When it comes to hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer College Park MD riders are best served by one who is familiar with litigating motorcycle personal injury cases. At Cohen & Cohen, we believe in the rights of motorcycle riders and the rules of the road. We have seen firsthand how devastating personal injuries can be for motorcyclists. As an accident victim, you may feel that not every motorcycle accident lawyer in College Park MD has your best interests in mind. At Cohen & Cohen, each of our attorneys on staff make every effort possible to be the motorcycle accident lawyer College Park MD bikers deserve. Not only do we want to be there for you when you need us, we also want to help you ride as safely as possible to minimize your risk of injury.
Motorcycle Accidents are on the Rise
In 2014, more motorcycle accidents occurred in the United States than during almost any year in history. A total of 92,000 people were injured and 4,295 died.
Here are additional important motorcycle accident statistics:
- In an accident, motorcycle riders have an 80% chance of experiencing injury or death as compared to 20% for people in passenger vehicles.
- In 78% of fatal accidents, the other vehicle hit the motorcyclist head on. Very often the accident occurred when a car made a turn and collided with the motorcycle. Another common scenario was when the motorcycle tried to pass a car and hit oncoming traffic.
- In 5% of fatal accidents, the other vehicle rear-ended the motorcyclist.
Safety Precautions while Driving a Motorcycle
To help reduce your risk of getting involved in a motorcycle accident, there are a few safety precautions you can take:
- Drive defensively. Keep a safe distance between your motorcycle and the cars around you. Don’t speed and don’t tailgate. Assume the other vehicles can’t see you because they very likely can’t.
- Take a motorcycle safety course. In many cities, safety courses are available for riders of all levels. Even experienced motorcyclists can learn driving tips such as how to more effectively control a motorcycle. A safety course can also be helpful if you’ve just purchased a bike you’re not familiar with or is more powerful than what you’re used to.
Unfortunately, regardless of how many safety precautions you may take, there is always the risk of getting involved in an accident through no fault of your own. Motorcycles and their riders are particularly vulnerable to collisions with cars and trucks who often don’t see them. To help minimize your risk, here are several pieces of safety gear that can improve your odds while riding:
Five Must-Have Pieces of Safety Gear for Motorcycle Riders
- Wear bright colored clothing. One of the major causes of motorcycles being hit by other vehicles is that they are not visible to other drivers. Make yourself more visible by ditching the dark leather jacket for something bright and eye catching. Consider wearing a brightly colored rain jacket over your leathers. Not only will it make you more visible, it’ll keep you drier, too.
- Get a windshield. A windshield not only cuts down on the wind, it can also lessen the damage caused by flying debris. Even if you’re wearing a helmet, damaging debris can cause loss of control. If you have a windshield but it’s cracked, invest in a new one. Keep in mind that whether you have a windshield or not, you are not responsible for flying debris from improperly maintained vehicles or unsecure loads. If you have been injured in circumstances like these, contact a motorcycle accident lawyer College Park MD riders recommend .
- Buy a photochromic faceshield. A photochromic faceshield will adjust automatically according to the sun’s brightness, much like high-end sunglasses. In one ride, you might experience many degrees of sunshine and this technology can maximize your visibility without forcing you to pull over to change faceshields. Nearly any motorcycle accident lawyer College Park MD looks to for information about personal injuries may agree that improving your ability to see the road ahead, improves your ability to avoid accident causing hazards.
- Side mirrors with a blind spot mirror. Side mirrors help riders avoid the need to take your focus off the road ahead of them, and a blind spot mirror can further improve a rider’s overall visibility. Road conditions, especially for a motorcyclist, can change in a heartbeat. When you’re riding on only two wheels, avoiding even the smallest chunks of road debris can mean all the difference in avoiding a wipeout. Improperly maintained roadways can be a real hazard that puts bikers at risk of being injured.
- Hand guards or heated handlebars. It doesn’t take much for most riders’ hands to get cold; be it frigid air temperatures, a harsh wind, a long ride. Those conditions can make it hard to keep proper circulation going to your hands, causing a rider to lose feeling and mobility. With poor circulation, it doesn’t take much to lose your grip or control on the handlebars. This can affect braking, acceleration, and even a rider’s use of the clutch. Avoid these problems by keeping your hands warm with hand guards or heated handlebars.
A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer College Park MD Riders Choose
At the law firm of Cohen & Cohen, we hope that you are never involved in a motorcycle accident; but if you are, know you can turn to our team for help. We’ve represented more than 10,000 personal injury clients, and we’ve recovered more than $100 million on their behalf. We win cases and favorable settlements because we’re dedicated to fighting for our clients’ rights. Cohen & Cohen may be the right choice when you need a motorcycle accident lawyer College Park MD riders count on.
