Sharing the Road: Motorcycle Safety Tips

Now that it’s fall the leaves are changing, the air is turning crisp, and you may be starting to long for that open road. We get it, we’ve got a lot of avid motorcycle riders in our office, we’re right there with you – which is one of the many reasons why we are also strong advocates for motorcycle safety and awareness.

Motorcycle Safety Tips for Maryland Riders and Drivers

In Maryland there is an average of 70 motorcycle fatalities every year. The most common causes of motorcycle crashes are:

• Inattentiveness of the driver and/or motorcyclist
• Drug/alcohol use
• Improper safety equipment

Often when a motorcyclist is involved in a fatal crash the driver of the vehicle may not see them at all until it is too late. Below are some safety tips to help keep motorcyclists and drivers alike safe:

• Share the road with motorcyclists and always look twice before changing lanes
• Minimize blind spots
• Ride so that you are always visible
• Signal early and always
• Always wear a U.S Department of Transportation (DOT) compliant helmet – these usually have a sticker or a stamp reading “DOT” to indicate that they have been validated as meeting safety specifications.

In fact, Maryland takes motorcycle safety equipment like helmets and eye protection so seriously that we have a universal helmet law to ensure that all riders wear helmets and eye protection at all times. However, if you or a loved one is involved in a motorcycle accident and caught without safety equipment don’t worry – this law also protects the rider from liability in the event of a crash.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a motorcycle or car accident please call The Yost Legal Group for help. We’ll speak with you for free to discuss your situation and to help you to understand your rights. If we take your case we will do so on a no win/no fee basis.  That means you do not pay a fee or expense unless you recover.  If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, call 1-800-YOST-LAW (1-800-967-8529) to speak to one of our attorneys today.