Commuting On Your Motorcycle Can Put You At Risk

It can be tempting on a beautiful fall morning to hop on your motorcycle for a cool ride into the office, but don’t be fooled commuting on your motorcycle can be a risky endeavor if you’re not careful. The chances that you could get into a New Haven motorcycle accident on your way in to work can increase if you do not follow some steps to keep yourself safe.

There are things you can do whenever you’re riding a motorcycle to keep yourself free from injury like wearing a helmet. Wearing a helmet is not a requirement in Connecticut, but it is one of the safest things you can do so if you do get into an accident your head is protected. Not wearing a helmet increases your risks of being seriously injured significantly.

You will also want to make sure you’re wearing the proper clothing when riding your motorcycle, regardless of when you’re riding. Proper gear includes things like pants that fully cover you legs and are leather, a jacket that is completely protective of your arms and gloves for your hands. All of these garments will protect your body in the event that you do get into an accident and have the possibility of becoming injured. Of course, they can not protect you against all injuries, but they can protect you from severely damaging your skin, which is at great risk in a motorcycle accident.

While the simple act of commuting to work does not put you at additional risk there are a variety of things you should think about to make sure you are going to get to work safely. These elements to your ride may not be something that you would think about on a regular basis, but they most certainly can affect whether you’re ride into the office is safe or not.

1.) Are you drowsy? Drowsy driving is one of the most dangerous things you can do behind the wheel of a car and most certainly presents significant dangers if you are riding a motorcycle. Studies have suggested that driving while drowsy can be just as deadly as driving while intoxicated. It is important that you are well rested and not drowsy at all when you hop on your motorcycle and are heading off to work for the day.

2.) Have you eaten? A grumbling stomach may not be the first thing you think about when considering whether you are riding your motorcycle safely, but this is the type of distraction that could lead you to having your mind wander and not be focused on the road in front of you. If you have not eaten a hearty breakfast before getting on the road to get into the office, you will want to consider eating before heading out so you can make sure you are completely focused.

3.) What is your mental state? Another thing that can cause you to become distracted when you’re driving into work is your stress level. Stress at any time can cause you to not be fully focused on your task at hand, which is getting into work safely and without incident. If you are feeling stress or your mind is wandering about all the work you have piled up you may not be in the best state of mind to get on your motorcycle and ride. You should consider whether you want to ride into work that day or not and maybe take a few beats before hitting the road.

Riding your motorcycle into work each day can be fun and exhilarating, but if you’re not taking care of yourself it can also be dangerous. There are many reasons why you may get into a New Haven motorcycle accident, but the reasons don’t have to include you not taking care of yourself so that you are distracted and riding recklessly. Don’t be the reason that an accident happens, do everything you can do to make sure you avoid an accident.

If you do get injured in an accident you may need to speak with someone. Contact our office and one of our attorneys who has extensive experience in helping those who are injured in accidents will speak with you and may work with you on protecting your long-term interests.