Motorcycle Accident Information & Motorcycle Accident Lawyers In Kansas

Prices at the gas pump are continuing to rise and more and more Americans are trying to find ways to stay away from the gas station as much as possible. Many are turning to two-wheeled vehicles. As a result, there are more motorcycles and scooters on the road and more motorcycle and scooter accidents. Motorcycle accidents in Kansas that ended in fatalities nearly doubled between 2005 and 2006. In 2005 Kansas had 35 motorcycle accidents that ended in death, which made up about eight percent of the total fatal accidents. In 2006 that number jumped to 64 or almost fourteen percent.

It is nearly impossible to add many safety features to a two-wheeled vehicle. Roofs, air bags, and seat belts are, to say the least, impractical. Therefore, there is not much protection for a rider or passengers. Motorcycle riders are about sixteen times more likely to be killed in a crash than automobile drivers. One of the largest contributing factors in motorcycle accidents is lack of experience and training. More than half of all accidents involve a rider who has less than five months of experience. While driving on twisty roads, it is very easy for an inexperienced motorcyclist to enter a curve too fast and slide out or under-steer the curve. Either can cause injury and death. Accidents that involve only a single vehicle account for about one-fourth of the total accidents.

Around three-fourths of accidents that result in death involve another vehicle. Motorcycles can be very hard to see. They are much narrower than a passenger vehicle and can be hidden very easily by simple glare off a windshield. Most drivers of other vehicles that have been involved in a motorcycle related accident claim that they did not see the rider at all or with too little time to correct. The most dangerous place for motorcycles is at an intersection. Having headlights on at all times, day and night, is a law in Kansas, and does help make a biker more noticeable. However, even headlights and bright clothing do not guarantee that another driver is going to see you. Motorcycle drivers must constantly be on the lookout for other drivers.

In Kansas riders under eighteen must wear a safety helmet at all times. Those eighteen and over may choose whether they want to wear one or not. Riders and passengers must wear some form of eye protection, such as safety glasses and goggles, if the motorcycle does not have a windshield. To obtain a motorcycle license in Kansas, and individual must first have a valid driver’s license and then take a written test to get a permit. The rider then has to pass a skills test to gain the license endorsement. There are rider safety courses offered in Kansas, but completion of them will not waive the skills test.

While helmets are optional in Kansas, they are recommended. The worst injuries in motorcycle accidents happen to the chest, neck and head. It is estimated that 1,658 lives were saved by helmets in 2006. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also estimates that another 752 riders’ lives could have been saved with the use of helmets.

Kansas is a beautiful state in which to ride. Wide open spaces, lush farmlands and gently rolling hills can be very relaxing. Becoming too relaxed, though, can be a problem for the driver of any vehicle. A motorcycle rider needs to be aware of what is going on around the bike at all times. Kansas welcomes all licensed motorcycles riders but asks that you do your best not to become a statistic. Obey traffic laws, drive defensively and do not drink and drive.

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