Motorcyclists may enjoy greater maneuverability and fuel economy, yet they also face major safety risks on the road. The absence of a metal enclosure, seat belts, and air bags can make riding on a motorcycle far more dangerous than traveling by car. In addition, motorcycles often go unnoticed due to their smaller size and are, therefore, likely to figure in serious, fatal and head-on collisions with other, larger vehicles.
As such, motorcyclists should take extra care. A Consumer Reports article offers the following safety tip for motorcyclists everywhere:
“Be defensive. A recent study by the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research found that in collisions involving a motorcycle and a car, car drivers were at fault 60 percent of the time. So, you need to be extra alert, especially in this age of epidemic phone use and texting behind the wheel. Keep an eye out for cars suddenly changing lanes or pulling out from side streets. And don’t tailgate; keeping a safe following distance is critical, both to ensure you have enough stopping distance and so you have time to react to obstacles in the road. An object that a car might easily straddle could be a serious hazard when on a bike.“
Yet no matter how a cautious motorcyclist may be, a negligent automobile driver may one day cross his or her path and consequently inflict serious injury. An experienced Sacramento motorcycle accident lawyer can establish the erring driver’s negligence, prove the extent of the plaintiff’s injury, and handle the insurance claims and settlement process to the very end to secure a reasonable compensation amount for the victim.
Meanwhile, a motorcyclist who is partly at fault for an accident as a result of driving while inebriated or failing to observe traffic regulations may face a reduced compensation amount. In this instance, one may enlist the legal counsel of a motorcycle accident attorney in Sacramento from a trusted firm like Carter Wolden Curtis, LLP to boost one’s chances of a reasonable outcome.
(Article Information and Image from 10 motorcycle safety tips for new riders, Consumer Reports)