As a general rule, a motorcycle rider is more vulnerable to being seriously injured or killed in an accident compared to someone in a vehicle. This is largely because there are no airbags or other safety equipment to help a motorcyclist.
How Can Motorcycle Riders Reduce Their Risk of Getting Hurt?
The easiest way to avoid getting hurt in a motorcycle accident is to avoid getting into an accident at all. Riders should make themselves and their bikes visible to other drivers by using reflective tape on their jackets, helmets or to the bike itself.
Practice Defensive Riding
When you are in a vehicle, you will ideally practice what it is known as defensive driving. This means that you assume that other drivers will make mistakes and defend against them ahead of time. When you ride, you should assume that those in passenger vehicles can’t see you or will take other dangerous actions like turning left in front of your bike. This may get you into the habit of driving slowly and always looking for signs of danger while on the road.
Texas Riders Aren’t Required to Wear a Helmet
In the state of Texas, those who are over the age of 21, covered by an applicable health insurance plan and have completed a safety course don’t have to wear a helmet. Therefore, you may be entitled to compensation regardless of what you were wearing prior to an accident. However, it may be smart to have one on as 51 percent of motorcycle fatalities in Texas in 2011 involved riders who were not wearing a helmet. This was according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
