Buying the Most Important Piece of Equipment for Motorcycling: Your Helmet

More Americans than ever before are turning to two wheels for transportation as an answer and solution to the rising gas prices across the country. But before throwing a leg over the “horse” of choice, all riders should consider carefully their choices and options when choosing the most important piece of safety equipment should an accident occur. Studies have shown that a rider who wears an appropriate helmet is less likely to be involved in an accident in the first place, but when he or she is, is less likely to incur neck or head injuries than a rider without a helmet. Protecting your head is a necessity, and nothing does it better than a carefully selected helmet.

The first thing that is essential (and the law) that your prospective helmet possess is its certification from the U. S. Department of Transportation. D.O.T. certification is proven by a sticker affixed to the rear of the helmet, and guarantees the helmet has been shown through rigorous testing to significantly reduce the energy felt by the skull on impact, protect against puncture, and maintain the ability to be securely fastened to the rider’s head. Other certification testing may also be done through the Snell foundation which subjects helmets to other safety standards as well as those imposed by the D.O.T. You must try on the helmet for retention (that it will stay on), size, and fit. A motorcycle helmet should fit snugly to protect best. Roll the helmet on, from front to back. It should not go on too easily. Once on your head, you should be able to feel the skin of your skull move when the helmet is moved. The interior padding should hold your chin, cheeks, and jaw firmly (if it is a full-face model) and always make sure you cannot remove the helmet when the chinstrap is fastened. Attempt to take it off with force, to ensure this. While some riders may assert that no helmet is comfortable, this is an untruth. With many styles and brands on the market, all riders should be able to find a helmet that fits, protects, is comfortable, and suits their aesthetics when it comes to styling and color. More coverage by a helmet is better, as a full-face helmet protects the chin, jaw, and teeth as well, but some riders enjoy the freedom that open-face and half helmets provide.

Wearing a proper helmet should be first on every rider’s checklist before mounting their bike and riding. Truthfully, any helmet is immediately better than no helmet at all, but in the event of an accident involving an automobile, the motorcyclist is definitely vulnerable and put at risk. Even the best helmet cannot prevent all injury when one occurs. Protecting yourself after the accident by hiring a personal injury lawyer that is well equipped to argue for your rights and ensure your due compensation is essential.

Lloyd Robles heads Robles & Associates, an Austin, Texas based firm, specializing in personal injury law. Please visit www.roblesassociates.com.

Sleepy Drivers Pull Over!

As the holidays approach, many American and Canadian families (as well as others globally) are preparing for trips to see far-away relatives and experience good eats and yuletide. For some, distances are greater than others, and often on holidays, a large amount of driving occurs late night, visiting friends and relatives throughout hometowns across the nation, and though fatigued and distracted, many drivers continue to pilot their trucks and automobiles through the night. The statistics involving drowsy drivers are staggering and should definitely be a warning to those sleepyheads who amazingly believe they are immune to late night accidents.

According to United States government records, at least 1500 people die in automobile crashes caused by drowsy or fatigued drivers each and every year. This number is likely conservative as it takes an eyewitness report testifying that the driver involved was nodding his or her head, but nonetheless, a high number indeed. These telling government records also show that at least 40,000 people are injured in crashes caused by sleepy drivers, but further research has shown that close to 100,000 accidents are caused by fatigue-ridden drivers each year. The categorical response from many drivers when asked if they are too tired to drive is strikingly similar to the ignorant response to a posed “too buzzed to drive” question, often eliciting an “I feel fine”. In fact, when surveyed, only 12% of respondents believed that sleeplessness affected their driving whatsoever. Denial, in this case can be hazardous, even deadly.

Because reports and numbers are spotty, at best, the number of fatigued drivers on the road at any given time is most probably much higher than recorded, and around the holidays, this number probably soars in the same way as buzzed driving does. Drowsy feelings for fatigued drivers are exacerbated in the evening by the hypnotic effect of headlights, ahead and behind, but drowsy driving, of course is not only limited to evening time. If a driver is feeling the least bit tired or drowsy from his or her holiday dinner, exciting holiday engagements, or just good, old-fashioned socializing, piloting an automobile should be furthest from the mind. A nap is in order, and driving should not be attempted until freshness of mind and body returns. Driving is a responsibility, and putting others in harms way, selfishly, should never be an option.

If caught in an accident situation due to another driver’s inattention or drowsiness, it is necessary to have your rights protected by a personal injury attorney that will represent you and your family to the best of their ability. Make sure to be fresh and attentive while driving, but always be protected after an accident by contacting an excellent attorney.

Lloyd Robles heads Robles & Associates, an Austin, Texas based firm, specializing in personal injury law.