Motorcyclists and Their Rights

16 May Motorcyclists and Their Rights

Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable drivers on the road. If you want an idea of how dangerous riding a motorcycle is, imagine driving around on the hood of your car and you have some idea. There's no protection if you hit another vehicle or a fixed object and, if you're involved in any type of Dallas car accident that involves a larger vehicle, you're pretty much looking at serious injuries or death.

You can do a few things to help motorcyclists keep safe.

Passing

When motorcyclists want to get by you, make it easy for them. They'll tend to want to stay ahead of traffic or to lag behind it but, more than anything, they need to avoid being caught up in a pack of cars. If that pack of cars comes to a sudden stop, the motorcyclist is going to be the one who suffers the most for it. If they need to get by, move over a bit and slow down so they can slip in and out of the lane fast.

Turning

Whenever you're making a left and a motorcyclist is coming toward you, it looks like they're going slower than they are. The smaller size of the bike and the oftentimes dark colors that bikers wear makes their speed seem considerably less than it is. Look at them closely to see how fast they're approaching. Waiting a second for them to pass instead of turning might inconvenience you a bit. Turning in front of them and causing a collision is likely to kill them.

Blind Spots

Check your blind spots before changing lanes in the summer. Even if you have blind spot mirrors, check with your head. It's easy to misjudge a motorcycle's distance behind your car and to slide right into them. Again, if you're moving at highway or freeway speed, this can easily kill a motorcycle driver. Be sure you do your best to be aware of who's alongside you when you switch lanes.

If you're riding around on two wheels and a negligent driver injures you, be sure to contact a motor vehicle accident lawyer. Motorcyclists have their rights violated on the roads all the time, but they can sometimes assert them in court to remedy a situation that should have never happened. A lawyer may be able to help you get enough in settlement or jury award monies to pay for your injuries and to replace the bike that you lost in the accident.