Motorcycle Accidents

Is Protective Clothing As Good As it Should Be?



Due diligence is a commonly used expression these days. People refer to it in reference to business deals and agreements, health and safety matters or public services. In fact anything that involves an element of risk could and should be mitigated by taking steps to head off potential trouble. We all know that accidents happen. We all realise that there are ways to lessen the chances of problems and that we should do all we can to show 'due diligence.'

In the case of motorcycle riders there are a number of clear and sensible steps that can be taken to try and keep out of harm's way. Perhaps one of the most obvious and effective methods that bike riders can adopt to try and prevent serious injury is by making sure that you are wearing appropriate protective clothing.

Prevention is always the best cure

There are two important aspects to protective clothing. The 'prevention is the best cure' approach by which high visibility helmets, jackets and riding gear works to ensue that other road users have a clear awareness of your presence. Fluorescent orange or yellow clothing that can be seen from the side and back as well as the front can dramatically improve the chances of being seen, often from great distances, and staying safe. It's important too that all lights are working properly and that your visor or goggles protect your eyes from wind, rain, insects and dirt on the road.

If you do find yourself in an accident then there are ways that wearing suitable protective clothing will limit or even on occasions prevent bad injuries. Motorcycle safety helmets are not only essential for minimising the possibility of suffering serious head injuries, they are also a legal requirement. But boots, jackets, gloves and gauntlets and other forms of motorcycle body armour or protective clothing in the form of reinforced jackets, elbow and knee shields, neck and back protectors as well as protective shorts and shirts worn underneath bike clothing are also available. Their sole purpose is to absorb impact and prevent injury. But they are expensive, and while top of the range protective gear may help to prevent a serious motorcycle injury, they are often out of the price range of many riders. And in the event of a serious accident, even the best protective clothing won't help you walk away unscathed.

Protective clothing offers no guarantees

Realistically, whilst advances are made all the time in design, protective qualities and toughness, there's only so much protection that clothing and motorcycle body armour can offer. Such is the nature of biking. The fact that you aren't encased in a protective shell like car drivers makes it simply impossible for protective clothing to offer complete protection.

There are no guarantees and biking remains an inherently risky pursuit with road conditions and other road users notoriously unforgiving. Putting it bluntly - there is always a risk of serious bike injury.

In the event of a serious injury the advice is simple. Talk to an expert lawyer. It takes a specialist injury lawyer to properly appreciate the challenges and fully grasp the complexities and implications of a bike injury claim. Whilst generalist lawyers will have an overview of serious bike injury, there are many aspects to a serious injury compensation claim in which they are unlikely to have the experience and expertise of a specialist.