Adverse Weather and Motorcycle Accidents
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Injury Lawyer. There are many reasons why someone may want to ride a motorcycle. For some people, it is the freedom of the wind rushing through their hair. For others, it could be the feeling that they are no longer contained by the metal frame of a car. Regardless, adverse weather can seriously impact someone’s ability to operate a motorcycle safely, as a recent paper demonstrated.
Safety Considerations when Operating a Motorcycle
When someone is operating a motorcycle, there are important safety considerations that they should abide by in order to minimize the chances of being involved in an accident. Unlike an auto accident where people have the protection afforded by a seatbelt, a motorbike offers no such protections. Therefore, the extra risks mean that people need to exercise additional caution. First, riders should be wearing a helmet every time they get on their motorcycle. While a helmet may not be the most comfortable device in the world, it can prevent a serious traumatic brain injury from developing if they are involved in an accident. Next, use extreme caution when riding around in heavy traffic. Some people may be tempted to try lane-splitting. It is important to understand the laws of the area where you reside when it comes to lane-splitting because, in addition to being dangerous, it could even be illegal. Finally, riding in adverse weather can increase the chances of being involved in an accident because it could impact both the traffic conditions and the road conditions. People need to understand how adverse weather impacts the roads and their motorcycle before venturing out in such conditions.
How Does Adverse Weather Play a Role?
One of the most common questions that people have regarding accidents is about how weather plays a role. Recently, a team of researchers put together an article with data that had been compiled and analyzed for how weather impacted the rates and severity of accidents. There were some important conclusions that were drawn from this research, including:
Rain and Roads: When the roads are slick with water, they can impact the grip of the tires on the road. This is even more important for motorcycles because they are only riding on two wheels, making balance more challenging than for their counterparts on four. The research found that the rate of accidents involving motorcycles increased when the roads were wet.
Winter Weather and Visibility: The researchers also found that winter weather impacted the rates even more than simple rain. While snow may not damage the traction of the tires as much as rain, active winter weather precipitation leads to a dramatic drop in visibility. Already without the protection of a windshield, this plays a significant role in the safety of motorcycles on the road.
Fog is Overlooked: One of the most surprising conclusions was that fog was also a major player in the development of motorcycle accidents. This often isn’t considered a weather hazard; however, thick, low-lying fog can actually be more dangerous for visibility than winter weather. People should use extreme caution and make sure to employ their headlights but not their high beams when fog is around.
Overall, all of these weather events led to an increase in the rate of accidents involving motorcycles. Furthermore, they also increased the rate of injuries as well. Clearly, weather should be an important consideration for riders and can lead to traumatic accidents if not heeded.
Legal Assistance with Motorcycle Accidents
Most people understand that a motorcycle accident can be extremely serious and result in numerous traumatic injuries or even a wrongful death. Because of the serious nature, it is natural for people to feel overwhelmed when either themselves or a loved one has wound up in the hospital. Some of the sources of stress could be:
Uncertainty About the Future: There are a lot of unknowns when a loved one is in the hospital dealing with an injury. They may not know whether or not they are going to have surgery. They could wonder whether they are ever going to walk again, let alone ride a motorcycle. These are questions that deserve answers. The unknown can be stressful. You do not have to struggle with this alone.
Financial Questions: Serious motorcycle accidents can be accompanied by bills that reflect this. Even with health insurance, other facets of insurance plans such as coinsurance and deductibles can add up fast. Families could have questions about how to pay these bills. An experienced injury lawyer can help.
The Accident: The accident can also create more questions than answers. While all accidents are investigated by law enforcement, people could have lingering questions that they would like an answer to.
Because of the stress created by a motorcycle accident, people should take a few minutes to speak with an experienced legal adviser. There could be options that people didn’t even know existed and this can remove some of the stress that people are feeling.
Contact an Experienced Sacramento Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Injury Lawyer. Motorcycle accidents have the potential to land someone in the hospital, or worse. Individuals and families processing a serious motorcycle accident should reach out to me today at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.
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Image Source: The image of the motorcycle from the top has been reproduced with permission from the 4.0 version of the CC International License and was found originally on Wikimedia Commons.
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