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Motorcycle safety gear is recommended for any rider or passenger on a motorcycle. Motorcycle safety gear cannot only make you more visible to the drivers around you but also can reduce your chances of serious injuries in the event of an accident.
When another motorist on the road causes an accident and breaches their duty of care owed to other drivers, the protective gear worn by a motorcyclist may save them from serious injuries or even death.
In this blog post, we’ll highlight some of the most important and recommended types of safety gear equipment for motorcyclists.
Even when wearing a full suit of protective motorcycle gear, a motorcyclist may still sustain devastating injuries that cause them to file a personal injury lawsuit. Hiring the Pensacola motorcycle accident attorneys at Stevenson Klotz Injury Lawyers can put you on the path to recovery while protecting your right to damage compensation.
The Need for Motorcycle Safety Gear
Motorcyclists are exposed to severe risks in the event of an accident. Unlike passengers or drivers in traditional vehicles, they do not have the benefit of seat belts, airbags, or the exterior of the car to suffer a part of the blow. The exposure of a motorcyclist to the environment makes that person more likely to be critically hurt in a wreck, especially if the rider is thrown from their bike.
Research from the CDC shows that 22% of motorcycle accident victims suffer injuries to their neck and head, and 30% suffer injuries to their legs and feet. The most commonly reported motorcycle accident injuries include broken bones, whiplash, road rash, and brain injuries. These often lead to significant medical treatments and costly paths to recovery.
Three Kinds of Gear Motorcyclists Need
There are three different categories of motorcycle safety gear based on the part of the body that they protect.
Motorcycle boots and gloves
Boots and gloves will protect the feet and hands from cuts and crush wounds. Many riders instinctively throw out their hands or feet in an attempt to stop their bike in the event of a crash.
Highly-rated riding boots can prevent your ankles and feet from being twisted in the event of an accident or being cut by the motorcycle or any object you strike. Choosing the right motorcycle boots is important. Look for something with armor over the toes and a flex-resistant build.
Armored riding gloves help absorb some of the impact when a motorcyclist falls off their vehicle. Some versions can even provide additional wrist support.
Gloves help you keep a firm grip on your handlebars, making it easier to control the bike even in the event of a crash.
Motorcycle jackets and pants
Motorcycle jackets and pants protect the legs, arms, and trunk of the body from common injuries like fractures. The helmet protects the head from lacerations or other impact injuries. Pants and jackets made of materials like Gore-Tex or leather can protect you from road rash, which refers to burns and lacerations that can occur when someone is thrown onto the asphalt or concrete.
Motorcycle jackets with armor plating provide the highest level of protection to a motorcycle rider. Research has shown that wearing a full protective suit every time you’re on a bike can reduce your chances of serious physical pain and long hospital stays.
Motorcycle helmets
Your helmet offers you the most protection around your face and head. Eye protection on a helmet is typically a visor that can be rotated up if necessary. Protection covers your entire head and even the top of the neck but should also provide for listening ability and ventilation.
Buying protective gear is equal parts safety and comfort. Choose items that protect you in multiple ways, such as those that make you more visible to other drivers while also reducing laceration risk in an accident.
Even With Proper Motorcycle Safety Gear, Accidents Happen
While wearing full, new, and highly-rated protective gear, the unpredictable can still happen. Riders may suffer critical injuries that alter the course of their life. All too often, motorcycle riders are struck by drivers who are not paying attention, who are driving recklessly, or who are otherwise failing to provide motorcyclists the duty of care owed to others on the road.
If you were involved in a motorcycle crash caused by another person’s actions, you may be eligible to recover compensation like lost wages, medical bills, and damages to your bike.
If you’ve already filed your insurance claim and have been unsuccessful in negotiating a fair settlement offer, involving a lawyer can help you to protect your full right to compensation.
Does Wearing Motorcycle Safety Gear Increase My Chances of Insurance Success?
You cannot ensure that every other driver will approach safety on the road as carefully as you do. Keeping the right amount of insurance on your bike is just as important for protecting yourself in the event of an accident.
Cheap protective gear could cause you to suffer more devastating injuries. Protective gear that guards all three of the major body areas likely to get hurt in an accident can make it easier for you to file your insurance claim, especially if you can show that you have done everything possible to protect yourself prior to the accident.
Help Getting Compensation as a Motorcycle Accident Victim
Hiring a lawyer after a motorcycle accident is key for anyone who is dealing with the stress of multiple injuries or high medical bills. In Florida, showing that someone else caused the accident enables you to hold them accountable in court.
The right lawyer can collect evidence to show which factors contributed to the wreck, which helps a motorcycle rider put their primary focus into medical treatments and their overall recovery. Let Stevenson Klotz Injury Lawyers be your advocate. Contact our motorcycle accident attorneys in Pensacola to start your case today.