How to Avoid a Motorcycle Accident
When it comes to avoiding crashes, motorcycles have the best tools: great brakes, excellent handling and grippy tires. But they also come with a lot of responsibility.
Unfortunately, that responsibility can lead to a number of common motorcycle accidents. These crashes are especially dangerous for bikers. They can be caused by many different things, but all of them can lead to severe injuries.
Intersection Collisions
Intersections are often considered one of the most dangerous places to be on a road. This is because the speed of vehicles makes them vulnerable to collisions.
Intersection collisions can cause a variety of injuries, such as broken bones, lacerations, concussions, and spinal cord injuries. These are serious and permanent injuries that require long-term medical treatment and rehabilitation.
In most cases, intersection accidents are caused by negligent drivers. This can include running red lights and stop signs, driving too fast, or not yielding to other drivers.
The law is clear that all drivers have a duty to follow traffic laws and obey signage and signals at intersections. If a driver violates this law, he or she can be held liable for injuries in an accident.
People in Cars in Traffic
Drivers who don’t pay attention to the road or are distracted can put everyone on the road at risk of a serious accident. Cars, vans, small trucks, and motorcycles share the same road with other vehicles, so drivers must always pay close attention to their surroundings when they drive.
Motorcyclists are particularly at risk of accidents with cars, because they don’t have the safety features that car occupants have, such as airbags and side impact protection. Additionally, motorcycles are smaller in scale compared to other types of vehicles, which makes them difficult for drivers to see.
One of the most common motorcycle-car collisions occurs when a car turns left at an intersection, inadvertently entering into the path of a biker. Drivers often fail to notice the biker because they don’t think it’s a big deal to turn in front of a motorcycle.
Drivers who Don’t Wear Helmets
A helmet is a key piece of safety equipment for motorcycle riders. It prevents objects from piercing the rider’s head and distributes the force of impact so that the body is less likely to slam into whatever it happens to hit after ejection.
Helmets also reduce the risk of a traumatic brain injury during a motorcycle accident. This can lead to severe symptoms like a loss of consciousness and difficulty performing basic self-care tasks.
Drivers who don’t wear helmets are more likely to have their heads hit by objects in their cars during accidents, which can lead to serious injuries. Using a helmet while riding can significantly reduce these kinds of injuries and save lives.
This is why many motorcycle safety laws require all riders to wear helmets. Unfortunately, some people still break the law and don’t wear helmets.
Slippery Roads
The weather can make roads slick, especially when it rains. Rainwater combines with oil, chemicals, and other organic materials in asphalt to create a slippery surface.
Slippery roads are a common cause of road accidents. Drivers need to exercise caution while driving on slick pavements, especially during winter storms.
Accidents caused by slick roads can result in physical and mental trauma to victims. They may suffer from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Slippery roads are also dangerous because they can prevent drivers from noticing potholes, roadblocks, and other hazards. This can lead to accidents, especially when drivers are distracted or intoxicated.
