Motorcycles and intersections – avoid this all too common accident

The majority of automobile-motorcycle accidents occur at intersections. MotorEagles® motorcycle accident attorneys explain how to ride safely through intersections.

Intersections are a dangerous place for motorcyclists. The majority of motorcycle accidents happen at intersections, and in many cases, they happen because a motorist didn’t to see a motorcycle rider.

As a rider, you need to always be on the lookout for automobiles because truth be told, they probably aren’t looking out for you. The most common type of motorcycle wreck the MotorEagles® motorcycle crash lawyers see is that in which a motorist turned left in front of a motorcycle rider. Whether you’re at a stoplight, stop sign or a red light, any intersection can be dangerous and you need to be ready to react if a vehicle pulls out in front of you.

There are steps you should take at an intersection to make yourself more visible to other motorists and to help you avoid potentially hazardous situations. Here are nine tips from the MotorEagles® motorcycle accident attorneys on how to minimize your risk for an accident injury when riding through an intersection:

1. Check for traffic on both sides before pulling out into an intersection. You should look left, look right and then look left again before proceeding.
2. Stay alert to everything around you. If you pay attention to and can see everything around you, you have a better chance of reacting to any road hazard.
3. Be ready for the driver turning left. If you can anticipate the driver who is turning left, you can minimize your risk of being cut off.
4. Assume other motorists don’t see you. For example, tell yourself that motorists pulling out of their driveways cannot see you. Motorcycle safety falls on you, so assume you’re invisible to others and proceed with caution.
5. Don’t get too close to vehicles in front of you. You should always keep a two to four-second following distance because in case you have to stop suddenly.
6. Position your bike so it can be seen. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), you should ride in the portion of the lane where you’re more likely you to be seen by motorists. Avoid a car’s “no zone,” or blind spot, and use your headlights at all times.
7. Use your signals. If you’re making a turn, use your signals so other motorists know what you’re doing.
8. Use caution in inclement weather. Motorcycle riders must demonstrate more caution when riding in bad weather. Poor weather conditions can make the roadways more slippery and increase the risk of a motorcycle wreck.
9. Wear the proper gear. You should always wear a helmet and the proper clothing to make yourself more visible to motorists and to decrease the severity of an injury in the event of a motorcycle accident. Avoid wearing dark colors and put reflective tape on both your bike and your helmet.
10. Know your limits. If you don’t feel safe or comfortable riding through intersections, your best bet is to find another route where you’re less likely to find intersections, or ride at a time when there is less traffic.

The majority of motorcycle wrecks happen because a driver didn’t see a motorcycle rider. The bottom line is that intersections are a high-risk area for motorcyclists and motorcycle safety is a must.

After a motorcycle accident, one of the most common statements the motorcycle crash lawyers at MotorEagles® hear from the driver of the other vehicle is “I didn’t see the motorcyclist.” That’s why we want to make sure you’re always seen when riding through an intersection. Follow these motorcycle safety tips and you may be able to minimize your risk of a serious or fatal motorcycle accident.

Learn more motorcycle safety tips from our motorcycle accident attorneys. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to join the conversation and share your tips with us!

Tags: motorcycle accident attorneys, motorcycle accidents, motorcycle crash lawyers, motorcycle safety, motorcycle wrecks

This entry was posted on Monday, November 14th, 2011 at 1:48 pm and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.