The Whaley Law Firm Is Dedicated To Keeping Our Roads Safe
Riding motorcycles is a great way to enjoy the open road in the Louisville area. Unfortunately, bikers are also at a high risk of being seriously injured when they’re involved in crashes. Because motorcyclists don’t have the protection of an enclosed vehicle, they can sustain catastrophic injuries. And because of the smaller size of their vehicles, they are exposed to additional risks as well.
The Whaley Law Firm has helped countless people injured in motorcycle accidents in Kentucky and we’re committed to keeping our roads safer. Here are some steps motorcyclists can take to stay safe on our roads:
- Wear protective gear. Leather or denim clothing helps to protect against road rash. Helmets aren’t required by law in Kentucky for bikers over age 21, but they can help to prevent some severe injuries. Wear eye and ear protection, too.
- Keep your bike maintained. Get in the habit of doing a maintenance check before getting on the road every time. Check the brakes, engine, steering and all of your bike’s other essential systems.
- Don’t split lanes. A motorcycle is a vehicle, and it’s supposed to take up an entire lane just like a car. Splitting lanes or sharing a lane with a passenger car isn’t just illegal, it’s very dangerous.
- Adjust for the conditions. If you choose to ride in bad weather, make sure you’re keeping your eyes on the road. A pothole or puddle that wouldn’t do much to a car can cause a motorcycle to flip or spin out of control.
Here are steps motorists need to take to safely share the road with motorcyclists:
- Take a second look at intersections. Look once when you’re getting ready to turn, and look twice specifically for motorcycles. The majority of accidents are caused when a car turns left in front of an oncoming bike.
- Maintain a safe following distance. Bikers frequently need to stop, slow down or change positions in a lane to avoid obstacles, and they have a much shorter stopping distance than passenger cars. Make sure you are leaving plenty of room.
- Put the phone down. Motorcyclists are frequently victims of distracted drivers. Because their vehicles are smaller, they’re easily overlooked when a driver isn’t paying full attention to the road. You need to avoid distractions to keep from causing devastating accidents.
- Check your blind spots. Again, because motorcycles are smaller than cars, it’s easy for them to disappear into a larger vehicle’s blind spot. Make sure you double-check before turning or changing lanes.
- Watch out in good weather. Biking is largely a warm-weather activity. When you’re on the road on bright, sunny days, be especially vigilant for motorcyclists. Let them enjoy the road.
Motorists and motorcyclists are responsible for sharing the road. But when either party makes a mistake – and usually, it’s the driver of a car, not the biker – it’s almost always the motorcycle rider who gets hurt. If you’ve been injured, you need an experienced attorney on your side. You need the Whaley Law Firm.
Since 2004, we’ve been committed to helping Louisville residents recover from accidents and making our roads safer for bikers and motorists alike. Contact our law firm for your free consultation with attorney Whaley. Call 502-532-2340 right now.
