While it’s easy to point out ridiculous notions about riding motorcycles, it’s also very easy to mistake myths as actual truths. Below we have listed the most common motorcycle accident myths.
Drivers Don’t Care about Motorcyclists
This may be hard to believe but most drivers avoid intentionally hitting motorcyclists. Nobody wants to spend their time going back and forth in a motorcycle accident claim and neither do they want to live with the guilt of fatally injuring a motorcyclist or causing serious injuries to them.
If an accident does occur, it’s mostly because the driver wasn’t aware you were there. Their view could have been blocked by other traffic, a glare or by other things.
This means that you should make it easier for drivers to see you by wearing bright colors. Ride in an area of the road where a driver can easily see you before they stray your way.
You are Always at Fault in a Motorcycle Accident
This is not entirely true. As mentioned earlier, most motorcycle accidents usually occur because the driver didn’t see the motorcyclist. Other causes of motorcycle accidents include:
Fixed Objects
In 2013, approximately a quarter of all the fatal motorcycle accidents were because the rider collided into a fixed object such as a tree signpost, telephone pole, guardrail or a bridge support among other objects.
Days of the Week
Research shows that in 2013, motorcycle accident fatalities occurred highest during weekdays. This is contrary to car accident fatalities which are most common during the weekends.
A Loud Pipe Will Alert the Driver
If a driver happens to have his window down and you are right next to him, they might notice you. However, if you are in the middle of traffic after a long busy day, chances are a driver will tune out most noises and they might not even notice you.
Research also shows that riders with louder exhaust systems get into more accidents than those with stock pipes. If you really want to stay safe on the road, consider wearing bright colors.
Helmets Won’t Help in Crashes
There’s a myth that helmets break necks in motorcycle accidents. It’s believed that the more weight you have on your head, the more likely it is that the weight will increase the degree of impact if you get into an accident with a motorcycle.
However, helmets approved by the Department of Transportation protect riders’ heads and increases their chances of surviving an accident compared to a rider who rides without a helmet.
A Skilled Rider can Handle Any Situation
If we could predict all accidents, then we would have fewer fatalities and injuries. With that being said, no matter how skilled you are, it’s nearly impossible to avoid a collision when a car a suddenly pulls up in front of you in a short distance ahead.
As a precaution, you should always ride to avoid risky situations and always dress in full protective gear.
If You are Going to Crash, Lay it Down
If you can anticipate a collision before it happens, your best move would be to do what you can to avoid the accident. If that isn’t possible, you need to stay on the bike for as long as possible and try to slow it down to reduce the degree of impact. The lesser the impact, the less severe the injuries will be and lesser the amount of property damage.
The only time you might consider laying down your bike is if the point of impact will cause you to fall a long way like when you go over a guardrail. Otherwise, laying your bike down to slide down a road might cause you to slide into a car, get wedged under it or have a hard stop against it.
Hiring a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Hyannis, MA, is Expensive
Motorcycle accident lawyers in Hyannis charge a contingency fee. This means that you won’t have to pay lawyer fees until they win the case for you. You also do not have to pay a retainer fee or any kind of fee before they take on your case.
If you have been involved in a serious motorcycle accident, our lawyers at Kevin P Landry Law Offices will be your advocates as your case moves toward litigation or a settlement. We will review your case for free. Contact us today at 508-775-1660 to schedule your free initial consultation.
