Motorcyclists: Don’t Ride without Proper Gear

Nearly all riders know that wearing a helmet is the number one thing motorcyclists can do to save their own lives. Also, here in Georgia, it’s mandatory to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle.

But what other gear should riders wear to protect themselves from injuries due to motorcycle collisions? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that two areas of the body most commonly injured in motorcycle accidents are the riders’ legs and feet. The two combined make up 30 percent of the nonlethal injuries to bikers.

Given that, it’s obviously important to have good coverage on the feet and legs. Boots are a good option, but make sure that they are the lace-up variety. Slip-on boots can come off in an accident, leaving the feet vulnerable to injuries. The boots should come up over the tops of the ankles, as the skin is very thin in this area.

The idea of wearing a hot and heavy set of leather chaps on a hot summer day is not very inviting. Still, riders must be concerned with protecting their legs from road rash (or worse) in a collision.

Heavy denim is a favorite choice of riders, but when exposed to abrasion on a road surface, it splits in half of a second. That means that after you tumble off of your bike and skid down the highway, it will be your skin that’s shredding.

Fortunately, various companies make riding clothes that breathe better than leather and also offer abrasion protection.

Other common motorcycle wreck injury sites include:

• Chests

• Backs,

• Shoulders

• Hands

• Arms

• Pelvis

• Hips

It’s clear that the more protection between your skin and the road, the better you will fare after a motorcycle collision. If you are struck by a negligent motorist, you can file a claim for damages for your injuries and also for damage to your motorcycle and your riding gear.