Operating a motorcycle exposes the rider and their passengers to risks that other road users don’t face. Following motorcycle safety tips in Lake County, IL, can help riders improve their odds of avoiding or surviving a motorcycle accident.
Even if you were being cautious while riding your motorcycle, you may have gotten in an accident. A Lake County motorcycle accident lawyer from Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers can represent you against the negligent drivers who caused your injuries. We have 68 years of combined experience and have recovered over $125 million.
Contact us today at (847) 513-9582 to schedule a free consultation.
How Kass & Moses Can Help After A Motorcycle Accident In Lake County, IL
Our motorcycle accident attorneys in Lake County, IL can help you by:
- Discussing the cause of your crash and your options for taking legal action
- Collecting evidence to establish liability and tally up your losses
- Filing an insurance claim and negotiating with the insurer for an adequate settlement
- Litigating your case if the insurer refuses to resolve your claim fairly
Motorcycle accidents in Lake County, Illinois, can easily cause severe injuries or death since riders are essentially unprotected.
Call Kass & Moses to arrange a free consultation with a Lake County personal injury attorney.
Riding A Motorcycle Safely In Lake County
Motorcyclists face many challenges. Riding requires different skills from driving, and without proper training and experience, motorcyclists can endanger themselves and others on the road.
With that in mind, the following safety tips can help you reduce your overall crash risk on your motorcycle:
Wear A Helmet
Illinois does not have a helmet law. Even so, riders and their passengers should still wear one. Helmets reduce the risk of head injury significantly. As a result, riders who wear helmets are much less likely to die or suffer serious injuries in a wreck.
Wearing a helmet also preserves an injured motorcyclist’s options after a collision. If you fail to wear a helmet, the at-fault driver can shift at least some of the blame to you for your negligence. Consequently, your eligible compensation might be reduced or disappear altogether.
Stay Visible
Drivers often have difficulty seeing motorcycles. This is partially due to the smaller profile of these vehicles compared to most cars and trucks on the road. However, drivers also suffer from a cognitive bias called “inattentional blindness,” which causes their brains to filter out anything deemed extraneous.
Visual images flood the brain while driving. Inattentional blindness arises when the brain filters out certain inputs to keep the driver from being overwhelmed. Sometimes, however, this filtering is too selective, preventing the brain from recognizing pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles.
Motorcycle riders will always face some risk of a “looked-but-failed-to-see” accident. However, they can reduce this risk by staying out of drivers’ blind spots and slowing down near intersections to ensure that attentive drivers have ample opportunity to spot them.
Obey The Law
Motorcycles are subject to the same traffic laws as automobiles. Many crashes occur when riders and drivers violate these laws. Speeding, failing to yield, and distracted driving all increase a motorist’s risk of causing an accident considerably.
Unfortunately, you can’t eliminate your crash risk entirely, as it’s impossible to prevent other drivers around you from acting negligently or aggressively. Even if you obey traffic laws, you should remain vigilant for other road users who don’t.
Ride Sober
One of the most significant risk factors for motorcycle accidents is intoxication. Because motorcycles are often used for recreational or pleasure rides, motorcyclists are more likely than automobile drivers to ride after drinking or using drugs.
Drugs and alcohol can profoundly affect your ability to ride. Your balance and coordination will be compromised, increasing your risk of a single-vehicle crash. Your reactions will also be dulled, and your judgment may be impaired as well. Even ordinary road hazards like rain or potholes could lead to a fatal or injurious accident.
By riding sober, you’ll retain the ability to handle your motorcycle safely.
Contact Our Lake County Motorcycle Accident Lawyers For A Free Consultation
Motorcycle accidents in Lake County are often the fault of negligent drivers and therefore can’t always be prevented by careful riding. Contact Kass & Moses for a free consultation to discuss your crash and how we can help you seek just compensation from the driver who caused it. Our Lake County motorcycle accident lawyers can answer your questions and help you pursue compensation.
