{"id":2338,"date":"2022-05-11T00:29:37","date_gmt":"2022-05-11T00:29:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pacificwestinjury.com\/?p=2338"},"modified":"2023-11-15T14:01:09","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T22:01:09","slug":"tips-to-stay-safe-when-driving-a-motorcycle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pacificwestinjury.com\/blog\/tips-to-stay-safe-when-driving-motorcycle\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips to Stay Safe When Driving a Motorcycle"},"content":{"rendered":"

Unlike cars, which have a range of safety features such as airbags, motorcycles have few, not to mention that riders are more exposed than car occupants. Knowing how to protect your safety helps you avoid crashes whenever you ride your bike.<\/p>\n

The Damage from Motorcycle Accidents is Usually Significant<\/h2>\n

In a typical accident, what might seem like a minor and injury-free collision between two vehicles can cause significant damage to both. The damage is likely to be even more devastating in an accident involving motorcycles. According to the Department of Public Safety & Transportation<\/a>, at least 50 motorcyclists lose their lives on the state’s roadways every year.<\/p>\n

Hundreds more suffer serious injuries that have a devastating impact on their lives. As an avid motorcyclist, you should do everything possible to avoid being part of these statistics. Following these safety tips from our motorcycle accident attorneys<\/a> can help you avoid being in a crash.<\/p>\n

Learn to Ride Safely<\/h2>\n

Before you get on the road, you should be able to handle a motorcycle safely. Just because you have the requisite license doesn’t mean you’re ready to cruise on Nevada’s highways. For this reason, you should first practice riding your motorcycle safely away from the road until you’re confident in handling it on busy highways.<\/p>\n

Besides the mandatory licensing course, you may also want to take a safety course. These courses allow you to practice the maneuverability required to ride safely on highways. When faced with tricky situations, you won’t panic about your next move because you’ll have all the necessary skills to handle your bike appropriately.<\/p>\n

A safety course teaches you all the rules of operating a motorcycle on busy highways and what to do when unpredictable riding situations arise. The Nevada DMV<\/a> offers a safety course that equips riders with the skills and good judgment needed when they encounter unpredictable situations.<\/p>\n

Buy a Bike that’s Within Your Ability<\/h2>\n

As a rider, you may want to own the most powerful bike in town, but do you have the skills and ability to handle it safely? One of the best decisions to make is identifying a motorcycle that suits your experience level and needs. Start by identifying your reasons for riding, then find a motorcycle suited to those needs.<\/p>\n

It might help to start with a low-capacity beginner motorcycle and then upgrade as you become more experienced. Also, find a bike suited to someone of your height and size since these factors determine your ability to operate the machine safely.<\/p>\n

Gear Up<\/h2>\n

Nevada has strict regulations regarding motorcycling equipment. Riders must wear protective gear such as helmets at all times. Take personal responsibility and protect yourself against fatal accidents even when riding out of state where there are less stringent rules.<\/p>\n

Besides helmets and protective eyewear, DOT-approved heavy pants, gloves, boots, and long sleeves are recommended to minimize the impact of a crash. Motorcycle accidents happen instantly and have devastating impacts, so ensure you’re fully protected to minimize injury.<\/p>\n

Check Weather Conditions Before Heading Out<\/h2>\n

Since motorcycles aren’t as stable as vehicles, riding them in adverse weather is risky. With just two wheels, windshield wipers, and protection from severe weather, your visibility, and your overall safety are at risk. Always check the weather forecast before you head out for a ride.<\/p>\n

Leave your motorcycle at home if rain, strong winds, and similar conditions are predicted. If you have to go out, wait until the conditions dissipate. While riding, be extra cautious and drive slowly. If the weather worsens, stop immediately and wait it out.<\/p>\n

Stay Sober<\/h2>\n

It’s a no-brainer that you shouldn’t operate machines when drunk. The significance of riding a motorcycle when sober can’t be understated. Riding under the influence hampers your ability to make rational decisions, thereby putting your safety at risk.<\/p>\n

Safe riding requires all your concentration. Besides, your eyes, ears, and all four limbs will be at work. Any form of intoxication impairs your judgment, besides delaying your response times. Thus, you shouldn’t always ride when fully sober.<\/p>\n

Rest Before Your Rides<\/h2>\n

You should rest sufficiently before hitting the highway on your motorcycle. Riding requires supreme focus, something that’s impossible if you’re physically and mentally exhausted. Always have a good night’s rest, especially when planning a long ride.<\/p>\n

You may also get tired during a long ride. Therefore, take frequent breaks, stretch, and stay hydrated. If possible, take a nap during the riding breaks because that’s all you may need to maintain your concentration until you reach your destination.<\/p>\n

Ride Safely<\/h2>\n

The Nevada Traffic Laws<\/a> require all motorists to drive safely. When you get on your bike, avoid the temptation to push it to the limit. Instead, ride within the recommended speed limits while observing other traffic rules.<\/p>\n

Most motorcycle accidents result from failure to watch out for. Therefore, always be on the lookout for hazards that could cause you to lose balance and fall over. Watching out for the hazards will give you more time to react if you encounter them.<\/p>\n

Regular Bike Inspection<\/h2>\n

Always inspect your bike before and after each ride to pinpoint faults that could compromise your safety when riding. Also, take your bike for regular DMV-mandated inspections to ensure it’s in good condition and safe to ride.<\/p>\n

Motorcycle Accidents Still Happen<\/h2>\n

Although motorcycle safety comes down to adhering to traffic laws and staying alert, you can’t do anything about other motorists’ habits. Even after adhering to these safety tips, you can still get involved in a crash. Knowing what you should do in the aftermath of a motorcycle accident can help minimize the impact.<\/p>\n

Contact an Experienced Nevada Motorcycle Accident Attorney<\/h2>\n

One of the first things you should do after a motorcycle accident in Nevada is to contact the experienced attorneys at the Pacific West Injury Law firm. We provide proven legal services in Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas and are dedicated to helping you get compensated. Contact us today<\/a> to schedule a free case review.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Unlike cars, which have a range of safety features such as airbags, motorcycles have few, not to mention that riders are more exposed than car occupants. Knowing how to protect your safety helps you avoid crashes whenever you ride your bike. The Damage from Motorcycle Accidents is Usually Significant In a typical accident, what might […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2339,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"city":[72],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pacificwestinjury.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2338"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pacificwestinjury.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pacificwestinjury.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pacificwestinjury.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pacificwestinjury.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2338"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pacificwestinjury.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2338\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5921,"href":"https:\/\/pacificwestinjury.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2338\/revisions\/5921"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pacificwestinjury.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pacificwestinjury.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pacificwestinjury.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pacificwestinjury.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2338"},{"taxonomy":"city","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pacificwestinjury.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/city?post=2338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}