It’s Motorcycle Season Again: What You Need to Know?

Despite what the weather may look like outside, it is spring. And with spring, warm weather should by coming sometime in the near future. That means motorcycles will soon be sharing our roadways and motorcycle accidents will be on the rise.

Each year around this time, we offer some safety tips for motorcyclists getting ready to hit the streets. And for good reason – according to the New Jersey State Police, there were 508 fatal collisions in the state in 2013, resulting in 542 deaths, an increase over 2012. Although fatal motorcycle accidents are a decrease in New Jersey, nationwide numbers tell a different story – 32,850 fatalities occurred in 2013.

You can never be too careful when you climb on your bike for the first ride of the season. So, as we do every year, we would like to give you a few tips to keep in mind before you head out:

• Is it your first time out this year? Before getting on your bike, do a quick checklist over gear. You want to make sure everything survived the winter a-OK.
• New Jersey requires every rider to have a helmet on. Not only is it a law, but a helmet will protect you in case of an accident.
• Keep your speed within the speed limit and remember to use your signals. You may want to do hand gestures as well, in case the driver can’t see your turn signal.
• Wear the proper clothing like boots and gloves. Flip flops are not a good idea for riding.
• Take a training course. It’s never too late to learn something new.
• And like every driver on the road, don’t drink and don’t text and ride.

If you get into a motorcycle accident and need an attorney, you’ve come to the right place. Contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone now for a free consultation.