Safety Fundamentals For New Motorcycle Riders

Experienced bikers who have spent a lifetime riding a motorcycle have a keen understanding of what it takes to stay safe while sharing the road with other motorists and larger vehicles. While motorcyclists enjoy a unique freedom and mobility, they must be extra diligent in order to stay safe and avoid accidents. In order to truly stay safe bikers must be at the top of their game. Those who are more susceptible to crashes are inexperienced motorcyclists and older bikers whose reflexes may not be as sharp as they once were.

Here are some basic safety tips for motorcyclists.

Choose the right bike. Making decisions regarding your own safety begins before you even get on a bike. You want to make sure that you choose the right motorcycle for you and one that you are easily able to handle. Bikes these days are incredibly powerful and you should keep in mind what you plan to use the bike for and make sure the bike is suited for the kind of travel you have in mind. A bike that will see a lot of highway use will need a slightly more powerful engine so it can keep up. Size and weight is also an important factor when chosing a bike. Do not choose a bike that is too heavy for you or one that you cannot easily get on and off of. You should be able to sit on the bike and still rest both of your feet flat on the ground. The controls and handlebars should be easy to use and easy to reach.

Wear a helmet. The importance of wearing a helmet cannot be stressed enough. Even the most experienced biker can be involved in an accident, and without a helmet the chances of catastrophic injury or death are extremely high.

Anti-lock brakes. When available, antilock brakes are a great safety feature that can save your life. Without anti-lock brakes, if you are involved in an accident and brake suddenly you may lose control of the steering. Having no ability to steer can obviously be incredibly dangerous and can cause a skid and crash. But if you have antilock brakes you will decrease your chances of losing control of steering if you have to make an emergency stop or if road conditions become slippery. Adding these to a bike is not very costly and is definitely worth it.

Take a safety course. Practice may save your life. Getting right out on the road without taking a safety course and learning how to be safe through trial and error may cost you your life. Before getting out on the road you should make sure you are fully prepared. Safety courses can be a great way to help you get confident and hone your skills. There are classes offered for beginners as well as for advanced riders.

Legal help. Being proactive regarding safety is incredibly important. Avoiding serious accidents is the responsibility of every driver on the road. Motorcyclists who do experience an accident should get in touch with an experienced St. Louis personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Accidents can happen in a split second and even the most prepared motorcyclists may be totally unprepared for handling the aftermath of an accident. A motorcycle accident attorney whose expertise is handling these accident cases will be able to guide you in the right direction, pursue compensation for any damages resulting from the accident, and get you and your family the help you deserve so that you can focus on recovery.

If you have been injured contact the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann at (314) 361-4242 and schedule a free consultation.