Motorcycle Safety Tips:
With the weather improving and the sun coming out, many of us are eager to get on the road with our motorcycles. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced rider, you must follow good safety practices. Motorcycle accidents have a much higher fatality rate than car accidents since motorcycles don’t offer the same level of protection from airbags and seatbelts. As such, taking precautions can help avoid devastating consequences.
Wear the Proper Gear:
Ensuring you are correctly dressed is the easiest way to ensure you are protecting yourself. Proper gear includes items such as:
- Helmet
- Full fingered gloves
- Boots
- Certified motorcycle jacket
- Pants
In Alberta, all drivers and passengers on a motorcycle are legally required to wear a DOT or SNELL-certified helmet. The helmet also must not be expired. Wearing a helmet is the easiest way to protect yourself. One study conducted by the CDC concluded that helmets reduce the risk of a head injury by almost 70%.
Make Sure You Are Visible:
Due to the small size of motorcycles, car drivers often fail to see motorcycles on the road properly. There are many proactive steps you can take to help ensure that you are visible to other drivers on the road. This includes putting reflective tape on your motorcycle to ensure drivers can see you. It is also essential to keep enough distance between you and other vehicles on the road and ensure you are not riding in the blind spot of other vehicles. Following these simple steps can greatly reduce the likelihood of an accident.
Other ways you can ensure you are more visible while riding include:
- Flashing your Brake Lights to alert other motorist
- Wearing bright clothing or reflective straps
- Making eye contact with other drivers on the road
Stay up to date with Maintenance
Whether you drive a car or a motorcycle, it is always a good idea to ensure your vehicle is properly maintained. However, motorcycle maintenance is even more important since the consequences can be so devastating. So, before you decide to ride around the city, you will want to ensure your motorcycle is up to standard.
This includes:
- Checking all your fluids and filling up anything low
- Checking Air pressure and all the filters
- Ensuring the headlights and brakes are working properly
- Ensuring the tires and mirrors are in good condition
Steps to take after an Accident
If you do end up in the unfortunate situation of being in an accident, it is crucial to know what to do.
- Seek medical attention for your injuries
- Report the accident to the police
- Immediately take any pictures of the accident scene and damaged vehicles. This evidence may be helpful in case you decide to make an injury claim.
- Obtain the insurance information or contact information of all the parties involved, including any witnesses
- Get in touch with a trusted personal injury lawyer experienced with motorcycle accidents who can help get you compensation for your injuries