How To Avoid a Motorcycle Accident

Now that summer is here, FINALLY, we are outdoors enjoying the sun and many have started driving motorcycles.  While it’s important for motorcyclists to follow the rules of the road, its equally important that those of us who are driving larger vehicles do our part to stay alert and help prevent motorcycle accidents.

Here are a few tips to help prevent motorcycle accidents this summer.

1. Allow motorcyclists to have their space.  Its not easy to judge how fast motorcycles are traveling or when they may need to brake suddenly.  So it’s important to give ourselves additional clearance between our vehicles and the motorcycles in front of you.  When a vehicle is rear-ended it can cause a lot of damage, but if a motorcycle is followed too closely, it could prove deadly for the motorcyclist.  Giving a few extra feet will greatly reduce the likelihood of a collision resulting in a serious injury or death.
2. Look before you change lanes.  This should be a habit regardless of motorcycle safety, but it is particularly important to double check blind spots where motorcyclists may be otherwise invisible.  Be sure to look over your shoulder, not just in your mirrors, before changing lanes.
3. Approach intersections with caution.  About one-third of motorcycle accidents occur within roadway intersections according to the NHTSA.  Drivers routinely fail to see motorcyclists as they approach a left-hand turn or neglect to slow down as a motorcyclist is doing the same.  These kinds of accidents can often prove to be very serious and even deadly.
4. Don’t drive while distracted.  This seems like a given, but in this time we live in with technology at our fingertips, whether on a phone or in our cars, its extremely important to keep our eyes on the road at all times, so we can make sure we are not a danger to anyone on the road, especially motorcyclists.

At Karp Steiger, we want everyone to stay safe this summer, have fun and enjoy themselves.  But if you find yourself in need of a personal injury attorney, we can help deal with the burden and stress of motorcycle accidents.  Our team of lawyers can thoroughly investigate facts and circumstances surrounding the motorcycle accident and take an aggressive stance in dealing with the insurance companies for you to make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.  Call our team at (216) 696-3515 for a free case consultation.