Stay Safe On Your Motorcycle With These 7 Tips

Metier Law Firm
Tue, 07 Apr 2020 00:00:40 +0000
Motorcycle Accident, accident attorney, motorcycle accident attorney, motorcycle injury attorney, motorcycle injury lawyer

There’s nothing quite like being out on the open road — just you and your motorcycle. However, one bad decision or irresponsible driver could leave you calling a motorcycle accident lawyer and dealing with a difficult recovery.

Here at Metier Law Firm, we fight for motorcycle drivers who have been seriously injured in accidents and need representation. When you look for a motorcycle accident attorney, you should find one who rides motorcycles (or at least a law firm with motorcycle riders on staff). This is so you can get the most professional, understanding care possible — and you can find that in Metier Law Firm. Our motorcycle accident lawyers are passionate about riding and about defending motorcyclists who have suffered an injury.

In today’s blog, we’re going to cover seven things you should always do to decrease the risk of an accident. If, however, you have been in an accident, then our motorcycle accident lawyers can help. Contact Metier Law Firm today to set up a risk-free consultation and meet with a motorcycle accident lawyer who will work tirelessly on your case.

Always Wear Appropriate Gear

It is never permissible to not wear the appropriate gear for riding a motorcycle. It’s an easy thing to do, and a helmet or other gear could quite literally save your life. The best way to protect against severe head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, is to wear a helmet — specifically with a face shield or some form of protective eyewear.

We also recommend wearing clothing that will help you stay safe. When on a motorcycle, you don’t want to be wearing shorts and flip-flops, for example. Leather clothing and gloves, along with boots with nonskid soles, can help prevent injury if a motorcycle accident were to occur. Reflective clothing or elements on your clothing or bike could also be helpful.

Of course, wearing inappropriate gear doesn’t mean you can’t get compensation for your recovery after an accident. Our motorcycle injury attorneys can help.

Follow All Traffic Laws

This should be an obvious tip, but it’s nonetheless important — and we can’t stress it enough. Just as you would like other drivers on the road to respect all traffic laws, you should do the same. There are also some laws that are unique to motorcyclists, such as never passing a car in their lane.

Take A Motorcycle Safety Course

To truly become a good motorcyclist — and therefore have more fun on the road as well — we recommend taking a motorcycle safety course. This will teach you laws that are specific to you, best practices for taking care of your motorcyclist, and help you be most prepared when on your bike.

It’s ideal to participate in this course when you first get your motorcycle, but it’s also good to have a refresher course before long trips or when you haven’t ridden your motorcycle in a while.

Ride Defensively

Riding defensively to avoid a motorcycle accident can include a wide variety of tasks:

Avoid bad weather

Stay out of a driver’s blind spot

Signal always and in advance

Watch out for turning vehicles

Turn on your headlights

Wear protective gear

Inspect your motorcycle before driving

Avoid road hazards

Be prepared to stop or pull over

It’s not enough to assume that other drivers on the road are aware and are driving safely — especially when you’re driving a motorcycle. Instead, be on the defense the entire time you drive so you have the best chances of decreasing your risk of an accident and needing a motorcycle accident lawyer.

Drive Sober And Awake

It’s never acceptable to drive while intoxicated, otherwise impaired by substances, or when you’re dangerously tired or drowsy. You should be fully alert and in control of your body — otherwise, you risk your life along with the lives of other drivers on the road.

Inspect Your Ride

Regular motorcycle inspections are necessary for your safety. Here are the inspections we recommend, both as motorcyclists ourselves and as motorcycle accident lawyers:

Regular checks – Even if your motorcycle is brand new, it’s recommended to do a basic inspection before every motorcycle trip and even if you don’t ride as much as you’d like to.

Inspection before each trip – A ride for a couple of hours or a cross-country road trip for days are not times when you want to run into problems. Ensure you’re safe by getting an inspection done.

Each time you prepare to ride, check the following:

Tires – Look for cracks, signs of wear, or low tire pressure

Under the motorcycle – Look for signs of an oil or gas leak

Hydraulic and coolant fluids – Check these levels weekly

Headlight, taillight, and signals – Make sure all lights work, including your high and low beams

Once you’re on the motorcycle, check the following:

Horn

Clutch and throttle

Mirrors

Brakes

Educate Your Passenger

When you have a passenger on your motorcycle, who may not be experienced, it’s essential you take on a responsible role to keep them protected. Have an extra helmet on hand — it’s not appropriate for you or your passenger to ride without a helmet. Educate them about what to wear, how to act, and how to communicate if necessary when you ride together.

Meet With A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today

Even if you do everything on this list, accidents can still happen. If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident and sustained a serious injury, you’ll need an accident attorney on your side. However, you don’t want just any accident attorney: you need a motorcycle injury attorney who can understand the nuances, strengths, and weaknesses of your case.

You should meet with several motorcycle accident lawyers to find one who can represent you well. Here in Colorado, you can trust Metier Law Firm. We serve clients throughout Fort Collins, Denver Metro, Golden, and Colorado Springs to help them get the compensation they deserve — both for now and years from now. Contact Metier Law Firm today to get started with a risk-free consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer.