Tips for Avoiding a Michigan Motorcycle Accident
The best way to avoid a motorcycle accident, simply put, is to ride responsibly and ride defensively. This means obeying all traffic laws – most importantly, not drinking and riding, slowing down and obeying speed limits, signaling properly, and avoiding dangerous maneuvers like lane splitting or unsafe lane changes. Exercising increased caution in high- traffic areas and intersections, particularly at left- hand turns, can also protect you and other drivers. But accidents can happen to even the most vigilant riders, and a few other precautions may help you to avoid a motorcycle crash.
TIPS FOR AVOIDING A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT IN MICHIGAN
Being a responsible rider also means protecting yourself. Michigan law mandates that all riders under 21 are legally required to wear a helmet. Riders over 21 are not required by Michigan law to wear a helmet if they have at least $20,000 in first-party medical benefits coverage and have either held a motorcycle endorsement for at least two years or have passed an approved motorcycle safety course. But wearing a helmet is a good way to help prevent traumatic brain injuries from a motorcycle accident and can be the difference between a close call and a fatal injury. Other protective gear like proper pants and jackets, eye protection, gloves, and boots can be crucial in preventing injuries like road rash from a motorcycle accident.
Routine motorcycle maintenance and bike safety checks are imperative for safe riding. Checking your motorcycle tires and tire pressure can prevent a spin out, blown out- tire, or even an accident. Oil changes and the proper maintenance of other motorcycle components can prevent malfunctions like engine seizure, which can cause a rider to stop abruptly and potentially cause an accident.
Inclement weather is inherent to life in Michigan, but certain conditions like rain, fog, ice, and wind can be particularly dangerous for motorcycle riders exposed to the elements. Slippery roads after a heavy rain, foggy conditions which can reduce visibility, and windy conditions which can affect balance and blow debris in the road can all increase the likelihood of an accident.
SAFE PLACES TO RIDE MOTORCYCLES IN MICHIGAN
The good news is some of Michigan’s most picturesque areas are also some of the safest for motorcycle riders. Rural, less populated counties and roads in the Upper Peninsula such as Ontonagon County near the majestic Porcupine Mountains and Keewenaw County along the shores of Lake Superior offer motorcyclists safe room to ride.
Similarly, riders can enjoy miles of remote, maintained roads through State Parks and Forests in Alpena and Presque Isle Counties in the Northern Lower Peninsula along the coast of Lake Huron, both of which rank highly in rider safety.
MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT HOTSPOTS IN MICHIGAN
Naturally, if rural areas are safer, we can expect more densely populated urban and suburban areas to be less safe for motorcycle riders. In Michigan, Detroit and the surrounding metro areas, including parts of I-696 through Royal Oak and Southfield, Woodward Avenue, and Southfield Road, are particularly dangerous due to high traffic volume, construction, and road diversions.
CALL KAJY LAW
Kajy Law has a dedicated motorcycle accident team with lawyers and paralegals who fully understand all of the state and federal laws that relate to motorcycle accidents, along with how the insurance companies work and how to deal with them. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, don’t wait to get the help you deserve. Call 877-Kajy-Cares or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.
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