When you are riding a motorcycle, it’s easy to feel invincible and unaware of the risks involved on the road. However, that same sense of freedom can be what leads your injuries to escalate as time goes on. Find out how to handle a motorcycle accident before the worst happens in this article.
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Dealing with a motorcycle accident can be overwhelming, but it’s important to seek legal assistance to help navigate the aftermath. Shuman Legal, a highly respected law firm, specializes in motorcycle accidents and can provide you with the guidance you need.
Risks Of Riding A Motorcycle
Motorcycle riding is a popular and adrenalin-pumping form of transportation. But like any activity that involves risk, motorcycle riding presents dangers that can be potentially life-threatening if not properly understood and precautions aren’t taken.
Riding a motorcycle poses a greater risk than driving a car. Motorcycles are much more difficult to control than cars and the rider is exposed to greater injury in an accident. Motorcycle accidents are notoriously dangerous, and account for a large proportion of all vehicular fatalities.
The reasons for this are manifold: motorcycles are more likely to be traveling at high speeds, they’re less visible to other drivers, and they lack the bulk and protection of a car.
That makes them particularly vulnerable in incidents with larger vehicles, such as trucks and buses.
But the risks don’t end there. Motorcycles also pose a greater risk to themselves than cars do. Motorcyclists are three times as likely as car drivers to be killed in an accident while wearing a helmet, and many more have head injuries that result in long-term disability.
All of these factors make motorcycle riding one of the most hazardous forms of transportation there is. The key to minimizing your risk is to understand the risks involved by taking the time to learn how to safely operate a motorcycle, and wear appropriate gear.
How To Handle An Accident
While riding your motorcycle, always be aware of your surroundings and be alert to other drivers. If you find yourself in a motorcyclist accident, take the following steps to protect yourself and others:
Check For Injuries: Immediately after an accident, look for any injuries on yourself or the other party. If someone is unconscious or pronounced dead, do not move them. Instead, call for help.
Stay In Control: Even if you are injured, stay in control of your motorcycle. Reducing speed will lessen the impact of the crash and help avoid further injury.
Get Your Name And Address Taken: If involved in a serious motorcycle accident, make sure both your name and address are noted down by the other driver or witnesses. This will help if you need economic compensation.
Do Not Exit The Vehicle: Unless you are absolutely certain you can safely do so, do not exit your motorcycle until authorities arrive. This avoids getting lost or stranded and gives officers a better idea of what occurred.
Prepare Yourself For The Police Report: After the police arrive, take time to gather all of the evidence from the scene of the accident. The best way to do this is to write out a detailed description of the accident or other witnesses so that they do not need to return to the scene when they can witness your signs of injury, such as broken glass and bloodstains, firsthand.
Contact Your Insurance Company: Once your injuries are assessed and body damage has been recorded on documentation by the police, contact your insurance company or agent and report both your own uninsured motorist policy and anyone else involved in the crash before leaving any information with them.
Seek Care If Necessary: If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident and you feel as though additional treatment may be needed for further safety or recovery purposes, you should get a medical professional involved even if you have coverage. Keep in mind that insurance companies generally pay out at about 25 percent of the policy limits for injuries and bodily damage, meaning there are plenty of reasons to seek additional qualified care if you feel your recovery will take a while.
Start A Lawsuit: Legal action is also critical if you have been injured in a motorcycle accident and have not received adequate care. It can be helpful to start a motorcycle accident lawsuit if the crash took place at night when your insurance company might not have had damage to report, or if the accident occurred on a closed road or highway where an open court finding was impossible. A financial settlement can help with all medical expenses as well as lost wages and pain and suffering, which may occur after recovering from injuries caused by motorcycling accidents.
Tips To Stay Safe
Everyone loves the exhilarating feeling of getting behind the wheel of a motorcycle. But like any other form of transportation, there is risk involved when riding a motorcycle.
Here are some tips to keep you safe when riding:
- Never drink and ride. This is a common mistake made by motorcycle riders. It is incredibly dangerous to operate a motorcycle while impaired by alcohol, and will dramatically increase your chances of getting into an accident.
- Be aware of your surroundings at all times. It’s vital that you stay aware of your surroundings while riding so that you can react quickly if something comes up. Make sure to scan the area around you for traffic, pedestrians, and other motorcycles.
- Wear a helmet. Wearing a helmet is one of the most important safety precautions you can take when riding a motorcycle. Not only does it protect you from head injuries, but studies have shown that helmets reduce the odds of dying in an accident by as much as 50%.
- Obey traffic laws. Regardless of whether you’re driving a car or motorcycle, always obey the rules of traffic. This includes staying within the lines provided by markers on the road, using proper headlights
As a motorcyclist, you know that danger is always lurking on the side of the road. Whether it’s a slip-up on your part or an unavoidable crash, accidents can happen at any time and with any other driver.
The most important thing you can do before, during, and after an accident is to stay calm and remember who is in control: you. These tips will help protect yourself and minimize potential injury in the event of a motorcycle accident.
