Motorcycle riders who are in collisions, like the one recently in Spokane Valley, often suffer more serious injuries than those in passenger vehicles. Folks riding in cars and trucks are protected by a metal shell that helps absorb the forces of a collision. This lack of protection makes motorcyclists particularly vulnerable to broken bones, injuries that may require surgery or even death. With this danger in mind, there are some important safety steps, beyond just wearing a helmet, that motorcyclists that can take to reduce their risk of getting seriously hurt in an accident.
Motorcyclists who do strength training fitness programs, including weight lifting, generally have stronger bones and more muscle mass than those who do little or no strenuous activities. Strong bones can withstand more impact force. Increasing muscle mass can help absorb the forces from a collision and may even protect your bones from breaking.
Female motorcyclists are actually at higher risk for bone breaks than their male counterparts. This might be due to men generally having more muscle mass. Additionally, older individuals sometimes struggle with low bone density, which helps explain why injury rates for women in older age groups are particularly high. Preparing your body through a fitness program can make difference in a motorcycle accident.
Another obvious step that you can take to minimize your risk of serious injury is to wear clothing that protects your soft tissues such as tendons, muscles, skin and ligaments. These soft tissues are particularly vulnerable and might not be easily fixed once damaged. Helmets, riding jackets, pants, boots and gloves can help reduce the force or abrasions absorbed by your body. They should be worn every time you ride since you never know when a collision might happen.
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a crash, you should immediately consult with the personal injury attorneys at Cooney Law Offices. Whether the collision happened here in Spokane or elsewhere in Washington State the attorneys at Cooney Law Offices can advise you about motorcycle and automobile insurance compensation or whether a lawsuit is necessary to fully compensate you for pain and suffering, future medical bills, etc. We can help!