If you were a victim of a motorcycle accident in New Bedford you were probably left with substantial medical bills, lost wages, and painful injuries. Our New Bedford motorcycle accident lawyer is ready to take on the legal burden of filing a motorcycle accident claim on your behalf to help you seek compensation while focusing on recovery.
Safety measures to take while riding a motorcycle
Motorcycles are one of the most dangerous modes of transportation that exist. However, with a few basic safety tips, it is possible to stay safe while riding your motorcycle.
Statistics show that wearing a helmet has and will continue to save lives as they prevent serious head injuries. In fact, reports made by the IIHS show that helmets are 37% effective in preventing motorcycle accident fatalities and 67% effective in preventing traumatic brain injuries.
Wearing protective gear such as boots suits pants jackets and gloves has been known to significantly reduce the risk of suffering severe injuries such as road rash. In most situations, motorcyclists will fall off the bike due to some sort of impact. It is therefore important for riders to be prepared in such situations.
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers safety courses throughout the United States. The courses range from beginner classes to advanced courses that teach how to spot a potential accident. Attending these courses is a great way to keep safe by educating yourself and constantly training your brain and your body.
What are the most common motorcycle accidents in New Bedford?
When a car makes a left turn in front of you
This is the most common and perhaps the most dangerous situation for you and it accounts for 42% of all motorcycle accidents involving a vehicle. Usually, the driver will strike you when you are:
- Trying to overtake them
- Passing them
- Going straight through an intersection
The fact that lack of protection and the size of a motorcycle is much smaller than a car is what makes this type of accident much more dangerous for motorcycles unlike when the same accident happens between two cars. In such a situation the driver will most likely be at fault unless you are breaking the law by not riding your motorcycle safely.
The best way to avoid such an accident is to anticipate the other driver’s next move. You can do this by:
- looking for indicators that the driver may be about to turn in front of you
- Checking for head maneuvers. If they begin to look both ways then they might be preparing to make a turn.
- They have slowed down and there is a gap in the traffic in front of you
- They are at an intersection and are waiting to turn
It’s proven that motorcycles are hard to spot and drivers rarely look out for them. This makes it dangerous to motorcyclists and could lead to a serious accident.
Switching lanes
Given that it is hard for drivers to spot motorcycles, it is not uncommon for a car to try to merge into your lane. Most car drivers do not do this intentionally but it’s often because they either cannot see you or are not paying enough attention.
To avoid such an accident you should not ride in the car’s blind spot and if you find yourself in it you should either slow down or speed up to get out of it. Sometimes you may not notice that you are in their blind spots but you should always be on the lookout for the following signs that the car is about to change lanes:
- The driver begins to check their blind spots
- The driver checks their mirrors
- The cars will begin to turn
- The car signals come on
Head-on collision accidents
A head-on collision accident between a car and a motorcycle is usually fatal for the rider. To avoid a head-on collision you must:
- Ride off the road
- Reduce your speed
- Drive to the right
- Read the road ahead
Should you hire a New Bedford motorcycle accident lawyer
Hiring a New Bedford motorcycle accident lawyer to represent you will ensure that your communication with the insurance company will be managed and your legal rights will be protected. Contact us today at 508-999-0800 to schedule your free initial consultation.
