When done properly, a motorcycle ride can be one of the most enjoyable ways to spend a glorious spring or summer day. Unfortunately, however, motorcycle riders do not have many of the protections afforded by those individuals inside a car. Consider, for example, that the vast majority of technology inside a vehicle has been upgraded in the past several decades in order to increase the chances of someone surviving a vehicle accident or walking away from it with minimal injuries.

Some of the most important safety features include antilock brake systems, airbags, seatbelts and other in-vehicle features such as the frame of the car that help to protect individuals in the event of an accident. However, even wearing a helmet and other safety gear for a motorcycle rider will not always decrease the chances that they will walk away from an accident injury-free.

Unfortunately, however, an injury could be significantly more likely due to the fact that many more cars are on the road and many more people are motorcycling. Although motorcyclists need to have advanced awareness of their surroundings, you cannot always count on every driver on the road seeing you and giving you that same space.

Motorcycle safety truly begins long before you get on the bike. Knowing how to handle the bike and react in emergency situations can be extremely helpful in the event of a potential accident. If a driver is under or overconfident, their risks of a serious accident may increase. It’s important that anyone operating a bike have the know-how and comfort to do so safely in order to protect themselves as well as anyone else on the road.

Motorcycle sales in Canada have more than tripled in the past several years and the average age of buyers is approximately 46 years old. Up to 70% of all newly licensed motorcyclists in Canada can increase their chances of a safe ride all the time by taking the Canada Safety Council Course referred to as Gearing Up.

Even with new safety courses and better technology, motorcycles unfortunately, still have a bad reputation for safety. If a motorcycle rider is thrown from his or her bike, the chances of catastrophic and life changing injuries are much higher. Traumatic brain injuries, whiplash, paralysis, spinal cord injuries and other severe medical conditions can result in the event that a motorcycle rider is struck by another driver. The speed of the vehicles and the size and weight of the vehicle hitting the motorcyclist can also have a significant impact on the motorcyclist’s ability to walk away from the accident or to live their life normally ever again. Some of the most important tips you can undertake as a motorcycle rider to decrease your chances of being involved in an accident are to:

Wear brightly colored clothing
Wear your helmet on every single ride
Signal lane changes appropriately
Always give enough space so that you never fall into a vehicle’s blind spot
Never speed
Never mix drugs or alcohol with driving
Ride in groups

All of these safety tips can help decrease your chances of being involved in a catastrophic motorcycle accident. If you or someone you know has already been injured in an accident due to another driver’s negligent behavior, you may be eligible to recover compensation by filing a personal injury claim.