Tips for Avoiding Motorcycle Accidents in California
Motorcycle accidents are exceptionally dangerous. The motorcycle rider has no barricade or protection between himself and the road or other cars. One of the best ways to stay safe on a motorcycle is to know how to avoid a Los Angeles motorcycle crash altogether. However, you cannot always protect against the bad behavior of other drivers. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle collision in California, the motorcycle accident attorneys at the Los Angeles Injury Group are prepared to defend you and your legal rights.
Rates of Motorcycle Accidents
Half of all motorcycle accidents involve another vehicle. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 51% of all fatal motorcycle crashes involved a collision with another vehicle. 47% of those fatal accidents were front facing collisions. 42% of those fatalities were the result of a passenger vehicle attempting to turn left and running into a motorcycle.
Ways to Protect Yourself Against Motorcycle Crashes
Wear Your Helmet
Wearing a helmet that has been approved by the Department of Transportation is a must. California law requires that all persons, drivers, and passengers riding on a motorcycle wear one. Motorcycle helmets are designed to help protect your brain in the event of a motorcycle crash, especially one where you’re thrown from the vehicle.
A helmet is the single most important piece of protective gear that any rider or passenger can wear. The effectiveness of new DOT approved helmets has been confirmed time and time again by numerous scientific studies. Just as you should always buckle up the moment you get in the car, you should always put your helmet on the moment you get on your motorcycle in Los Angeles and across California. Whether you are going across the country or across the parking lot, you should never be on your bike without wearing your helmet.
If you are injured through the fault of another driver but you were not wearing your helmet at the time of the accident, it may impact the damages that your motorcycle accident lawyer is able to recover for you. You should never put your own health and safety at risk.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings While Riding
It may seem rather obvious and is certainly a rule that applies to any motorist behind the wheel of any vehicle, but one common reason for motorcycle collisions in California is that riders are not always paying attention to their surroundings. Los Angeles is notorious for its traffic congestion and being aware can help prevent an accident on our crowded freeways.
It is easy to get comfortable riding a motorcycle and forget that you are actually operating a piece of equipment that is capable of killing you and the people around you. Because of this danger, you need to stay vigilant and be aware of everything around you including other drivers, road hazards, weather conditions, and potentially problematic situations so that you can avoid them before they become a potentially life-threatening situation. .
Don’t Drink and Drive
For the same reasons you wouldn’t drive a car while intoxicated, you shouldn’t drive a motorcycle in an intoxicated state either. For one, it’s against the law, but it’s also exceptionally more dangerous. A motorcycle accident has a high likelihood of injuries or fatalities, especially when compared to car accidents. It’s never worth the risk and could prove to be a deadly decision.
Avoid Road Hazards
Road hazards for motorcyclists in California include slick or wet roads, debris, disabled vehicles in the roadway, standing water, loose gravel, potholes, wild animals, uneven expansion joints, and items in the road that have fallen from other cars or from construction sites. Due to their exposed nature, motorcycle riders are at a greater risk of injury from even seemingly minor road hazards.
A particularly bad pothole, for example, might feel like a small bump to an SUV. In a small car, that same pothole might be enough to cause damage to the car’s tires or suspension. For a rider on a motorcycle, however, that very same pothole may be enough to flip their bike and result in a very severe motorcycle accident. When driving on roads in Los Angeles, riders should be alert to approaching road hazards and take reasonable means to avoid them while driving.
Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Attorney
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident that was not your fault in the Los Angeles County area, then you need the legal services of an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer. Here at the Los Angeles Injury Group, we can help you recover money for your injuries and for other losses. For a free consultation with an experienced attorney in the Los Angeles, California area, please give us a contact us at (310) 954-7248.