There is no doubting that riding a motorcycle is one of the favorite activities of many California residents. However, there is also no doubting that those who are riding motorcycles are oftentimes in more danger of being injured in any type of motor vehicle collision that might occur. So, what can motorcyclists do to stay safe on the roads in California?
Well, for starters, it is important to understand exactly what the statistics say about the danger of riding a motorcycle, even when motorcyclists are doing everything right. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, fatalities in motorcycle accidents occur approximately 28 times more frequently than fatalities in collisions involving other types of vehicles, such as regular passenger vehicles.
Many fatalities and injuries that are caused due to motorcycle accidents are because of a lack of awareness among other drivers on the road. Many drivers simply do not notice motorcycles on the roads with them in many cases, perhaps because a motorcycle is smaller and, therefore, presents a lower profile for visual recognition. But, there are other causes of motorcycle accidents as well that are no fault of the motorcyclists involved, such as distracted drivers and drunk drivers.
To stay safe, motorcyclists can practice defensive driving techniques, just as they would if they were driving a passenger vehicle. It is best to always be on the lookout for driving errors committed by other drivers, which can help motorcyclists avoid collisions. However, when a motorcycle accident does occur and leads to injuries, California residents will likely need to take action to learn their legal rights to potentially pursue financial compensation.