Although it can be one of the most exciting and exhilarating ways to travel by road, riding a motorcycle is also potentially the most dangerous.
That being said, being the ride or passenger of a bike does not automatically mean that you will suffer an accident or receive an injury. Instead, statistics merely suggest that the chances of you being involved in an incident that could impact your health are far higher than those for other road users.
Statistics for road traffic accidents which involve two wheeled vehicles are high in every country in the world and make for sobering reading. There can be no doubt that it can be a dangerous way to travel – no matter how safe or experienced a rider you may be.
The accident figures really bear no reflection on the skill or awareness of motorcyclists and although it is often quickly assumed that the finger of blame can easily be directed at those in charge of the motorcycle, the cause of an accident is rarely so clear-cut.
Often other road users are blissfully unaware of the presence of smaller vehicles until it is too late and damage has been done. In these cases, even the most cautious of two wheeled operators can fall foul of bad luck.
Staying safe on the road
From ensuring that motor bikes are in top quality road worthy condition to wearing adequate safety clothing and equipment, there are many things that a rider can do to minimise risk to him or herself and others. Of course, good quality head protection is a must and is a legal requirement in most countries. This is particularly important as it is proven to reduce potential injury and provide protection to one of the most vulnerable parts of the body.
Much of the safety gear that is associated with motorcycle riding has entered the realms of timelessly fashionable clothing; whether it is the classic design of the leather biker’s jacket or the traditional motor cycle boot. This makes it easy to forget that these have their origins as fully functional safety garments when it comes to being on the road on two wheels.
Seeking compensation
Although the chances of you falling foul of an accident may be higher if you are on two wheels instead of four or more, it doesn’t mean that you do not have any claim to compensation for injury that you suffer as a consequence of something that was not your fault. As with any other motor vehicle incident, you can be blameless yet still have you life disrupted as a consequence of another’s actions. In these cases you will most likely be able to claim accident compensation.
The only way to really be sure if you may have a solid case for a claim resulting from a motorbike accident is to seek out the advice of a specialised lawyer who deals with such cases on a daily basis.
