So you’re thinking about getting your first motorcycle. You’ve been envisioning this for the past few years, patiently waiting until you were old enough. You can just feel the power underneath you as you scream down the road. Anyone that has a passion for bikes knows how you feel, but make sure you are prepared before you venture out into the world on that first bike. Motorcycles are a great way to experience the freedom of the outdoors as well as an economical form of transportation, but they are also a good way to get killed or seriously injured if you don’t know what you are doing and don’t practice motorcycle safety.
Many states now require that helmets be worn at all times for motorcycle riders. Even states that don’t require helmets for all riders have some requirement that younger riders wear a helmet. Additionally, all states require that you obtain a motorcycle license, or endorsement, before you are allowed to operate a motorcycle. Some states, like California for example, require that you complete a motorcycle training course if you are under the age of 18 in order to qualify for a motorcycle license, according to California motorcycle accident attorney Emery Ledger of Ledger & Associates. While all of this may seem unnecessary to you, and you may feel that it is nothing more than a list of obstacles in your way to that dream bike, there are plenty of reasons why these rules are in place. Thousands of people are killed each year in motorcycle accidents and even more are seriously injured. Your chances of being seriously injured in a motorcycle accident are twice as high as in a car accident. Motorcycle riders between the ages of 16-24 are significantly overrepresented in accidents. Those helmets that nobody wants to wear? They are the single biggest factor in preventing serious head trauma which can lead to death or life altering injuries. Studies also tell us that the majority of riders that are involved in an accident have very little experience riding. The reason for this is that knowing how to ride a motorcycle is one thing – knowing how to react to a potential collision is another thing. Riders generally have less than 2 seconds to acknowledge and react to a potential collision. Additionally, on a motorcycle, evasive maneuvers are frequently critical to avoiding a fatal accident and novice riders may not be equipped to initiate those maneuvers.
A motorcycle training course, whether required by law or not, may be the best time and money you ever spend. If you are convinced that you already know how to ride, then enroll in an advanced or expert course. Even people that have been riding for years frequently attend training courses to get the latest information and techniques. There is no reason that you can’t have that motorcycle that you have been waiting for, but take the time to prepare yourself before you go out on the road with it. A few hours of your time now may be the key to many years of riding in the future.
If you have any additional questions, or have been involved in a motorcycle accident, feel free to contact California motorcycle accident attorney Emery Ledger of Ledger & Associates at his toll-free number 1-800-300-0001 or online at www.ledgerlaw.com
