May is Motorcycle Awareness Month: Find Out How to Avoid a Motorcycle Accident

The weather is starting to warm up and more motorcyclists are hitting the open road. This time of year tends to increase the number of motorcycles on the streets and consequently, it also brings an onslaught of motorcycle accidents.

According to current research, deaths and injuries caused by motorcycle crashes are on the rise. The dangers have become so great for motorcyclists that the situation has been referred to as “a grave public health problem.” Motorcycle fatalities have been going up over the last decade, while injuries have also increased.

Just within the last couple of weeks, the news reported motorcycle accidents in Burlington, Lunenburg and Durham.

This is the time of year that both motorcyclists and motorists have to be reminded to share the road safely. Some of the recommended safety tips include the following:
 

• Never operate a motorcycle or car while distracted. Distracted driving, whether on a bike or in a passenger car, is never a good idea and has been a cited factor in countless fatal accidents.
• Motorcyclists have the same rights and privileges as other vehicles on the road.
• A motorcycle needs the full length of the lane. Motorcyclists have to be able to maneuver safely, so lanes should not be shared.
• It is harder for a motorist to judge the distance and speed of a motorcycle, which is why it is crucial to provide a motorcyclist with plenty of space.
• Motorcycles can be hard to see. Therefore, motorcyclists need to avoid driving in a vehicle’s blind spot, but motorists also have to be on the look out for bikes.
• Allow more following distance when traveling behind a motorcycle. You need to make sure that a motorcyclist has enough time to avoid a road hazard and to stop when necessary.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Western New Hampshire or Eastern Vermont, including the counties of Essex, Caledonia, Orange, Windsor, Windham, Coos, Grafton, Sullivan, Cheshire, and Merrimack, we may be able to help you. Contact a New Hampshire motorcycle accident attorney at our office today at (877) 611-9622.