May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
In honor of National Motorcycle Safety Month, our Salina motorcycle accident attorneys offer simple tips to help you ride safely.
With the weather getting nicer, there are plenty of opportunities for motorcyclists to hit the open road. Whether traveling from work or school or participating in area bike rallies and events, it is important to make safety a priority to prevent crashes and collisions from occurring. At Neustrom & Associates, our Salina motorcycle accident attorneys have over 80 years of experience representing victims in these types of cases. In honor of National Motorcycle Safety Month, which is held annually each May, we have collected the following information and tips to help protect you and your passengers.
Motorcycle Accidents In Kansas
According to the Kansas Department of Transportation (KSDOT), as many as 1,000 motorcycle accidents happen each year in our state, causing serious and potentially life threatening injuries for close to 800 people. Poor road conditions, heavy traffic, and rainy weather can all make collisions more likely to occur, but it is often the dangerous actions of other drivers which are to blame. Driving behaviors that can put motorcyclists at risk include:
- Aggressive driving, such as tailgating and improper passing;
- Distracted driving, such as when motorists use cell phones or text behind the wheel;
- Reckless driving, such as speeding or disregarding traffic signs and signals;
- Drunk driving, or using any type of substance that could impair your driving abilities.
Motorcycles offer little in the way of protection. In crashes involving motor vehicles, it is often bikers who suffer the most severe injuries.
Safety Tips to Prevent Motorcycle Accidents and Injuries
While you cannot control the behavior of other drivers, there are simple steps you can take as a biker to protect yourself, which includes wearing a helmet. Though not required by law in Kansas, the National Safety Council (NSC) advises that using one can reduce your risks of life threatening head injuries by as much as 40 percent. Additional safety tips recommended by the NSC include:
- Make sure your motorcycle is appropriate to your size and skill level;
- Invest in a motorcycle safety course to brush up on your skills;
- Wear long sleeves and pants when riding, to protect you in the event your bike tips over;
- Wear riding gloves, to help you better grip the wheel;
- Watch for hazards in the road, such as potholes or loose gravel;
- Assume that other drivers do not see you, and take extra precautions;
- Obey the speed limit, and avoid weaving in and out of traffic;
- Be especially cautious at intersections, where roughly half of all motorcycle accidents occur.
If you are involved in any type of crash or collision, notify law enforcement, get information from the other drivers, and seek medical attention right away.
Contact Us Today for Help
At Neustrom & Associates, our top priority is protecting you when unexpected events happen. In the event of a motorcycle accident, we can advise you on how to get the compensation you need to recover. Reach out and contact our Salina motorcycle attorneys today to request a consultation.