Maryland motorcycle accident prevention tips
The open road is calling. More people are riding motorcycles than ever before and more people are being injured and killed each year in motorcycle accidents.
In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported motorcycle fatalities rose in 2010, continuing a 13-year overall increase after a one-year decline in 2009.
Given the unprotected nature of a motorcycle rider, many collisions and mishaps on Maryland roads cause serious injury or death. Wearing a helmet—required by law in Maryland—provides protection in even minor accidents.
Consider these tips for staying safe on the road:
- Wear protective gear, including helmet, eye protection, and appropriate clothes and shoes.
- Assume other drivers cannot see you, are distracted, have improperly estimated your speed, or believe your maneuverability is better than it is.
- Wear bright colored clothes, use reflective strips, keep your headlights on, and use your horn, flashers, and signals to keep yourself visible.
- Motorcycle riding is not leisurely—investigate the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) strategy of Search, Evaluate, and Execute (SEE) to anticipate and respond to potentially dangerous situations.
- Maintain your motorcycle and yourself—do not drive fatigued, impaired, or distracted.
- Observe the rules of the road and the speed limit.
Taking to the road on a motorcycle means keeping yourself safe and understanding the environment you are entering. When the open road calls, be careful and cautious. And if injured, call us for experienced legal representation to get you moving forward again.
