What Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month Means for Hoosier Riders

We’re reaching the middle of May, and Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month continues to be observed by hundreds of thousands of riders throughout the United States.

For most, May is usually the first month of the year when weather begins to allow motorcyclists across the country to ready their bikes and begin taking to the road, especially in the states without year-round warm temperatures. We’re looking at you, Indiana.

And while that first warm-weather ride of the season is something Indiana’s motorcyclists look forward to, the month of May is also a national reminder of just what’s at stake every time a Hoosier rider pulls out of the driveway.

Having represented seriously injured motorcyclists and families of loved ones who lost their lives in bike accidents, attorney Matt Boulton views Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month with equal parts appreciation and trepidation.

“I’ve met with several injured riders and their families and witnessed the aftereffects of a motorcycle accident, so I’ll always ring the bell for efforts made to promote safety on behalf of our bikers, but I’m also realistic about the fact that many non-riders either don’t get the message or fail to keep it top-of-mind.” –Attorney Matt Boulton

National Motorcycle Awareness Month is particularly good timing for Indiana, given that May is one of our state’s busiest times of the year. In addition to schools letting out, Indiana’s outdoor concert scene revs up, and we experience an overall spike in public events, like when as many as 350,000 people make their way to Indianapolis for the Indy 500.

So, while Indiana’s crowded month of May is a great time to make a special effort in raising awareness and imploring Hoosiers to be looking out for motorcyclists, it also has the potential to be a highly dangerous combination.

Given these facts, Boulton Law Group continues to share some important safety information aimed at helping Indiana’s motorcyclists and drivers alike make smarter, safer decisions while using the roads throughout our state.

Never Forget the Extreme Vulnerability of Motorcyclists

Indiana’s motorcyclists face a level of vulnerability and exposure that drivers of automobiles rarely, if ever, are forced to think about.

Bikers are essentially bare when riding, minus any protective frames, airbags, safety belts, or any other significant barrier between them and the pavement, and that remains the reason Boulton Law Group continues to see Indiana motorcycle accidents make their way to our office.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcyclists are ~24 times more likely to die in an accident or collision than the occupants of a passenger vehicle, per mile traveled. Statistics like this serve as justification for heightened awareness and understanding of the dangers and vulnerability facing motorcyclists.

For Indiana’s motorcyclists, the spring and summer months have traditionally seen a spike in motorcycle accidents, with June, July, and August seeing a significant number of fatal collisions.

Indiana’s warm weather months will always equate to more motorcyclists on the roads, whether it be county roads or busier highways and interstates. It also means that drivers of cars and trucks who haven’t shared the road with motorcycles in months need to readjust their driving habits.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Indiana

With more than 30 years of experience investigating and handling serious personal injury cases throughout Indiana, attorney Matt Boulton has identified a number of familiar liability patterns when it comes to motorcycle accidents.

Distracted driving

Distracted driving can show up in several ways: texting, adjusting the radio or in-dash display, eating behind the wheel, and putting on makeup are some of the common offenders. Distracted driving remains one of the most dangerous behaviors on Indiana’s roads, especially when it affects a motorcyclist. A second or two attention drift from the driver of a car or truck means traumatic or fatal injuries for a biker.

Failing to see the motorcycle

The popular motorcycle phrase “Look twice, save a life” exists for good reason. The much smaller size of a motorcycle causes it to routinely fall into a driver’s blind spot. For this reason, driver’s should always do a double-check to ensure a biker is not in their blind spot.

Similarly, drivers should always take extra care to double-check intersections for motorcyclists, as it has become increasingly common for drivers to make a left turn directly into the path of an oncoming motorcyclist, not out of recklessness, but simply because they didn’t look carefully enough.

Speeding and aggressive driving

Reduced reaction time is a serious problem at higher speeds, especially when a much smaller vehicle like a motorcycle is involved. A driver who is speeding may not have the time needed to identify and respond to a motorcyclist before a collision occurs. Equally, it can be difficult for the motorcyclist to avoid a speeding driver due to limited options and their vulnerability.

Road hazards

Hoosiers are very familiar with the potholes and chuckholes that sometimes dominate Indiana roads, but there are also a number of other dangerous road hazards that are responsible for motorcycle accidents, including loose gravel, debris, and uneven pavement.

Motorcyclists must always stay alert for road surface conditions and changes, especially on Indiana’s rural roads, interstates, and highways during the early weeks of spring when winter damage hasn’t yet been repaired.

Impaired driving

Alcohol and drugs play a role in a significant portion of motorcycle accident fatalities nationwide, and Indiana is no exception to this fact. Whether the impaired party is the motorcyclist or another driver, the risk of serious injury or death increases dramatically when one or more individuals are under the influence.

Safety Tips for Indiana’s Motorcyclists

Motorcycle safety awareness isn’t exclusive to the behaviors and negligence of other drivers. Indiana’s motorcyclists must serve as their own first line of protection by appropriately protecting themselves when and where possible.

The month of May is a good time to refamiliarize yourself with the following safety tips that can help to avoid accidents as well as traumatic or fatal injuries.

Always wear a helmet

Indiana law currently requires riders under 18 to wear a helmet, but the data strongly suggests that riders of any age dramatically improve their odds of avoiding a head or traumatic brain injury by wearing a certified helmet. The NHTSA estimates that helmets save nearly 1,900 lives each year in the U.S., and by not wearing one, you’re making an already risky activity considerably more dangerous.

Invest in proper safety gear

A certified helmet is essential, but it’s only part of the picture. Gloves, boots, and abrasion-resistant riding jackets and pants provide meaningful protection in the event of an accident, a crash, or laying down a bike.

Always be visible

First, you should always wear bright or reflective gear when possible. Next, you can increase the safety odds by positioning yourself in the lane where you’re most visible to surrounding vehicles. Last, always avoid lingering in blind spots. If you’re not sure whether a driver can see you, assume they can’t.

Ride to your skill level

Overconfidence and overestimation of your riding skill level are real dangers on a motorcycle. If you’re newer to motorcycles or haven’t been on a bike in a while, it’s always a good idea to refresh your skills on a safety course. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) offers rider training throughout Indiana, and the courses are well worth the investment.

Never ride impaired

It’s obvious, but it continues to happen with devastating results, and attorney Bouton believes it can’t be said enough. Even a small amount of alcohol or marijuana can dramatically affect balance, reaction time, and the split-second decision-making that riding demands.

Increase your following distance

Motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars, but giving yourself extra space creates a buffer that can make the difference in a close call. This is especially true in the type of stop-and-go traffic on Indiana’s highways and interstates, where rear-end accidents are a common occurrence.

What Can Indiana’s Drivers Do to Protect Motorcyclists?

In the end, Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is here to remind us that Hoosiers who drive a car, truck, van, or other passenger vehicle carry an enormous responsibility when it comes to keeping our state’s motorcyclists safe.

Attorney Boulton reminds drivers to always keep the following in mind while on our state’s roadways, especially in the warmer months:

• Always check your mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes. Motorcycles are especially small in size when on our roads.
• Look twice at intersections before proceeding or attempting to turn left.
• Give motorcycles the same full lane to which they’re entitled. Motorcyclists are not required to share a lane, so they have the same right to the full width of a traffic lane as any other vehicle.
• Give motorcyclists space and never tailgate or brake-check a biker.
• And once again, please never drive distracted.

In short, treat Indiana’s motorcyclists the way you’d want a driver to treat you if the situations were reversed.

Questions? Contact an Indiana Motorcycle Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Indiana, the steps you take in the days and weeks after the crash can have a significant impact on the outcome of your potential case and rights to compensation.

Matt Boulton is an award-winning attorney who has spent more than 30 years representing seriously injured Hoosiers due to another party’s negligence. His track record of success and commitment to handling every stage of a client’s case has led him to be sought after by victims and families throughout the entire state.

At Boulton Law Group, every case receives the direct, personal attention of attorney Boulton from start to finish. He handles all communications with the insurance company, works to uncover every available source of liability coverage, and pursues maximum compensation on behalf of his clients, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

If you have questions about a motorcycle accident or your legal rights, you can contact attorney Boulton directly for a 100% free case review. Simply call the firm at 317-350-2680 or write to us by using our confidential, free contact form.

Boulton Law Group’s Zero Fee Guarantee means no fees or charges of any kind are ever collected until your motorcycle accident case is settled or won.