September 25, 2017 | Motorcycle Accidents
With an abundance of good weather, the call of the open road beckons to many. Often, that means taking to the highway on a motorcycle. Although cruising the byways on a motorcycle can bring a powerful sense of freedom, the risk of serious injury or death is considerably higher while riding a motorcycle than when taking a comparable journey by automobile.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2015, motorcyclists were 29 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled, and almost five times more likely to be injured. With that in mind, some safety precautions are in order before hitting the road.
Reducing motorcycle injuries relies primarily on taking four simple actions, according to NHTSA. Motorcyclists should:
Before every ride, you should check your tire pressure, tread depth, hand and foot brakes, headlights, signal indicators, and fluid levels. Make sure that there are no signs of gas or oil leaks. If you are carrying any cargo, make sure everything is balanced. The same applies if you are carrying a passenger. Further, your passenger should mount only after the engine is started and should sit as far forward as possible, with both feet planted firmly on the footrests at all times, holding tightly to your waist and being careful to avoid touching the muffler, which can cause burns. Your passenger should never dismount until you have said it is safe to do so.
Obviously, even when taking all proper precautions, motorcyclists are at an elevated risk for injury or death compared to automobile occupants. If a motorcyclist takes all of the proper precautions and is still injured in an accident, it is quite possible to recover compensation for injuries. Anyone suffering injuries in a motorcycle accident should consult an attorney to see whether compensation for those injuries might be available.
At the Fountain Law Firm, P.C., we have successfully helped many motorcycle accident victims obtain the compensation they deserve for their injuries and related losses. To make sure that you receive all of the compensation to which you are entitled, it is important to have an experienced motorcycle accident attorney handling your case. Attorney Merry Fountain can help you today by meeting in her office or by meeting in your home. Call Merry Fountain anytime at 1-888-242-HURT (4878) for a free consultation.