The first thing you think about when you hop on your motorcycle for a ride may not be the clothes you’re wearing, but maybe it should be. If you get into a Connecticut motorcycle accident what you’re wearing may very well impact your safety. That is why it is so important to consider your outfit before you hit the road.
When you’re riding your motorcycle, especially on the highway and at high speeds you are getting the benefits of the exhilaration of an incredible ride, but you may also be putting your safety at risk. If you follow the rules of the road and all safety measures that are expected of you as a rider you are positioning yourself for a safer ride. Add in wearing the right gear and in the event of an accident you may be able to limit any injuries you might endure.
So what is appropriate gear for riding a motorcycle?
1.) Helmet. While there is no official helmet law in Connecticut for riding a motorcycle, study after study have shown that wearing a helmet while riding your motorcycle is one of the best things you can do to keep yourself safe. In the event that you are thrown from your bike and traveling at a high speed your helmet might be the difference between suffering mild injuries and trauma that may haunt you for the rest of your life.
2.) Riding gloves. It may be challenging to ride with gloves on, especially in the summer heat, but these gloves will help protect your hands and wrists from any lasting harm if you were to get involved in an accident. Wearing gloves will help with your grip on your handlebars and they will also act as a layer of protection if you are involved in a crash and are thrown or fall from your bike. If you are not wearing gloves you may find yourself with dramatic injuries to your hands and wrists that could create long-term challenges for you.
3.) Leather jacket and leather pants. You might think someone who rides a motorcycle and wears all leather looks cool and that may be the case, but did you know the leather also serves a purpose? Leather clothing acts as a second, stronger layer before an accident gets to the layer of human skin underneath the clothing. This thick layer of tough skin will prevent serious skin burning or scarring in the event of an accident. If you’re hitting the road and think you’re going to look cooler because you’re wearing leather, that may be true, but it is also keeping you safe.
Riding your motorcycle any time of the year can be incredibly fun, but it can also present dangers that you will not experience when driving a four-wheeled vehicle. If you wear the appropriate gear while riding, even if you get into a Connecticut motorcycle accident you will be doing everything you can to keep yourself safe and limit the injuries that result from the accident. Clothing will not reduce your likelihood of getting into an accident, but it may decrease your likelihood of severe injury.
If you wind up getting injured from an accident our experienced attorneys have worked on many situations involving motorcycle accidents. Contact our office and one of our attorneys will speak with you to learn about your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.
