The thrill of the open road and freedom that riding a motorcycles can bring is part of the allure to those who choose this mode of transportation.
What is not so great about riding a motorcycle is the number of motorcycle accidents that occur each year, a number that has been climbing steadily in Texas.
As many as 92,000 riders suffer injuries nationwide each year, with more than 4,500 of those injuries being fatal.
In Texas alone, motorcycle accident lawyers report that there were 595 fatalities in 2023, a number that far surpassed the 562 fatalities seen in 2022.
Sadly, accident lawyers often find that many of these incidents could have been prevented by understanding the risks and taking measures to ride more safely.
What Are The Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?
Although there are many different reasons why motorcycle accidents happen, most of them can be attributed in whole or in part to four main factors:
- Speeding or Driving Too Fast for Conditions - Loss of control of the motorcycle is more likely to happen at higher rates of speed.
- Road Hazards or Poor Road Conditions - Everything from potholes and bad road surfaces to debris in the road as well as wet or icy roads can affect how a motorcycle travels on the road.
- Poor Visibility to Other Drivers - Because motorcycles are much smaller than other vehicles on the road, lawyers often find visibility issues to be the root cause of why a rider gets hit by another vehicle driver.
- Riding While Impaired - Alcohol, illegal substances, or even some prescription medications can impair riders who take to the roads while under the influence of these substances.
How Can Motorcycle Riders Reduce Their Accident Risk?
The main way for anyone to reduce their risk of being injured in a motorcycle accident is to practice safer riding based on the above common causes.
Defensive driving, taking lessons to learn safe riding practices, and avoiding riding while impaired are all ways to enjoy riding more safely, reducing the chance of a dangerous accident.
Motorcycle accident lawyers also recommend staying off the road when there are poor driving conditions like rain, ice, snow, or fog, and slowing down on roads that are in bad condition.
Avoid speeding, use turn signals, keep a safe distance from other vehicles, and most importantly, stay aware of other drivers and the surroundings.
What Can Motorcycle Riders Do To Reduce Injury Risks?
In addition to practicing safe and defensive driving, lawyers who oversee these types of injury cases also recommend that riders protect themselves physically should a motorcycle accident happen anyway.
Statistics on motorcycle helmet use suggest they are 67% effective for preventing traumatic brain injuries and reduce overall deaths due to motorcycle accidents by 37%.
Protective, reinforced clothing like leather jackets, long pants, and gloves can also prevent serious injuries.
See An Accident Lawyer If Injured In A Motorcycle Crash
Motorcycle riding provides an experience like no other and yet it also involves risks no matter how experienced a motorcycle rider may be.
An important way to lower those risks is to understand the main causes of motorcycle accidents and then take steps to prevent them and minimize any injuries that may result.
Should an accident occur anyway, contact a Texas lawyer experienced with motorcycle accidents, and who can provide the best representation.
A reputable motorcycle accident lawyer will help riders injured by someone else receive fair compensation for their resulting injuries.
