colored lights, but there will always be at least one person on I-35 that will not see you.
No matter what kind of precautions you take, there is always the possibility of becoming involved in a car accident with a motor vehicle. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to a driver’s negligence, you could be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries.
