KY Law Firm Offers Pointers To Keep Motorcyclists Safe

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Lights, tire pressure, fluid levels and brakes should be checked before you get rolling

Lexington, Kentucky (PRWEB) May 23, 2009

Thousands of Kentucky motorcyclists will soon be hitting the road for the summer riding season, bringing a corresponding rise in motorcycle accidents -- many of them fatal, cautions a Lexington lawyer.

"Please be careful out there," says attorney Frank Jenkins of the Frank Jenkins Law Office in Lexington, KY. "We are entering the height of motorcycle season, and that's when most cycling accidents and fatalities occur."

Most fatalities occur during the summer months of June through September, while the highest number of accidents takes place in July and August. In 2007, the latest year for which national statistics are available, 105 Kentucky motorcyclists were killed in motor vehicle accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Jenkins says there are steps that motorcyclists can take to make their rides safer. He notes that 63 percent of the Kentucky cyclists killed in 2007 were not wearing helmets.

"Motorcycle helmets save lives," Jenkins says. "The simplest way to protect yourself while riding is to wear a helmet that fits properly, especially a full-face model that protects your face and neck."

Another important pointer, according to Jenkins, is to avoid riding after drinking. One in every four motorcycle operators fatally injured in 2007 was legally impaired, according to NHTSA figures.

Other safety measures include:

• Wear clothing made of thick, tough material, such as the leather jackets popular among bikers.
• Give your bike a once-over before every trip. "Lights, tire pressure, fluid levels and brakes should be checked before you get rolling," Jenkins says.
• Keep up with regular maintenance by checking the owner's manual for the recommended service schedule, he says.
• Jenkins cautions against riding a motorcycle in other motorists' blind spots.
• When riding in a group, keep a safe distance between yourself and the bike in front of you, and pass other vehicles individually, Jenkins says.

About The Frank Jenkins Law Office

The Lexington, KY personal injury attorneys of the Frank Jenkins Law Office handle injury and accident cases, including motorcycle accidents, car accidents, wrongful death, workplace accidents, construction accidents and Social Security disability. For more information, contact the Frank Jenkins Law Office today at 800-227-9732 or through the firm's online form.

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