How Protecting Yourself While Riding Can Strengthen Your Injury Case
One of the main safety risks associated with motorcycles is the lack of safety features on the vehicle itself. If a motorcycle accident leads to an injury, you can make a personal injury claim. For your case, you'll want to show you did everything you could to prevent your injuries.
Why Motorcycle Accidents Can Create Devastating Injuries
Motorcycles lack the crumple zones and impact protection other types of motor vehicles have. If you're in an accident while on your motorcycle, you have nothing between you and the full force of whatever you collide with.
Motorcycles also lack many of the common safety features found in other types of motor vehicles. You won't have a seatbelt since they are not always effective with motorcycles. You likely won't have airbags, as these types of safety devices are still relatively new to motorcycles and not widespread.
Additionally, you won't have protection from other impacts beyond the initial one. If a driver hits you while you're on your motorcycle, you can sustain more injuries from hitting the pavement or something else.
How to Stay Safe and Protected When Riding a Motorcycle
Always wear proper safety gear. Even if you live in an area where things like helmets aren't legally required, you should still wear one. Proper gear includes:
- Motorcycle helmets
- Motorcycle jackets
- Riding pants
- Riding boots
- Riding gloves
- Shin, knee, and elbow guards
Some advanced options can include motorcycle body armor and airbag vests. The goal is to mitigate damage to your body as much as possible should an accident occur. Keep in mind that what you're wearing when on a motorcycle is your only form of protection, so make sure you protect yourself well.
Why Staying Safe Matters to Personal Injury Cases Involving Motorcycles
All these factors can make a difference in your ensuing personal injury case. If you do everything you can to mitigate harm to yourself, it will go a long way towards proving you are a responsible rider.
This proof of your adherence to safety can help you lower the amount of negligence an insurance company or court may want to place on you. In most personal injury cases, a motorcycle accident lawyer will do their best to show you had little or no fault in an accident that caused your injury.
You want to do everything you can to strengthen your case and help your lawyer to help you. That starts with showing you had a definite interest in staying safe while on your motorcycle.
No matter what, if you're injured in a motorcycle accident, see to your injuries immediately. When you're able to, contact a motorcycle accident lawyer, such as those at The Lombardo Law Firm, as soon as possible to discuss your options.