Save a Life—Be Aware—Motorcycles Are Everywhere

May 4, 2016 / Vehicle Accidents

With the return of May’s nice weather, if you’re a motorcyclist, you know it’s time to hit the road and enjoy a long, relaxing ride. It’s probably because of the lovely weather common to the month of May that it was selected for Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. This designation, officially proclaimed by Governor Pence and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for 2016, is held both to remind riders to travel safely and responsibly and to raise awareness among those in cars and trucks so they will look out for motorcyclists.

Sharing the Road Can Be Hard

It can be tough to be a motorcyclist because, in reality, the other driver is often the cause of the accident. It can be downright impossible to avoid a wreck if a driver makes a left turn right in front of you. Those surrounded by steel, with vehicles that are bigger and equipped with more protection, need to be the ones to keep an eye out for bikers.

As of 2014, about 8.4 million motorcycles were being ridden in the U.S. But these riders are 26 times more likely than anyone inside a car to die during an accident between the two, and in 2014, 4,586 of them died in crashes. That compares with 32,675 people who died inside motor vehicles. Indiana lost 118 motorcyclists in 2013.

Ride Safe Indiana

We have a new motorcycle safety program called Ride Safe Indiana (RSI), a state-authorized program within the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. RSI’s purpose is to educate motorists, train motorcyclists, and decrease motorcycle fatalities. Across our state, 16 providers of basic and advanced courses are working with RSI. To register for a course or to find out more about RSI, go to their web site.

Riders Helping Riders

In our state, we also have ABATE (American Bikers Aimed Toward Education), an organization dedicated to helping motorcyclists and promoting safety. Started in 1975, ABATE’s membership is over 20,000 in Indiana, which has more than 220,000 registered motorcycles. ABATE reminds you, if you are a rider, to:

• Wear an approved helmet, face and eye protection, and protective clothing. (Indiana law mandates helmets and eye protection for those under 18.)
• Use reflective clothing or tape in order to be seen.
• Use common sense. Don’t speed, and don’t drink or use drugs while riding.
• Know your bike, and know how to handle it in bad weather or adverse conditions.
• Be especially careful in spring of any gravel left over from winter road maintenance. It can sometimes be found along the edges of roads and near intersections.

Road conditions that might merely annoy the driver of a car can be a serious danger for a motorcyclist. Report any hazardous conditions you might run across.

Trusted advisors. Proven advocates.

Even the most cautious motorcyclist cannot control what others do on the road. If you believe your motorcycle accident was caused by another party or parties, consider hiring an Indiana motorcycle accident lawyer who will provide you with competent and compassionate representation with a “client first” approach. That’s exactly what you’ll get with attorney Mike Stephenson. His entire legal team is committed to doing whatever is necessary to achieve the best possible outcome in your case. Mike and his team will help you recover the funds you need for medical bills, repair costs, and lost wages, as well as compensation for disability and for pain and suffering.

Don’t lose the opportunity to obtain the money you need to put your life back on track and to make your family’s future financially secure. Contact Mike Stephenson today by calling 1-317-825-5200 for a free accident consultation, or use our online contact form. At Stephenson Rife, we believe justice matters.