To ride a motorcycle is to know the freedom of the road at its best: You’ve never felt more in the moment than you do with on a bike with the wind at your back. But riders everywhere run a significant risk of being involved in a serious motorcycle accident due to mistakes they make while driving.

Motorcycle rider error is present in well over 60 percent of all single vehicle collisions. What does the rider do wrong? Either he or she over-brakes, leading to a slide-out and fall, or he or she runs overly wide on a curve due to excess speed and/or under-cornering. Those single vehicle collisions make up approximately 75 percent of all accidents involving motorcycles; the other 25 percent generally happen when the motorcycle collides with the roadway or some other fixed object.

Most motorcycle accidents take place on short jaunts associated with shopping or errands or quick trips to the gym, presumably because the rider’s guard is down.

Unsurprisingly, beginning riders between the ages of 16 and 24 are overrepresented in motorcycle accident statistics, while more experienced riders between the ages of 30 and 50 are underrepresented. Female riders are among the highest percentage of intersection accidents involving other vehicles.

Thorough motorcycle training prevents accidents; 92 percent of riders involved in collisions are self-taught.

Finally, nearly 50 percent of all motorcycle fatalities show alcohol involvement.

You can significantly cut down your risk of involvement in a motorcycle mishap if you follow a few simple rules. In fact, cut these out and post them somewhere you’ll look at them while you’re putting your helmet on.

1. Assume you are completely invisible to everyone else on the road. Make sure they’re plenty of space between you and every other vehicle around you.


2. Your biggest potential hazard is motorists making unexpected left turns at intersections. Be prepared!


3. Try not to ride at night, particularly on Saturday night when drunken drivers may be on the road. Never, ever drink or take drugs when you’re on the road, and yes, that means prescription drugs too.


4. Be a Buddha of the open road. What’s that? If someone is following too closely, either speed up or pull aside to let them pass.


5. Never ride without your helmet and protective gear.

If you’re involved in an accident while riding your motorcycle and feel that it was caused as the result of another person, you need to consult with an experienced accident attorney as soon as possible to see what legal options are open to you.