Motorcycle Accidents - Understanding the Common Causes

Motorcycles have become more and more popular over the years with thousands of riders taking to the streets either for sport or recreation. While the thought of feeling the wind on your face while riding a motorcycle is appealing to many people, riders are faced with many risks every time they step on the bike, especially when other motorists fail to see them on the road. Ultimately, understanding the reasons why motorcycle accidents occur can help both drivers and motorcyclists make safer decisions when sharing the road.
There are a few common causes of motorcycle accidents in Indiana and nationwide. Some of these include failure of drivers to see motorcyclists, drivers violating the motorcyclist's right of way, vehicles turning left in front of motorcyclists at intersections and motorcyclist error. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes in 2008, there were 5,290 motorcycle accident fatalities with 96,000 more injuries. 119 of these fatalities occurred in Indiana alone.
Because motorcycles are much smaller than passenger cars, light trucks and large trucks, many drivers often don't see a motorcyclist until it's too late. Two-vehicle crashes accounted for 2,554 (47%) of motorcyclist fatalities in 2008. Motorcyclists also do not have the advantage of a metal frame to protect them in the event of a crash, so in almost all two-vehicle crashes involving a motorcycle, it is the rider who will suffer the most damage.
Intersection crashes where a vehicle turned left in front of a motorcyclist accounted for 985 fatalities. In most cases, the motorcyclist was going straight or passing another vehicle. 666 fatalities resulted from both the vehicle and the motorcycle traveling straight. When motorcyclists have the right of way through an intersection, they may be traveling at a higher rate of speed, which plays a role in the severity of injuries sustained in an accident. If a rider is traveling at 40mph and a vehicle turns left in front of him or her, causing the motorcycle to hit the vehicle, the chances of catastrophic injury or death rise significantly. Drivers should always be alert and watch for motorcyclists when turning at any intersection.
Nearly two-thirds of motorcycle accidents occur because of rider error. In many cases, speed and rider inexperience contribute to single-vehicle crashes. Some riders may also purchase the wrong motorcycle for their experience level, opting for a bigger engine with more power such as a 900cc instead of a 250cc or 600cc. Because bigger bikes are heavier, they may be more difficult for a smaller or inexperienced motorcyclist to control. Statistics show that motorcyclists are more likely to be involved in a crash with a fixed object such as a tree or lamp post, compared to 19% of passenger vehicles, 14% of light trucks and only 4% of big rigs.
As stated earlier, motorcyclists don't have the advantage of a metal frame protecting them in the event of an accident like occupants of passenger vehicles do. There are steps that motorcyclists can take to prevent motorcycle accidents and injury to their person which include, but are not limited to:

• Choosing the proper sized motorcycle for the rider's stature and experience level.
• Always wear a helmet, protective eye gear, jacket, pants and riding boots. In the event that a rider is hit and slides across pavement, better that the protective gear get ruined instead of the rider's body.
• Obey traffic rules and share the road. Don't speed or weave in and out of traffic. As much as other drivers need to look out for a rider, the rider should show other drivers the same courtesy.

By Randy Sevenish

Planning Tips For Motorcycle Touring

Motorcycle touring is a truly rewarding experience as you can witness scenic delights, breathtaking views, and other natural wonders in full view of your eyes. There are guided motorcycle tours available, but you can always explore on your own. The latter is a more exciting option for bikers due to the spontaneity of the experience since you will never know what you will find along the way. However, there are certain risks involved with motorcycle touring. It is therefore important to come out prepared to ensure that you can maximize the experience and come out of it safely.
This is a must before you embark on motorcycle touring - check your motorcycle. You need to look at the entire body, as well as the engine performance and other essential parts of the vehicle. You need to be able to ride it with confidence for several miles. If you discover anything faulty, you need to replace it right away. The long trip could be quite demanding for your motorbike, so you need to make sure that it can keep up.
At this point, you are ready to begin packing your items that you will be bringing with you on tour. If you plan to travel on long distance, you need to pack lightly and wisely. You cannot afford to pack too much or else it will overload your motorcycle. Have a general idea or plan of what you intend to do and where you want to go. That way, you would know ahead of time what to bring and what NOT to do.
Regardless of where you are headed when motorcycle touring, make sure to bring thin layers of clothing over thick ones. This will enable you to bring several of them while also shedding or adding layers if the weather becomes too hot or cold, respectively. Some basic essentials you must not forget to bring include riding gloves, rainproof jacket, waterproof riding boots, touring suit, spare change for tolls, water supply, and basic food items.
You must also never forget to wear a helmet. This is a very essential item to ensure maximum protection not just for accidents, but also for various weather elements. Make sure that the helmet you have chosen is of good quality materials and you need to value function over style.
Now that you know the basic essentials to cover when motorcycle touring, you need to learn how to pace yourself well. Remember: you need to enjoy the journey itself, so learn how to enjoy every minute of it. Take time to get off your motorbike from time to time and take a stop to a beautiful spot.

By Donny Gamble Jr

Helpful Tips on Dealing With Motorcycle Accidents

Being involved in a motorcycle accident is a scary situation whether you are on the bike or in another vehicle. Motorcyclists are at great risk for serious injury because they are not in a protected vehicle. They are also more at risk for getting involved in a situation due to their small size in comparison to other vehicles on the road.
That is why it is imperative for a motorcyclist to obey all road rules and to stay alert on the roadways. Defensive driving is not just a useful skill for you. It is mandatory for your survival. It is not enough to be right. You do not want to be dead right.
In the Event of an Accident
If you are involved in a motorcycle accident you must stay at the scene until you are released by officials. Leaving the scene of the accident can be cause for a hit and run charge. Also, by leaving the scene the officials only have the word of the other party and witnesses, which could lead to legal troubles for you if they are not accurate.
You should call police immediately and also check for any injuries and damage. You want to file a report with the police even in minor situations so there is an official documentation of the accident which can be used for insurance and legal purposes.
If you are injured then you must seek medical treatment right away. Do not refuse medical treatment even if the injury seems minor. You need to get attention by medical personnel to have a record of any injury you obtained in the accident.
Information should be exchanged with the other motorists involved. You will need to exchange your license and registration information with the other driver. You should get their name, address, date of birth, telephone number, license number and insurance information. Also gather the information about their vehicle, including the license plate number.
You should also preserve evidence if possible. This means not moving or touching anything. Keep all witnesses and other drivers at the scene. Take photos if you can.
After the Accident
After the motorcycle accident you will be going through processes with your insurance to try to settle claims. You may also be involved in a legal case. All the information that you gathered at the accident scene will come in useful when you are trying to prove your case to the insurance company or in front of a judge.
You should contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident so that you can ensure your rights are preserved. An attorney can also properly represent you and ensure your best interests are being looked out for. The attorney can assist you in speaking with insurance adjusters, the other parties involved and even the police. An experienced motorcycle accident attorney will be able to assist you while ensuring that you get what you deserve out of the incident and that your best interests are protected.
A motorcycle accident is scary. It can be a very serious situation or it can minor. In any case, it is important that you know what to do and how to act in order to keep yourself protected.

Rex Bush is founder of Bush Law Firm near Salt Lake City, Utah where he handles personal injury cases in Utah and throughout the United States. For more information on personal injury issues visit his website: Personal Injury Utah.

Ways to Avoid Mechanical Malfunction in Motorcycles

A properly maintained motorcycle will be much safer for riders and will help to ensure that your ride is as enjoyable as possible. There are few basic maintenance steps that you can take regularly to ensure your motorcycle is in good riding condition. These simple steps are especially crucial if you have not ridden your motorcycle for an extended period of time or it has been stored for a season.
Many of these processes are common to what you would do with a car, and most are quite simple. But the consequences of a mechanical failure of any of these components could put a motorcycle at serious risk of being in an accident and being injured in the process. You should check your tires every time before you ride. When checking your tires, you are looking for proper pressure and inflation. The great amount of torque imparted by your rear wheel makes proper inflation a crucial factor in the performance of your vehicle. Also, look for any object that may have punctured your tire and is causing a slow leak of air out of your tire.
Just as you would with a car, you should change the oil in your motorcycle every 3,000 miles or six months, which ever occurs first. Also, inspect your drive chain for proper fit and debris. Your chain should be lubricated when necessary. Though the chain on your motorcycle is not a complex part of the mechanics, it is absolutely essential for your bike to work at all. The chain is the most direct link from the wheel to the power source. If it is not clean and well lubricated, you can lose a large amount of power and function in your motorcycle.
By James Witherspoon

Upgrade Your Motorcycle Headlights for Safety

There are two major challenges for a motorcycle rider that can prove deadly if they are not overcome.  They are being able to see well at night and being able to be seen well by other motorists.  These two issues alone contribute to an untold number of motorcycle accidents every year.  The good news is that they are easy to fix.
One of the contributing factors to both issues is your lighting capability on the motorcycle.  Your headlight, taillight and turn signals can contribute dramatically to other motorists being able to notice you as well as your own ability to see the road at night.  The stock lighting system on most motorcycles are enough to meet minimum regulations but they can sometimes suffer in the performance department, especially the headlight.
There are a number of options available to you for a headlight upgrade.  You can go with an LED conversion or a super bright HID conversion.  Either one is very simple to install and even a non-mechanical person could install these upgrades to a motorcycle.  The HID conversion produces a cleaner and brighter light that penetrates further into the dark and spreads a broader light beam as well, so you can see off to the sides of the road better.  This might not seem like a big deal but a major danger at night is animals crossing the road and if you can't see them until they are already in the road then that's trouble.
You can also add a headlight modulator that will flash your headlight during the daytime hours so that you can be more easily seen by oncoming motorists.  A major cause of motorcycle accidents is other motorists who don't see you and they either pull out in front of you or turn right into your path.  Either way and you're in trouble while they go along their merry way, sometimes not even knowing they just caused an accident.  This modulating light will help prevent that from happening.
By Jack Travers

A Few Easy Ideas For Making Custom Motorcycle Helmets

When you think about custom motorcycle helmets what do you see? Do you see spikes sticking out of the top, do you see stickers, do you see mohawks? Your view of what custom motorcycle helmets actually are may be different from the next persons view.
If you're not sure what it means to customize something, don't worry, the definition is pretty simple. All it really means is that you are creating an end product that still functions the same way, but looks different than it originally looked when you first purchased it.
After you have familiarized yourself with the process of customizing something, you can think about the different ways that you might be able to create your own custom motorcycle helmets. The truth is there are lots of different things you can do to create your own custom helmets.
For starters, if you don't want to permanently alter your helmet, meaning you don't want to change the structure of it, then you can consider options for adding to it such as stickers, paint, or mohawks. These items can be used to add a new look to your helmet, but will not directly alter the helmet structure itself.
If you don't mind altering the actual form of the helmet, then you might want to have a look at helmet spikes, which look really cool when you get them on. In order to attach them you have to drill though the outer shell on the very top to create a hole where a bolt can be fed through. This is how the spike is attached to the helmet.
By Tim Jefferson