Learning how to ride a motorcycle is one of the most exciting adventures you can take on. You spend hours practicing basic skills, hoping that with enough practice, you’ll learn enough to hit the streets and enjoy the freedom.
Unfortunately, during this learning phase, riders are bound to make several mistakes that may hurt them or others around them. The top motorcycle accident lawyers can help victims of these mistakes seek compensation from those who caused the accident.
The Mistakes that Newbie Riders Make
Here are the different ways that inexperience contributes to motorcycle accidents:
Inability to assess the risks of road conditions
New riders are often blindsided by the roads and need help to read what’s under the wheels. Unfortunately, motorcycle riders are much more exposed to the elements and road imperfections than car drivers.
Unlike a car with a comfortable buffer zone, motorcycles put you right in contact with the road. Slick surfaces such as rain, oil spills, and even morning dew can turn the road into a skating rink for motorcycles.
New riders are likely to need to pay more attention to how slippery these conditions can be, especially when entering corners.
Inability to respond to sudden events
Other drivers can make mistakes, stall their vehicles, or change lanes abruptly. You need to be prepared to react instantly to avoid getting caught off guard.
There might also be emergency situations that require split-second decisions to salvage the situation. Some such examples include a child darting into the road, an animal crossing the street, or debris falling off a truck. In situations like these, hesitation can mean the difference between avoiding an accident and getting hurt.
Riding while intoxicated
Imagine you’re out with friends, enjoying a few drinks. Later, you decide to hop on your motorcycle for a quick ride home. This seemingly harmless decision is incredibly dangerous.
Alcohol slows down your reaction time significantly. In those critical moments when you need to react quickly to avoid an accident, your reflexes will be sluggish, putting you and others at risk.
Failure to observe the surrounding
Every motorcycle has blind spots, areas you can’t see without turning your head or using your mirrors. If you rely solely on your forward vision, you’ll likely miss potential dangers lurking around you.
Situational awareness is key to this situation. Pay attention to what other drivers are doing, anticipate their movements, and leave yourself enough space to react to unexpected situations.
Also, make it a habit of constantly glancing at the big picture. Check your mirrors frequently, scan ahead for potential hazards, and be mindful of traffic coming from all directions.
Not checking both ways at a 4-way intersection
When you’re at a four-way intersection, never make the mistake of whizzing through without checking all the sides. You risk a deadly collision if you do this. Train your subconscious mind to imbibe this habit so you can always remember it, even if you’re in a hurry. Who knows, this habit just might save your life one day.
Unfortunately, not all drivers come to a complete stop at intersections. Someone might be speeding, rolling through a stop sign, or simply not paying attention.
Taking that extra second to glance both ways before entering an intersection can prevent a serious accident. Don’t rely solely on the actions of other drivers.
Assume that other drivers might not see you or might make mistakes. Always be prepared to react defensively, even when you have the right of way.
Wrapping Up
Most rookie mistakes can be avoided by staying off the main road until you’re quite confident in your skills. If you do not, you stand the risk of facing a lawsuit from those who have been victims of your rookie mistakes.
