Motorcycle Safety Tips

There are no minor injuries in a motorcycle wreck.

Even though the conventional wisdom is that riding a motorcycle is more dangerous than driving a vehicle, this does not have to be the case. There are thousands of motorcycles on the roads and highways of Tennessee on any given day and almost all of them do not get into accidents.

Motorcycle riders have to be extra vigilant and practice safe, defensive driving techniques in order to protect themselves. If not, it is easy to be struck by another vehicle and suffer serious personal injuries in the motorcycle crash. The lawyers at Robert Bates & Associates understand the potential dangers of motorcycle riding and the significant injuries a rider can suffer in a motorcycle crash. Here are some safety tips as a reminder to be a safe motorcycle rider.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

In order to protect oneself against motorcycle crashes, a rider has to understand how collisions and wrecks happen. Here are some more common ways a motorcyclist can get injured:

● Head on accidents

● Left hand turn collisions

● Lane shifting accidents

● Driving too fast

● Riding a motorcycle under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol

● Motorcycles hitting objects and debris in the road

● Untrained motorcycle riders

Motorcycle Safety Tips

There are things that motorcycle riders have to do because it is the law in Tennessee and things that they should always do when riding because it is a safe way to ride and protect yourself and your passenger. Here are some safety tips and suggestions:

● Proper training: Make sure you have a motorcycle license and can legally ride a bike. Also, there are many motorcycle training courses held throughout Tennessee and specifically in the Kingsport, Johnson City and Bristol areas that riders can and should take before spending time riding on the roads.

● Wear a helmet: It is the law in Tennessee that both the driver of a motorcycle and any passengers have to wear a properly approved helmet. It is a Class C Misdemeanor if you do not wear a proper helmet while riding a motorcycle.

● Drive defensively: Always drive in a defensive manner. What this means is that the motorcycle rider should always assume something bad is going to happen. The rider should always assume that a car will not see them and pull out in front of them, or will switch lanes without noticing the motorcycle. Always be on the lookout for potential accidents so you can react to the emergency situation as quickly as possible.

● Don’t split lanes: Splitting a lane is where you and another motorcycle will ride next to each other in the same lane. This is not only illegal it is also dangerous and sets you up for a potential accident.

● Don’t drink and drive: This is an obvious one. Not only is it illegal and may cost you your license and several thousands of dollars in legal fees, attorney’s fees, and fines, but it also might cost you your life and the lives of your passenger and other people on the road.

Motorcycle accidents can be quite devastating and can cause serious personal injuries, even death. If you or a family member has gone through a motorcycle crash caused by the negligence of another driver, hiring the right motorcycle accident law firm in the Tri-Cities area is the best decision you can make.

Robert BatesRobert is a Kingsport trial lawyer who handles car, truck and motorcycle wreck cases across the Tri-Cities. Every client gets his cell number.