If you own a motorcycle, you have to get motorcycle insurance. It’s the law in most states. But even if it’s not legally mandated, you only need a modicum of common sense to realize that you need that sort of insurance no matter what. Motorcycles are more liable to get into an accident compared to cars, and the lack of a “crumple zone” can lead to more serious injuries that will result in more expensive medical bills. At least with motorcycle insurance, you have a backup to help pay for your hospitalization and treatment.
Motorcycles are generally considered much more likely to get into an accident or collision than a car. Here are some of the more common causes:
The car beside you turns left while you’re passing or overtaking the car.
This is perhaps the most common cause of accidents involving motorcycles and cars, as it accounts for 42% of those types of accidents. Car drivers just don’t see motorcycles, due to inattention, blind spots, distractions, or just plain inability to see motorcycles. As a motorcycle driver, you have to be very aware when cars in front of you are planning to turn left, or else you’re in trouble.
You hit something slippery in a blind corner.
This can be gravel or sand, even leaves. When you round the corner at speed and your front tire hits that slippery patch, you’re going to wipe out.
This is why you want to remember the rule of “slow in, fast out.” Meet a corner wide at a slow and safe speed. Once you can see farther ahead again, you can then speed up more. It may not be the fastest way to get around a corner, but it sure is a safer way than going fast.
Going too fast around a corner.
You don’t need a slippery patch to wipe out, when you can get into the same trouble just by going too fast around a corner. The best way to avoid this problem is to avoid being an idiot by only riding as fast as you can see.
A car changes lanes into you.
This happens quite a lot, since many drivers just glance into their side mirrors before they change into another lane. Car drivers are often automatically on the lookout for other cars and not for motorcycles. Also, motorcycles are small enough to get into blind spots completely.
To minimize the risk, you need to know where the blind spots are for cars, so you can avoid being in those spots whenever possible. Also, you should know the most likely reasons for changing lanes, such as if the traffic is slowing down or one lane is noticeably faster than others. You should also recognize various signs that a car is trying to change lanes, such as the use of turn signals, the wheels turning, or even the movement of the head of the car driver.
A car door opens right in front of you.
This happens a lot, since most of the time you have plenty of space between a line of unmoving traffic and a lane of parked cars on the side of the road. The problem is that you may have someone on the driver’s side opening the door to get out of the car. The key to avoiding this sort of problem is to never get in this empty space right by the side of parked cars on the street. It’s just too much risk.
Aside from getting insurance, what else should you do as a motorcycle driver? You should always wear safety gear, especially a helmet. You also need to be hyper aware of what’s happening around you. You must not drink and drive and you should try to go slow whenever possible. If possible, use bright clothes so you’re more visible. Insurance can help if you get into trouble, but the point is to try not to get into trouble at all.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
