Motorcyclists are more vulnerable to serious injury than motorists traveling by other means. Around 4,000 people are killed each year in motorcycle accidents. In North Carolina alone, almost 3,500 were injured in motorcycle accidents in 2017 according to the NCDOT’s 2017 Crash Facts.
While most states only require motorcycle drivers to wear helmets, there are other types of safety gear that will reduce the chances of serious injury. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Seeking counsel with a Durham personal injury attorney is your best option.
Convincing some motorcyclist to wear protective gear is not always easy, but it can be a matter of life and death. North Carolina is among the states that require all motorcycle riders to wear a helmet. The helmet is considered the most important piece of safety equipment. In regards to accidents, motorcyclists wearing helmets are less likely to suffer traumatic brain injuries than those who don’t to wear one.
We at Wallace Pierce encourage motorcyclists to go beyond the law, and invest in and use greater safety protections. You cannot control how other people may affect your safety, but you can control how you do. The following are other safety steps that can be taken a motorcyclist:
Motorcycle Jackets. Motorcycle jackets will protect your arms from the elements of the road in the event of an accident. Jackets made specifically made for motorcyclist have reinforced elbow protection.
Gloves. Riding a motorcycle without the appropriate type gloves can be risky. While you don’t want anything too bulky that will affect your grip, leather motorcycle gloves with carbon-fiber reinforcements will protect your hands and fingers if an accident should occur.
Neck Collar. Collarbone injuries are common in motorcycle accidents. However, wearing a neck collar can protect your collarbone during an accident.
Boots. Boots are a beneficial piece of safety equipment. Boots will protect your ankles and feet while riding a motorcycle. Injuries to your feet can keep you immobile for weeks or months at a time.
Remember that motorcyclists are fully exposed to the road. They do not have the same protections that drivers and passengers may have in a car or truck. For this reason it is important that motorcycle riders cover up as much as possible. This will assist them in preventing serious injury. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries due to another driver’s negligence, consider contacting Wallace Pierce Law. Your car accident lawyers in Durham, North Carolina are experienced in representing clients from many aspects of personal injury law and ready to take your case today.