Nothing feels as freeing as taking your motorcycle out for a spin on the open road. However, motorcycle accident and mortality rates have increased, especially among riders over 40. A study of non-fatal motorcycle injuries in Maryland by the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM) found that older riders are more likely to be involved in a fatal accident or sustain serious injuries like fractured ribs. Our experienced Maryland personal injury attorney would like to provide you with a few specialized safety tips for older riders.
Wear a helmet and safety gear
Maryland law requires that motorcycle riders wear a helmet, which has been statistically proven to reduce fatalities. The AAAM study found that older riders are more likely to wear helmets than younger riders. However, don’t forget to cover up the rest of your body! The most common motorcycle injuries are to the hands and feet of riders, and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation recommends that riders wear protective clothing with long sleeves, over the ankle boots, and gloves.
Be visible to other drivers
Although wearing all black while riding your bike might be tempting, dark clothing can make it harder for other drivers to see you. Wearing a light-colored helmet and bright-colored clothing with reflectors will increase your ability to be seen, especially after dark.
Be aware of your surroundings and get your vision checked
The AAAM study also found that older riders are more likely than younger riders to be involved in collisions involving other vehicles, and highway structures like embankments, overpasses, bridges, barriers, and fences. While riding, always give yourself space and time to respond to other motorists. As vision can decline as you age, make sure to get your vision checked every year to see if you need new prescription glasses for riding. Most importantly, always keep your eyes on the road.
Ride the right bike and keep practicing
According to Brown University researcher Tracy L. Jackson, older riders are more likely to ride larger bikes with bigger engines “which may be more likely to roll or turn over.” Make sure that your motorcycle fits your body size and that you have formal training on your specific bike. It’s never too late to take a refresher course!
Have you been injured in a motorcycle accident? Our attorney handles personal injury cases in MD, D.C., and Virginia and is ready to assist you. You can contact us through our website at www.844TakeMyCase.com, call us at 844-Take-MyCase, or check out our Facebook page to see how we can help. Share our Facebook page with your motorcycle riding friends, and feel free to leave comments for us. We’d love to hear from you on Facebook!
Tags: accident attorney, accident lawyer, anne arundel county accident attorney, anne arundel county accident lawyer, anne arundel county personal injury attorney, auto accident, automobile accident, charles county accident attorney, charles county accident lawyer, charles county personal injury attorney, d c accident attorney, d c accident lawyer, dc accident attorney, dc accident lawyer, eastern shore accident attorney, eastern shore accident lawyer, injury attorney, injury lawyer, kent county accident attorney, kent county accident lawyer, mary's county accident attorney, mary's county accident lawyer, maryland accident attorney, maryland accident lawyer, Maryland personal injury attorney, maryland personal injury lawyer, montgomery county accident attorney, montgomery county accident lawyer, motorcycle accident, oxon hill personal injury attorney, prince georges county accident attorney, prince georges county accident lawyer, prince georges county personal injury attorney, st, traffic accident, traffic crash, truck accident, virginia accident attorney, virginia accident lawyer
