Your safety is something you always need to think about when you’re riding a motorcycle. While motorcycles are fun, exhilarating, and exciting, they can also be extremely dangerous. In 2019, there were over 5,000 motorcycle fatalities and over 80,000 injuries in the United States.
If you ride your motorcycle safely, then you can minimize your chances of being involved in an accident. In this article, we are going to present several pieces of advice that you can use to avoid accidents and deal with them if they do happen:
Have a Lawyer’s Number on Speed Dial
While having a lawyer’s number saved on your phone won’t prevent an accident, it will allow you to deal with the aftermath of one much faster. According to Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyers, you need an aggressive lawyer on your side, to fight for full compensation. When you’ve got a lawyer’s details already saved on your phone, you just need to give them a call. You don’t need to search the internet for one when you’re recovering after your accident, which can be very stressful.
If you have the money, it might also be worth paying for a lawyer on retainer. A retainer is similar to a down payment. It shows the lawyer that you’re willing to hire them if you had a reason to. The lawyer will give you a priority if you ever do need them if you have hired them on retainer.
Wear Protective Equipment
If you’re a motorcycle rider, then this is something that you should do already. If you don’t, then you need to seriously re-evaluate your attitude to riding. Whenever you ride your bike, you need to make sure that you wear protective equipment. If you get involved in an accident, and you’re not wearing protective equipment, then there’s a higher chance that your injuries will be fatal. Some people think that it’s cool to ride without a helmet and a bodysuit, but it really isn’t. There’s nothing cool about dying or paralyzing yourself through sheer ignorance.
Stay in Your Comfort Zone
When you’re riding your bike, you need to make sure that you’re comfortable. You should only ride bikes that you’re comfortable with, hit speeds that you’re comfortable with, and ride routes that you know. If you go outside of your comfort zone, then there’s a stronger chance that an accident might happen. When you’re uncomfortable and anxious, you’re more likely to make a mistake. If you’re riding with friends, don’t feel compelled to ride in a pack with them. If they’re going too fast for you, then slow down.
Perform Regular Inspections
You need to regularly inspect your bike, to ensure that there’re no problems with it. Bikes can deteriorate very quickly without proper maintenance. If you don’t know the first thing about motorbikes, then take it to a mechanic once a month. Visits to a mechanic can be very costly, mind you, so it might be easier to take some time out to learn about your bike’s components and engine. Learning more about your bike will benefit you when you’re riding. It will allow you to stop and perform maintenance, while on the go. It will also give you a better feel for your bike.
Rely On Intuition
When you’re riding your bike, you need to rely somewhat on intuition. While your bike’s mirrors are there for a reason, often accidents can be avoided through intuition alone. Pay attention to all of the vehicles around you and try to figure out who might be driving recklessly and which cars to avoid. You need to be constantly aware. You need to know everything that’s going on around you. When you’re totally aware, you’ll be less likely to be involved in an accident. If people are driving recklessly around you, don’t hesitate to pull away into a lay-by or take another route.
Don’t Speed
Speed is the main cause of motorcycle fatalities. When you’re riding your bike as fast as it can go, you won’t be able to respond to potential accidents quickly enough. Make sure that you adhere to the speed limit at all times, even if you’re on a wide-open road, with nobody around you. Accidents can pop up out of nowhere, from a driver taking a corner too fast to an animal running across the road. In addition, if you’re caught speeding on your bike then you could have your license taken, which means that you won’t legally be able to ride anymore.
If you like riding motorcycles, then you need to follow the advice given in this article. Make sure that you’re always safe, aware, and prepared for the worst. Accidents happen unexpectedly, even to the most experienced riders.
