While motorcycles can be a lot of fun to ride, there’s no ignoring that they can also be dangerous. The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that in 2015, motorcyclists were 29 times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision than a passenger car per mile traveled, and nearly 5 times more likely to be critically injured. Taking safety precautions whenever possible is crucial to reducing the risk of a serious injury or fatality in the event of an accident.

Here’s how you can stay safer when engaging in the activity you enjoy.

Wear a Helmet

In Massachusetts, the helmet law requires all person(s) riding a bicycle or motorcycle to wear a DOT approved helmet. However, in New Hampshire, a helmet is only a requirement for individuals under the age of 18.

Regardless of the law, a helmet can save your life in the event of a motorcycle accident. In fact, the same NHTSA report suggested that as many as 1,772 lives were saved by a helmet in 2015. Statistics show that a helmet is 37% effective at preventing a fatality to a motorcycle driver and 41% effective at preventing a fatality to a motorcycle passenger. Always ride your motorcycle with a helmet to reduce the risk of death or serious injury if you should get into an accident.

Dress for the Slide, Not the Ride

Because most motorcycle riding occurs when the weather is nice, it can be tempting to dress for the ride in light clothing such as t-shirts and shorts. However, should you get in an accident, your skin being exposed can cause you to incur severe friction burns and soft tissue injuries that are not only extremely painful but may cause you to become disabled or even threaten your life.

A recent study conducted by a Turkish hospital noted that while protective clothing like jackets, pants, and shoes did not reduce the incident of broken bones or systemic injuries, it did reduce the incident of soft tissue injuries, including but not limited to friction burns.

Always “dress for the slide, not the ride” and protect your arms, legs, and body from soft tissue injuries that can occur in even minor motorcycle accidents.

Injured in a Motorcycle Crash? We Can Help

At Mazow | McCullough, PC, we understand how challenging it can be to be the victim or the caregiver of a victim who was injured in a motorcycle crash. If you or a loved one were hurt in a collision, you may be eligible for financial compensation for the damages that you incurred as a result of the accident. Contact us today for a consultation by calling 855-693-9084 or 978-744-8000.