Holiday Safety Tips from a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Planning to ride your motorcycle in SoCal this holiday season? If so, we invite you to consult these important safety considerations, made available by Motorcycle Lawyer Pro.

This holiday season, many individuals will be packing up and heading out for a yuletide road trip, maybe to see family or maybe just to experience a warmer climate. We certainly expect to see plenty of visitors here in SoCal, and many of them will be arriving on motorcycle. Indeed, that’s one of the great things about life in the Los Angeles area: Even during the Christmas holidays, it’s still nice enough outside that you can hit the road on your favorite bike.

But while the prospect of a seasonal motorcycle ride may be appealing to you, it’s important to acknowledge some potential downsides. Traffic in SoCal can be pretty onerous, and it’s especially so over the holiday season, simply due to all the out-of-towners who are headed our way.

The bottom line is that motorcycle accidents can happen… yes, even over the holidays! The question is, what can be done to minimize your risk? Our motorcycle accident lawyers have put together some tips.

Safety Tips from a Motorcycle Lawyer

While you cannot completely remove the possibility of a motorcycle accident, you can minimize your risk. Start with these tips.

1. Take care of your bike. One of the most significant things you can do to stay safe out there is to keep up to date with motorcycle maintenance. Make sure your tires are in good working order, that you’ve replaced the engine oil, and that you’ve had your brakes inspected fairly recently.
2. Don’t ride while distracted. To minimize your risk of accident and injury, make sure you have your eyes on the road, your hands on the handlebars, and your mind on what you’re doing… period. Talking, texting, and any other activity can ultimately distract you, slow your reaction speed, and lead to a collision.
3. Don’t ride in an impaired condition. Hopefully you know better than to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. We’d also add simple drowsiness to that list. Try to avoid waking up at the crack of dawn to hit the road or traveling when you’re bone tired. Drowsiness is another factor that can slow your reaction speed and put you at a greater risk for accident and injury.
4. Obey the rules of the road. Be mindful of other motorists. Drive defensively. Follow posted speed limits. Come to a complete stop at stop signs or red lights. Be especially cautious at intersections and when making right turns. And keep road rage at bay! All of these rules exist for a reason, and that reason is to keep everybody safe and sound.
5. Avoid riding in bad weather. This usually isn’t much of a problem here in SoCal, but we’ll say it just for the record: If visibility is impaired or the road conditions themselves are suboptimal, you’re better off staying off your bike if at all possible.

These are just a few safety considerations for you to keep in mind; with any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to a motorcycle accident lawyer directly. We’re always happy to chat with you about how to minimize your risk of accident and injury.

When to Call a Motorcycle Lawyer

No matter how cautious you are, however, there is always a chance that you could be injured in an accident. After all, there’s no accounting for the recklessness of other drivers, and sometimes circumstances are just beyond your control. The question is, what should you do in the aftermath of an accident? And when should you call a motorcycle lawyer to ask for help? Again, we can offer a few basic tips:

1. Check for injuries. First and foremost, check yourself (and your passenger, if you have one) for any injuries. If there’s an obvious need for urgent medical care, call 911 right away and have an ambulance dispatched.
2. Move your bike. If you are able to safely do so, take your motorcycle and maneuver it out of the middle of the road and onto the shoulder; make sure it isn’t an obstacle for other motorists or cyclists.
3. Call the police. You always want to have the police show up to survey the scene and file a report. This can be valuable to you as you file an insurance claim or head to court. Don’t leave until the police give you permission to do so.
4. Share your account. Tell the police officer what happened to cause the accident, as best you can recall. Be short and sweet, and do not lie. Also avoid apologizing or admitting to fault.
5. Exchange information. Get the name, contact information, and insurance details from the other driver(s) on the scene. Also share your information with them, if they ask for it.
6. Take photos. If you can safely do so, snap some pictures of the accident scene. In particular, capture the damaged part of your motorcycle and the other vehicle(s), as well as damage to the median, signs, etc.
7. Seek medical evaluation. Even if you don’t feel like you need medical attention, we’d encourage you to seek out a quick evaluation. This helps ensure that you don’t have some latent or hidden injury, and that you get care for it if you do.
8. Call a motorcycle accident lawyer. Finally, make sure you have an expert on your side who will fight for you to get the maximum monetary compensation, leaving you to focus on recovering. Contact a motorcycle lawyer ASAP.

Speak with a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

We wish you all a safe and enjoyable holiday season and hope these tips will empower you to enjoy spending some time on your motorcycle. On the off chance that you are in an accident, please be advised that you can call Motorcycle Lawyer Pro 24/7, and we will be more than happy to assist you. Contact a motorcycle lawyer from our team any time you need one!