Everybody knows the right thing to do when it comes to being a model road user, however, it doesn’t mean they are immune to road motorcycle accidents. Road users have a high chance of being involved in an accident, but the possibilities become inevitable when you’re riding on a motorcycle.
Putting this in mind, this article shares a two-pronged guide detailing how to avoid accidents while riding on a motorcycle and what to do when you are involved in a road accident while riding the said bike.
How To Avoid Motorcycle Accidents
Here are measures to prevent you from being an accident victim.
Gear Up
Before you get on your motorcycle, make sure you are putting on the right gear, including a thick or leather long-sleeved top (or jacket) and pants, gloves, boot, elbow, and knee guard. Most importantly, a full-face helmet is must-have gear for a motorcycle ride.
Beware of Intersections
Most road accidents happen at intersections, so when you’re riding on your bike and about to make a left or right turn, make sure you’re not on a high speed, so you can easily maneuver away from motorists driving the same turn to avoid a head-on collision or a crash.
Be Visible and Alert
This is a given. Most bikers think they are invisible when they are riding their beast. Trust me, and you are not because invisibility could lead to a crash. Endeavor to wear bright colors; your headlights must be on at any time of the day; honk at intervals to create awareness that you’re there; watch for potholes, sand patches, railroad tracks, and other road hazards.
Don’t Drink or Speed.
This is advice that applies to every road user. Drunk drivers are not aware that they are speeding until it is too late for them and their other victims. Motorcycle accident are always fatal and, in most cases, caused by drunk driving and over-speeding, so don’t drink and drive at all.
Avoid Bad Weather
Bad weather causes nasty accidents. Avoid it at all costs, especially rains, as it affects visibility and smooth riding on a motorcycle.
Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Accident
Being an accident victim can be traumatic, even worse when it is a motorcycle crash. As pointed out by Detroit motorcycle accident frequently asked questions, you’ll have a lot on your plate, and it could get overwhelming. This is why the steps highlighted below are essential to your recovery journey and compensation for your injury.
Seek Medical Attention
This is non-negotiable after a crash. Even if you didn’t suffer any physical injury, you should seek medical attention. Only a doctor can help you diagnose the full extent of the damage suffered in the crash.
If the accident is fatal and you have bruises, dislocation, or a head injury, only medical treatment can grant you recovery and rehabilitation to your former self.
Consult an Attorney
When you’re recovering from the accident, you should consider your options for compensation if the accident wasn’t your fault. You can consult an accident claims attorney to help you make sense of how to proceed or know if your case has merit and could get compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company.
Suppose it happens that your case has merit. In that case, you can go ahead and hire a professional accident claims attorney, but make sure that you are on a contingency fee agreement with the lawyer to avoid the ambiguity of payment until you are confident that you will be compensated for the injury.
Contact Insurance Company
Insurance companies can be sneaky. This is why you need to contact them immediately after the accident, as some of them have strict deadlines on when to be notified of an accident. If you can’t make the call, ask your family member to do it on your behalf or hire an attorney to ease the compensation claims process.
Gather Evidence and Put Your Case Together
Not everyone who survived a motorcycle crash has a clearance of thought to begin gathering evidence after the incident. However, you still need to know how the accident happened to build your compensation claims case. Evidence gathering after the accident can start from a police report filed by the on-scene officer since every accident has to be investigated by the police.
You can start from there and let your attorney do the legwork to get witnesses to help you build a case to file for compensation with the insurance company.
Accidents are inevitable for road users, no matter how cautious you are, but your reaction after the incident is all that matters.