May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, which means the summer road trip season is approaching. But here in Pennsylvania, spring weather can still be fickle. We face the usual uptick in winter-driven potholes and the beginning of seasonal roadwork. Even with snow off the ground, our roadways can still pose serious hazards. Keep safe. And if you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident, don’t face it alone. Get the help of the experienced Doylestown motorcycle accident attorneys at Silver & Silver.
Motorcycle Fatalities Are Up – Are You Prepared?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration continues to show concerning data on motorcycle fatalities in the past few years. The American Motorcyclist Association believes that part of this is driven by driver distraction and an ever-increasing reliance on new driver-assistance technology.
What does this mean? The short answer is that bikers need to be extra vigilant now when heading out on the road after a long winter. With more vehicles than ever equipped with driver-assistance technologies like lane-keeping, automatic braking, and adaptive cruise control, drivers may not be as attentive as they once were, watching out for motorcyclists in their vicinity.
Are You Driving Legally and Insured?
If your bike has been tucked away all winter, it’s usually out of sight, out of mind. Are your tags updated? Did you let your motorcycle insurance lapse when you weren’t using it? Check your paperwork and documents. You don’t want to take any chances in the event you’re ever involved in an unexpected motorcycle accident.
Do a Quick Visual Inspection and a Once-Over Spring Maintenance
Does your motorcycle show some wear and tear? Have critters made your bike a cozy winter home? Get in the habit of checking your service manual to see what the manufacturer recommends for regular maintenance and how often it should be done.
- Tires – Inspect your tires for cracks, bulges, or tread wear. Ensuring your tires have significant usable tread and are appropriately inflated lowers the risk of a potential blowout (and serious accident) when you’re riding.
- Check the floor beneath your bike – Do you see telltale oil or gas accumulated under your motorcycle? Checking for fluid leaks will prevent potential trouble in the middle of a well-deserved ride.
- Lights – Inspect your headlights, taillights, and signal lights. Test your high and low beams to make sure everything is functioning correctly.
- Check your fluids – Fill the tank with fresh fuel and inspect the lines. Does the tank need a new filter? Is it time for an oil change and new brake fluid? It also might be time to replace the hydraulic fluid in your brake and clutch systems as well as your coolant. Your motorcycle will thank you for all the attention.
- Check your brakes – The last thing you need is to be unable to stop your motorcycle if you see trouble ahead.
If you can’t do the maintenance work yourself, have a professional assess your bike before you head out for a ride. The money spent is worth your life and well-being if it avoids a serious motorcycle accident.
Keep Your Eyes on the Road
When you’re heading out for the first ride of the season, remember that spring weather is unpredictable. Look at the forecast before you head out and plan your trip accordingly. Watch for those potholes, cracks, debris, and loose gravel that developed over the winter to avoid a potentially dangerous accident.
Ride Defensively
Passenger vehicles are bigger than you are, and their drivers have a lot more protection. In short, you are the most vulnerable person on the road. When encountering other traffic, be vigilant. Stay alert and focused, and maintain your traffic position in heavy traffic instead of weaving in and out. Steer clear of alcohol and distractions while you ride. Your safety is paramount.
Remain Visible
Other drivers may not have seen a motorcycle on the road in months so your very presence in the vicinity might be a sudden surprise. Make sure everyone around you can see you, no matter the time of day, particularly wearing light and reflective gear at night.
Carry Extra Gear
Once the sun goes down, the evenings can cool off fast. Carry an extra set of clothes to stay warm and dry. Proper gear – a jacket, gloves, and boots – will keep you comfortable as well as reduce the risk of injury in an accident.
Reassess Your Helmet
Speaking of gear, you already know the most important piece of gear you will own is your helmet. Helmet technology gets better every year. It may be time for you to upgrade yours for your own safety and welfare.
Brush up on Pennsylvania Motorcycle Law
Motorcycle laws vary from state to state. If you aren’t used to riding here in Pennsylvania, you’ll want to understand some of our unique requirements.
- Anyone under the age of 21 must wear a DOT-certified helmet.
- Even if you’re over the age of 21, if you have less than two years of riding experience, a helmet is required.
- Protective eyewear is required when riding.
- Lane splitting is illegal.
- Bikers can’t ride more than two abreast in a single lane.
- You can’t carry another person unless your motorcycle is designed for it.
- You can’t carry anything on your bike that prevents you from keeping both hands on the handlebars.
- All motorcyclists are required to carry a minimum of liability insurance coverage. Unlike car insurance, however, motorcycle insurance gives you full tort capability – the ability to sue an at-fault driver for your costs and pain and suffering – if negligence was a factor.
Should You Contact a Doylestown Motorcycle Accident Attorney if You’re Involved in an Accident?
As a motorcyclist, you’re far more vulnerable in any accident situation. Although you have the added benefit of being covered under full-tort protection, it still requires proof that the other driver was negligent. Proving negligence isn’t easy, especially when the insurance company primarily considers its own financial exposure.
If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident, you should fully understand your legal rights. At Silver & Silver, our skilled Doylestown motorcycle accident attorneys know how insurance companies try to avoid paying injured motorcyclists fairly after an accident. Don’t fall prey to these tactics. Our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers will diligently fight for fair compensation for your damages while you focus on your recovery. Schedule a no-cost consultation with us at (610) 638-7255 or contact us through our online contact form to learn more.
Disclosure:
This website is designed to provide only general information. The information presented on this website is not formal legal advice. You should not rely on any general information from any source for making legal decisions. Each legal matter is unique and requires specific attention from a qualified and experienced attorney. Unless a representation agreement has been signed with the Law Offices of Silver and Silver, we are not your legal representatives.
