Motorcycle Safety Tips for Kansas Bikers

Our law firm fights for safer roads

Kansas roadways can be a dangerous place for motorcyclists. Unlike drivers of passenger vehicles, motorcyclists aren’t afforded the same protective features. They don’t have protective frames, air bags, or seatbelts. If a motorcycle accident occurs, motorcyclists can often sustain serious, and possibly fatal, injuries.

You may be a responsible rider. However, many drivers fail to pay attention to motorcycles. They may even be outright discourteous to motorcyclists. That’s why brushing up on your safety skills can help prevent devastating accidents from occurring.

Tips for staying safe

In order to mitigate the likelihood of a crash, we have outlined some areas of safety that motorcyclists should consider. They include:

• Improve your riding skills: Riding a motorcycle requires a great deal of skill. This includes the ability to navigate busy streets, winding roads, intersections, and highways. Motorcyclists should also brush up on their evasive skills in order to avoid a crash when a driver makes a careless move. Improving your skills can be done by taking additional riding course or practicing in a safe area.
• Check for defects: Prior to taking your motorcycle on the road, you should double check to make sure everything is working properly. If your motorcycle malfunctions while you’re riding, it could result in a devastating crash.
• Wear safety gear: Motorcyclists are urged to always wear helmets, even though they are only required by state law for riders below the age of 18. A helmet could reduce the risk of sustaining a serious or fatal head injury. Wearing gloves, boots, eye protection, protective jackets, and guards for your elbows, shins, and knees can help mitigate damage to the body if an accident occurs.
• Avoid environmental hazards: Inclement weather and nighttime can increase the risk of being involved in a motorcycle accident. Motorcyclists are urged to avoid riding if conditions aren’t safe (if possible). If you must ride in inclement weather, reduce your speed and keep your eyes on the road.
• Be responsible and respect traffic laws: Staying safe on the road means being responsible. Always make sure you ride sober, alert, and attentive. Motorcyclists should also obey posted speed limits and yield the right-of-way to other road users.

Why hire an attorney?

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, it’s important to understand your rights. Insurance companies often take advantage of biases against motorcyclists. They may attempt to pin the blame on you, or claim that you were irresponsible and reckless.

The attorneys at Bretz Injury Law in Hutchinson, Salina, Wichita, Garden City, Dodge City, Liberal, and Hays know the truth. We know that Kansas motorcyclists are generally responsible and abide by traffic laws. Don’t let the insurance companies push you around.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation, or call our law office at . We’ll fight to hold negligent parties and their insurance companies accountable, so you can focus on recovery.