Motorcycle Accidents – Quick Avoidance Tips
Motorcycle accidents result in severe personal injuries, permanent impairment, and death more often than other vehicle accidents. They can be avoided by being vigilant of other vehicles on the road, obeying the law, and learning from a national training program.
Steer Clear of Personal Injury on a Motorcycle
Our Hamilton personal injury lawyers have seen broken bones, head injuries, orthopedic injuries, spinal cord injuries, and joint damage in motorcycle accident victims. You can’t always avoid a painful recovery process and a personal injury claim, but Hamilton personal injury lawyers know the common reasons for motorcycle accidents. If you could avoid getting into one yourself, wouldn’t that be the better option?
Motorcycle crash avoidance measures include:
- Looking out for turning cars – drivers often fail to see motorcyclists and psychologically, may act on the premise they don’t see another car. Therefore, you must anticipate a motorist’s actions. If they’re stopped at an intersection waiting to turn or there’s a gap in traffic in the lane ahead, be ready to brake and act accordingly.
- Riding at a comfortable speed – many accidents occur because the motorcyclist is moving faster than their reaction time can accommodate. It is hard to avoid gravel, debris, or losing control in a tight corner traveling at high speeds. Always allow time to react to your environment.
- Avoid being hit from behind – even a minor fender bender can be fatal to a motorcyclist. If you’re behind a single car stopped at a light and more cars are approaching from behind at high speeds, try pulling in front of the car ahead of you, or moving over to the side (while flashing your brake light rapidly) and always be ready to move quickly.
- Use common sense – actions such as riding between traffic and parked cars can send you careening into an open door. Also, check your tires to ensure there’s traction on wet, slippery roads. In 2013, there were 29 collision-related deaths in Ontario. Ontario Provincial Police statistics from 2008-2014 reveal alcohol as the leading factor in motorcycle accident deaths. Loss of control, speed, and inattention were contributing factors too.
Obey the Law and Be Educated
Personal injury law firms will look to see if you’ve obeyed the laws when reviewing your case. Ontario has several laws governing motorcyclists, include a legal requirement to have two lamps – one white lamp at the front end, a red lamp at the rear and an illuminated license plate. If you’re riding a motorcycle with a side car, it too must have a lit lamp on each side of its front end. Helmets are required if you operate or ride a motorcycle on a public roadway, and each helmet must have a securely fastened chin strap in accordance with regulations.
The Ministry of Transportation forbids drivers with a Level One license to carry passengers and even Level Two licensees are encouraged not to unless they are experienced riders. You’ll learn about all these regulations and more from the Canada Safety Council Motorcycle Training Program. It covers tasks to do before you start and education on urban riding, traction control, balance and braking, speed control at low and high speeds, and how to behave in traffic. The program has been in place since 1974 and an online program was introduced in 2012. Training has been mandatory in Ontario since 2000.
Need the Help of Experienced Accident Lawyers?
Have you obeyed the law and received all the necessary training, but have become a victim of a motorcycle accident? Hamilton based Mackesy Smye Law Firm has some of the best personal injury lawyers in Ontario, who are here to assess your personal injury claim and guide you through the entire process. Our accident lawyers will prosecute your case even if your claim has been denied, so call today for your free consultation.