Jun 1, 2018 | General, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Accidents
When it comes to motorcycles, passenger car drivers have plenty of complaints. From the sound, how they share the road, and the stigma of how they drive. There’s no doubt about it, your everyday driver likely has a little bit of an aversion to motorcyclists. But, there a few common complaints bikers have for you too…
Common Complaints Bikers Have for Passenger Vehicle Drivers
Driver’s Who Don’t Use Their Turn Signals
One of the most common biker complaints is when driver’s don’t use their turn signals. By using your signals, you give a rider behind your or turning in front of you a heads up. Without it, they must gauge whether you are slowing down or not. Or the only warning they get, is when your brake lights come on right before you stop. This is especially dangerous for bikers because stopping on a dime can be quite difficult— much more difficult than for a passenger vehicle.
Poor Road Conditions
Another cause for biker complaints comes from poor road conditions. As you know when driving in your car, hitting a huge pothole is not fun. For larger vehicles, they can cause some alignment issues and may just be uncomfortable. Now, imagine hitting one on a motorcycle. First, they can be even more uncomfortable and can cause cosmetic and actual damage to your bike. But much more, they are dangerous for bikers. Any type of holes and debris can do a number on motorcycles. Therefore, poor road conditions can pose a huge threat to bikers.
Wiper Fluid Hits Them In the Face
Have you ever been traveling down the road and you have a huge bug hits your windshield. Rather than riding down the road with his guts in plain view, you spray your windshield and have the wipers take care of it. But as you get your window clean, a biker receives a nice wash down from all the fluid that you just washed off. As you can imagine, having a mysterious fluid whip you in the face randomly, is not a fun feeling. Likewise, a leftover cigarette butt that’s flies from the driver’s window and into your face isn’t fun either. These can act as distractions, and make it difficult for the biker to focus in on the road.
Squeezing Them Out
Finally, possibly the most important of common complaints bikers have is that drivers squeeze them out. For the most part, bikers should be making calculated moves when driving through traffic. If they weave through traffic or a stopped intersection, it’s normally for a safer purpose. So when you see them making these moves, and you move over to block them out, it’s frustrating. Yes, bikes are smaller. Yes, they can fit in spaces your vehicle will not be able to fit in. So allow them to do so, and avoid blocking them out. You never know what they’re seeing that you’re not.
These complaints may not mean a lot to car drivers, but bikers are drivers too; they are members of the road as well. So, cooperate. No driver is perfect, and they will make mistakes. But, part of being a good driver means making adjustments and being observant of other members of the roadway. So, drive safe, drive smart, and watch out for motorcyclists.
May 22, 2018 | Motorcycle
A vehicle crash can be very hectic. You have a list of things to accomplish, people to contact, and making sure you’re okay. When you’re involved in a motorcycle crash, all of these issues become much more serious. So, what comes first on the list? After checking for injury, collecting evidence should be next on the list. A motorcycle accident is almost always more serious than a passenger vehicle accident. So, taking this step on your own might be difficult. However, if you can, it’s imperative to your case.
Collecting Evidence after Motorcycle Crash: If You Can, Do So A.S.A.P.
After a motorcycle accident occurs, the pieces of evidence have to come together like a puzzle. One piece of the puzzle is determining fault. We hope the accident was no fault of your own, and in this scenario— let’s say that you were not at-fault, and also were capable of collecting evidence. Being that you are not at fault, having any piece of evidence that shows full or partial fault on part of the other party can make your case easier to win. You can hope for witnesses, but ultimately, the only way to ensure a good job— is to do it yourself.
What if I’m not sure who’s at fault?
If there is no solid evidence of whose fault it is, the case gets trickier to prove. Even the most experienced motorcycle accident/injury attorneys have difficulty proving the other party was wholly negligent when there is no strong evidence against them. This is primarily what makes evidence collection so important. Because these issues can arise, it’s important to share every detail with your attorney.
What steps should I take in an accident situation?
If by some bad luck, you find yourself in a motorcycle accident, there are a few things you can do to help collect evidence. After calling 911, take photos on your injuries, the road conditions, and the other vehicles involved. Next, get the names and phone numbers for all other parties and any witnesses. And finally, as soon as you can, write down everything you remember. Even the smallest details need to be written down while they are fresh in your memory. You never know what piece of evidence you might be hoarding away in those forgotten details.
There is no such thing as having too much evidence. The more you can remember, the easier it is for us to help you win your case. It is always better to have more than enough evidence, opposed to not enough.
May 1, 2018 | Motorcycle
If you ride motorcycles, you know that group motorcycle riding can quickly become one of your favorite pastimes. It’s just you, like-minded people, and the open road— what could be better than that? Group motorcycle riding is a fun to do, but not all car drivers see it that way. In fact, many Americans that own passenger cars think of riders as reckless people on the road. On the other hand, riders are responsible people who just want their share of the road. Because of the bad stereotype against motorcyclists, car drivers often do not fully share the road with them. At any rate, when motorcyclists ride in groups they are at risk because cars can drive aggressively around the group.
Group Motorcycle Riding: Kicking the Stereotype
Seeing a group of motorcyclists should not become a headache for any other vehicles on the road. However, many cars remain intimidated when a large group of riders take to the road. In turn, they might slow down, speed up, block you out, or begin to drive aggressively. When riding in groups, riders generally stay in a formation, and only pass other vehicles individually. Sadly, car drivers may try to break the group up by not letting another rider over. If a car begins to drive aggressively, it can be a potential threat for riders.
Adjusting to potentially aggressive drivers
Although we cannot control what car drivers do, we can control how we react to aggressive driving. No doubt, group motorcycle riding is safer than riding alone. However, with aggressive drivers, it is best to break formation if a car drives dangerously. Although it may disrupt the enjoyment of the ride, safety is always a priority. It only takes one car driving with aggression to cause a wreck that ends with serious injuries. In other words, it is important that safety is still a priority while also enjoying the group ride.
Accounting for the driving habits of others is difficult, and cannot always be accurate. However, these small adjustments might just be the thing that saves you, or your riding buddies, from a potentially severe accident. So, drive safe, have fun, and keep an eye out. You never know what might lie on the road ahead when group motorcycle riding.
Apr 27, 2018 | Motorcycle
No matter what gear you have on, getting stuck in the rain on a motorcycle is no easy task. Sometimes weather can change quickly out on the road, and we find ourselves in the middle of a rainstorm. Unlike cars, riders only have two wheels, a helmet, and the jacket on their back to protect them. For this reason, if you’re riding through rain, you are at risk for a serious accident. Whether it is hydroplaning, someone else’s error, or just a slick oil spot, riders remain at risk of injury.
Getting Stuck Riding in Rain: A Hazard to Riders
Take for example, a rider getting stuck in the rain on an interstate. While rain takes time to pick up and start pouring, there is little any rider can do. If there is construction along the shoulders, there is nowhere to pull over and put on a rain jacket or thicker gear. Not to mention, likely, you don’t have emergency wet weather gear. At any rate, a rider is pretty much out of luck. Your gear is wet, your visor is slick with rain, and you’re ready to be home.
How can I prepare?
We have to take measures for our own safety. However, rain is difficult to prepare for. You can put rain resistant material onto your visor, have a waterproof jacket, but most of the danger lies in the roadway. Oil spots, cars that drive erratically, and lowered visibility. Ultimately, all you can do is slow down, try and make yourself more visible, and pull over when the going gets tough.
If unable to pull over, riders can only do so much to protect themselves. For one, a rider can slow down to have a safe control over their motorcycle. If cars fail to let a rider merge onto an outer lane, any rider has to keep moving. However, by this time, the rain could pick up more and the rider will be at even more risk. If a motorcycle begins to hydroplane, the rider can only do so much with two wheels.
Plan ahead
The best move you can make for yourself, is to plan for the weather. Check the forecast before you head out. You’re at a higher risk of injury, or just a miserable ride if it begins to rain. So, drive safe, check the weather, and maybe invest in some warm weather gear. You never know what these North and South Carolina days may bring! Happy riding.
Apr 23, 2018 | Motorcycle
Adaptive cruise control is a safety feature for many new cars. Just like any cruise control, it assists by maintaining a speed without the driver having to do any work. However, as a safety feature, ACC (for short) also keeps a safe following distance from other vehicles. While this helps car owners drive safer, it is only a feature, not a faultless system. If car drivers depend on ACC and do not pay attention, it can easily become dangerous. Especially for vehicles that are harder to detect, such as motorcycles.
Adaptive Cruise Control: A Threat to Riders?
Motorcycles are more difficult to spot on the road because they are smaller than your typical car. Take for example, a car driver who is using adaptive cruise control and decides to text and drive. No doubt, the ACC maintains the speed of the car. However, the driver still needs to give their attention to the road. As we’ve said, no system is faultless. Not to mention, we are in a time where these features are recently being adapted. Therefore, if there is ever a time for error— it is now. So, say you’re texting, using this cruise control feature, and out of nowhere, you rear end a motorcycle. In most scenarios, this would be less than ideal but still a family quick process.
Motorcyclists are more susceptible to injury than your typical passenger car driver when it comes to a fender bender…
Serious personal injury or death is a possibility every time a motorcycle is part of a crash. So, this is example number one as to why adaptive cruise control should be a helper and not something you rely on to get you home safely.
Every driver knows, cruise control helps by maintaining speed without the driver having to hit the gas. However, keeping drivers at a safe following distance is a huge responsibility that, sometimes, a machine might not be able to account for. Maintaining an appropriate distance behind other vehicles is the duty of the driver, not the machine.
No doubt, cruise control is beneficial to drivers, but it is not an excuse to be distracted behind the wheel. In short, when using adaptive cruise control, car drivers still need to give their undivided attention to the road. If not, they can cause a wreck ending with serious injuries for drivers and riders.
Apr 17, 2018 | Motorcycle
If you are a motorcycle enthusiast and owner, you’re likely excited by the idea of switching it up a bit. Most people ride during the day; they enjoy the hot days, warm sun, and seeing the sights. However, night riding can be a great way to go. You get a break from the heat, the traffic, and it’s pretty relaxing. But, it’s important to remember that night riding, just like any other type of riding comes with it’s own set of safety risks. Night riding in particular can be pretty risky if you don’t go about it in the right way. So, how can you ride at night and keep safe at the same time?
Night Riding: Motorcycle Safety After Dark
Motorcyclists cannot control the behavior of drivers around them, and at night this can be pretty risky. You have lowered visibility, and people can have a harder time seeing you as well. While there are in increased number of drivers on the roadway during the day, night time is typically when driving gets a bit more risky. You have more leisure drivers, more drunk drivers, and sometimes… no matter the time of day, negligent drivers. So, what can you do as a motorcyclist to ensure your safety?
Increased Visibility Increases Safety
A motorcyclist cannot control the behavior of other drivers. But what they can increase, is their visibility. Wearing reflective materials, applying them to your bike, or using any other tool to increase your presence can be a great proactive step to take. We’d like to think that other drivers would be observant enough to drive safely around a motorcycle. But, let’s face it, drivers often have a hard enough time doing that in the day time. So, check out your options! Whether it’s after-market headlights, tail lights, a jacket with reflective material… anything that can make you more noticeable. All in all, the more visible a rider is on any road, the safer that rider becomes.
No one is perfect, and accidents do happen… So, prevent the preventable ones.
We can’t control what will happen on any given road, at any given time. However, we can take control of our own handlebars. While driving and riding requires a certain amount of faith in the people around you; taking control of your surroundings starts with doing everything in your power to stay safe. So, figure outa solution that allows you too ride at night, but also stay visible. We wish you luck, a safe ride, and increased visibility!
