According to the NHTSA report, motorcyclists are over-presented when it comes to motor vehicle traffic accidents. In 2020, 5,579 motorcyclists died in fatal traffic crashes. Motorists riding motorcycles are 27 times more likely to die in a motorcycle accident than passengers in a car.

This is because motorcyclists are more exposed, as they don’t have any sort of protective equipment. Many of these motorcycle accidents are often caused by other road users not wanting to share the road with motorcyclists. However, bikers are not without blame.

No one understands the danger and challenges motorists face on the road more than personal injury attorneys from Ehline Law Firm. These experts offer great advice and services for plaintiffs involved in a crash. Plaintiffs should contact the Michael Ehline Law Firm at (213) 596-9642 for a free consultation.

Is Motorcycling for Everyone?

Riding motorcycles is adventurous and has some sense of freedom to it. It’s easy to want to sling your leg and start riding away, but riding is not for everyone. A motorcycle instructor can attest that a beginner rider or even students who have completed the basic safety course can’t survive on a motorcycle.

It’s important to note that anyone can improve their riding skills; even the most notorious motorcyclist can learn how to ride more responsibly. However, If you have any of the following characteristics, it would be better not to sling your legs to ride a motorcycle altogether. It’s a self-reflection test to see whether or not you’re fit to be on-road riding a motorcycle.

Reason One – You Don’t Have Self Control

Control is among other important techniques that students learn to be better riders. A motorist will use body and head alignment, clutch, and throttle control while making a simple U-turn around a cone in a parking lot. They also must learn how to lean and counter steer, which must be done properly in order to ride properly.

A motorcycle instructor will teach their students the wax on wax off routine, which is pretty much teaching the muscle memory a simple, repetitive pattern, which will enable the muscle memory to develop. The process is quite different from ass-kicking karate; learning all this requires some level of commitment and practice.

Some students don’t grasp all these good techniques on set, but that’s okay; one can always practice until they get them. The tricky part of things is when you don’t have the right amount of commitment and practice.

Apart from this, if you’re not concerned about the safety in connection to the machinery, then motorcycling is not for you. This may sound a little bit harsh to say, but it’s true. A motorist can get into a fatal accident when their bike is defective. If you’re not committed to the art of motorcycle riding, or if you can’t adhere to all safety precautions, you can’t ride bikes either. Committed riders understand safety is a priority.

Reason Two – You Don’t Have the Necessary Knowledge

Motorcycle students who’ve completed their basic safety course and have their license can’t necessarily deem themselves as better riders. Passing a basic safety course doesn’t indicate you can ride a bike; you need to be a better rider to ensure your safety and that of other road users. To become a safer rider, a biker must have extensive personal practice and enroll in advanced riding courses.

Sometimes, a student may want to cheat their way out of the process, such set of individuals don’t need to be on the road riding a motorcycle. It takes sweat and handwork to become better riders; you can’t supposedly think you’re God’s gift to the motorcycle industry and not do the background work involved in riding a bike. You’ll put yourself and other cars in jeopardy.

Lack of focus can also be a great factor that can cause an accident. It requires immediate dedication to the task and keen awareness of the situation, especially if they’re riding during rush hours. A good example is finding yourself overusing your front brake or being surprised by a moving car because you’re always caught off guard. This means that your situational awareness is inadequate.

Reason Three – The First Bike Will be a Rocket

Most motorcycle instructors attest that, when students finish their basic safety course and are given the green light to ride a bike, they try to go at high speeds. They’ll go for a first motorcycle that’s over 500CC, indicating that another one with less CC would be boring.

Safe bike riding is about confidence and control, not high speed and power. While out riding, a motorcyclist must first learn how to ride a slow bike quickly and then shift momentum to a fast bike. People who don’t understand this shouldn’t be on the road riding.

Moreover, if you’re one of those people who get a thrill out of riding a motorcycle or have aggressive tendencies like not following traffic rules or pretty much getting angry at other cars on the road, riding a bike is not for you, as such things can cause a higher risk of getting into crashes. It’s better to stick to taking the bus until you learn how to be a safer rider.

Moreover, individuals need to be mechanically inclined. Today’s motorcycles are built on reliable machines. However, various bolts, nuts, and other mechanisms on a bike require constant equipment inspection and various adjustments occasionally. You’ll certainly need to learn a thing or two about mechanical repairs, like knowing your way around the pressure gauge or a wrench. A motorist must have his hands on a motorcycle manual; if you’ve never read a manual book, you may want to start doing it.

Reason Four – You Lack Spatial Awareness or a Sense of Good Judgment

Do you always have a dent on your car’s back bumper from crashing into the same pole daily? When parallel parking, do you hit or tap the bumpers of other cars? Have you been in a couple of accidents or driven too close to other cars?

The answers to these questions will determine if you have spatial awareness. If the answers are positive, you shouldn’t think of riding a bike. The previous marginal barometer for your driving experience shows you can’t handle being on the road.

One thing about being a safer rider is learning the relative distance and velocity of incoming and outgoing objects when it comes to riding a motorcycle. A new rider must, therefore, incorporate this to improve their riding skills. Bike riders can only control their situation if safety is given a higher priority. They understand safety is not a matter of luck but continuously doing things to minimize risks.

Reason Five – You Think Motorcycles Are Meant for High Speed and Wheelies

If this is your way of thinking as a beginner rider, then it’s a faster way of getting yourself injured. Many people learn to ride motorcycles because they fancy lifting the front wheel end of the bike. This skill is more useful when you’re off-road since you’ll be able to overcome obstacles.

There’s nothing cool as a well-held wheelie, but it’s dangerous and illegal on a public road. Most motorcycle instructors indicate most riders are always ready to jump into 1000CC or 6000CC motorcycles, but some of these riders don’t want to learn the fundamentals of how to ride a motorcycle safely. Gaining confidence on a bike is more crucial than speed, as speed is something you can learn over time in an MSF course training through patience and effort.

If you don’t grasp all this, then you’ll have various lawsuits on your way that’ll deplete your bank account. Fatal accidents due to collisions result in severe injuries and damage. Understanding common causes of a motorcycling crash will help you make sense of the gravity of the situation.

Common Causes of Motorbike Accidents

There are various causes that can lead to an accident on the road. Here are some common causes of such accidents:

Lane Changes and Lane Splitting

A motorist can risk getting into a head-on collision if they don’t check a blind spot or signal before changing a lane. Moreover, motorists can drive between two lanes of traffic; it’s illegal in some states but can happen in other states. A lane split can be dangerous for inexperienced motorists.

Speeding

This is certainly a leading cause of accidents involving motorbikes. Speeding allows motorists not to have a chance of seeing or reacting to other drivers. Moreover, the higher the speeds, the higher the crash’s impact, which has more severe consequences.

Defective Motorbike

Accidents can occur when you have a defective sports bike. Riding a defective motorcycle with parts like the front brake or rear brake that are not working will definitely put you at risk of fatal accidents. When you find out the motorcycle you’ve been riding caused an accident. The manufacturer of the bike should be held partly liable for damages.

Left Turn Accident and Sudden Stops

Right of ways mistakes plus misjudgment of distance can cause you to have a fatal motorbike accident, especially when trying to make a left turn. Additionally, abrupt stops can also cause rear-end accidents. It’s, therefore, imperative to ensure motorists have protective gear at all times, like a helmet.

Driving Under the Influence and Car Doors

If you’re intoxicated on drugs and alcohol while riding a motorcycle, you’ll likely get into an accident due to impaired vision. Most motorists who ride a bike under the influence and are found guilty of an accident will face both civil and criminal liabilities. On the other hand, when a driver opens a door without noticing an incoming bike driver, they will cause an accident.

When you’re involved in an accident, you must seek counsel from reputable attorneys from the Ehline Law Firm at (213) 596-9642 when you’re not at fault. The experts will look at the situation by conducting an investigation. If they find out that you have a case, the two parties will then sign a fee agreement to get started on the process of filing a lawsuit.

Motorcycles are Adult Bicycles

In as much as these motorcycles are a means to an end, they are dangerous. Did you know that bikes are 38 times more dangerous than driving a car? If know-it-alls are riding bikes and collide with an immovable object or someone else, a rider on a bike would have more ramifications than the other party.

With high risk comes high reward; there’s nothing that can equate to the freedom of riding a motorcycle. Most people say it’s like nirvana to them. However, a lot of people ride bikes, but most of them are not committed to it. If you want to become successful on the road while riding a bike, you’ll require commitment and skill development.

Riders who have any of the above characteristics may become a statistic, which will not help the biker community. Things just don’t go how you plan, even when you ride the sports bike safely on public roads. When motorcycling, and you’re involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault, contacting the Ehline Law Firm at (213) 596-9642 to understand all your options is a great idea and see if you have a case to sue for compensation.

Why Work with the Ehline Law Firm’s Top Rated Motorcycle Lawyers?

Personal injury attorneys can help you get compensated for damages that you rightly deserve if you’re not at fault for the accident. These experts understand how costly it can get taking care of damages from the accident. A lawsuit can be filed against the at-fault party to help the plaintiff offset some of the expenses the crash caused.

Working with an experienced personal injury attorney is a step forward in the right direction. They have the right knowledge that’ll help their clients have a good chance of winning their case. Moreover, they have great negotiation skills that help their clients get a settlement that’s befitting to their clients since they always have their best interest at heart. Reach out to Ehline Law Firm at (213) 596-9642 for a free consultation when you need assistance when it comes to a motorcycle accident.