Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month Tips

motorcycle safety awareness month

For Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, our personal injury lawyers wanted to share a few safety tips for motorcyclists, and other vehicle drivers, to help reduce the number of fatalities and injuries. As such, we’ve provided these tips for motorcyclists and other vehicle drivers to look over. Hopefully, the information can help reduce your chances of being hurt in a motorcycle-related accident. 

Helmet Laws for Kansas and Missouri

We understand that not every rider likes to wear a helmet for their own personal reasons. However, our team does have firsthand knowledge of how a properly fitted DOT approved motorcycle helmet did reduce the severity of a head injury after a wreck- to include death and paralysis

While Kansas and Missouri, our team still encourages operators and riders to wear a DOT approved helmet to help stay safer on the road.

Here’s a closer look at each state’s requirement:

  • Kansas law requires that all persons less than 18 years of age wear a DOT-approved helmet while riding or operating a motorcycle or moped. 
  • Missouri law states that qualified operators 26 or older can operate a motorcycle or motortricycle without a helmet if they’re covered by a health insurance policy or other form of insurance that would provide them with medical benefits for injuries as a result of an accident.

Personal Safety Gear for Motorcyclists

motorcycle safety

When you buy motorcycle gear, how it is designed is more important than who designed it. The best and safety gear will provide the maximum amount of safety protection from weather, debris, noise, and a hard road surface.  

Your safety gear checklist should begin with a high quality helmet, as well as:

  • Eye protection
  • Gloves 
  • Boots
  • Pants
  • Jackets

Motorcycle Pre-ride Inspection 

In addition to wearing the proper gear, it’s important for riders to complete a pre-ride inspection before hitting the road. Motoress.com provides a very detailed list that includes checking: 

  • Tires and wheels
  • Oil 
  • Fluids
  • Controls
  • Levers
  • Lights
  • Wiring
  • Chassis
  • Stands 
  • Any damaged part

Safety Tips For Non-riders

Non-riders can also benefit from reminders during motorcycle safety awareness month. To start, it’s important to double check blindspots for any bike riders. Next, don’t drive distracted. Third, yield to motorcycles at intersections. Fourth, don’t follow too close behind motorcyclists. Lastly, always assume that a motorcycle is closer than they appear in your rear view or side mirrors.     

Contact The Motorcycle Accident Lawyers At Patterson Legal Group

At Patterson Legal Group, we have over 25 years of combined experience helping those injured in a motorcycle accident in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. 

Injured? Contact us for a free consultation today by phone at (888) 687-2400, filling out this online form, or by using our convenient LiveChat. Our team is on standby to help 24/7 and we don’t charge a fee unless you win. So, there is no reason to contact us when you need quality legal help. 

The information on this blog is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as legal advice for an individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship nor does viewing this material constitute an attorney-client relationship.