In Bakersfield, California, they have declared May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. As part of the month’s agenda, police will be more heavily assigned to areas known to have high numbers of motorcycle accidents reported. In the year prior, police investigated almost 50 motorcycle accidents in the Bakersfield area. Police will be looking specifically for both motorcycle riders and other drivers who may be under the influence or speeding, among others offenses.
The state has data on motorcycle accidents that correlates those accidents with things such as making unsafe turns and speeding. The advice for motorcyclists is to learn how to ride a motorcycle before buying one. Then, after taking the class, they should be sure to try out multiple motorcycles before making the purchase so the one that fits best is the one that is purchased. Every rider and every bike are different.
Motorcyclists in any state, Louisiana included, need to remember that it’s important when on a motorcycle to assume that other drivers on the road can’t see you. Driving defensively and taking steps to be seen while on the road can help reduce the risk of being in an accident. However, all of the safety measures in the world cannot eliminate all risk. Other drivers can be a serious threat to even the most cautious of motorcycle riders.
Motorcycle riders are at high risk for catastrophic injuries when they are involved in accidents. Head injury, neck and spine injuries and broken limbs are only a few of the injuries that can be suffered. When inattentive or distracted drivers of trucks and automobiles collide with motorcyclists, the injured motorcyclists may have legal recourse in Louisiana. Seeking compensation for medical bills, for example, is one option for those who are injured.
Source: 23 ABC News, “Specialized motorcycle safety enforcement planned for month of May,” Carlos Correa, April 28, 2014
