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Riding a motorcycle is a thrilling experience. While this mode of transportation is not for everyone, those who choose to ride must ensure that their top priority will always be their safety. By wearing proper riding gear before heading out on the road, motorcyclists can drive more smoothly and protect their health in the event of a crash. Here are four important pieces of riding gear that every motorcyclist should have: Certified helmet A motorcycle helmet helps shield the rider’s face and eyesight from direct exposure to the elements while also protecting their head from accidental falls or crash injuries. To select a high p erforming helme t, riders should wear certified helmets from the Department of Transportation (DOT), Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) or Snell. These quality products ensure that they have undergone and passed strict testing protocols. Abrasion-resistant jacket This type of riding jacket functions to withstand friction while also protecting the rider’s body against direct skin exposure from other vehicles and the road. This extra layer of clothing are made of durable materials that can help minimize the severity of their crash injuries. Reflective vest While motorcycles share the same classification as cars, buses and trucks, they are not as large. When a rider wears a reflective vest over their jacket, they can increase their visibility for the other drivers on the road, especially during poor weather and low-light conditions. Riding gloves While riders may have specific preferences over their gloves’ lengths, this vital riding gear helps provide their hands with improved grip and stable control of their motorcycle’s handlebars. Additionally, the padding around the glove’s knuckles and palms can help reduce the risk of serious fractures during an accidental fall or a crash. Safety gear can help reduce the risk of accidents When a rider wears appropriate riding gear, they can drive with better focus, shield themselves from the elements and help reduce their chances of getting severely injured from an accident on the road.

Being involved in a car crash can drain anyone physically and emotionally, especially when trying to understand how fault may affect a claim. In Rhode Island, fault often influences responsibility for damages and compensation. Knowing what types of evidence may support a claim can help provide clarity during a stressful time. Why proving fault matters in Rhode Island Rhode Island generally follows a pure comparative negligence system . his means fault can be shared among drivers, and compensation typically adjusts according to each person’s estimated responsibility. For example, if the claimant is about 20%responsible, any compensation they receive may decrease by that amount. Insurance companies and courts usually rely on evidence to determine who caused or contributed to the accident. Key types of evidence insurers and courts may consider Certain evidence may influence a fault determination. These include: Police reports: An officer’s factual observations and opinion of fault are typically admissible and may influence the court’s decisions on fault. Photos and videos: Images of vehicle damage, road conditions, skid marks, dashcam footage and injuries can clarify how the accident occurred. Witness statements: Eyewitness accounts can provide details drivers may miss and offer perspectives if stories conflict. Driver information: Exchanging and documenting insurance and license details can prevent misunderstandings or false claims. Medical and damage records: Records of injuries and property damage may help show the severity of harm and link it to the crash.  Getting evidence early helps strengthen your account of what happened and supports your claim. If you feel unsure about what to collect or how to use it, a lawyer can guide you through the process and they can make sure nothing important gets overlooked Additional factors that may determine fault Evidence of careless or negligent driving behavior often can help establish whose actions directly contributed to the accident. For instance, proof of the following behaviors may show that a driver failed to operate their vehicle safely: distracted driving, speeding, failing to obey traffic signals or driving under the influence. Data from vehicle black boxes, phone logs or breathalyzer results may also provide insights into what happened before the incident Understanding The Potential Importance of Evidence Knowing how evidence influences car crash claims may give victims more clarity and confidence. Getting the proper legal advice, approaching the process thoughtfully and gathering relevant information generally supports a stronger case for a fair car crash compensation .

Driving is dangerous in part because people never know what others might do in traffic. Another driver might swerve over the center line to avoid a squirrel or fail to stop at an intersection due to digital distraction. Emotional reactions to traffic conditions can also lead to unpredictable and unsafe situations. Road rage occurs when a driver loses their cool. They may become enraged at someone driving under the speed limit or seek to lash out at someone who cuts them off in traffic. Road rage drivers are highly volatile and are often a threat to everyone near them, not just the person they target. How can motorists protect themselves when someone else succumbs to road rage? Give Agitated Drivers More Space Road rage drivers frequently overreact to perceived slights by others in traffic. They might cut another driver off and then slam on their brakes. They might intentionally cross the line into another lane to intimidate another motorist. They may even scream at people and follow them to their destination to escalate a verbal confrontation into a physical one. Motorists generally want to give road rage drivers as much space as possible. The party targeted by the road rage driver may want to exit the highway or turn off onto another street if possible. Anyone nearby may also want to slow down, switch lanes or reroute. Avoid Engaging With The Motorist A person having an irrationally angry reaction to traffic might view even benign conduct as inflammatory. Regardless of what they scream or what gestures they make, others in traffic generally benefit from ignoring them. Choosing not to respond by making angry gestures or yelling back can prevent the situation from escalating. Unfortunately, even when people are calm and reasonable in traffic, road rage drivers may target them. Other times, they can cause collisions through their erratic and unpredictable conduct. Those injured by a road rage car crash may have grounds to hold the at-fault driver accountable. Documenting what occurred prior to a car crash and advising law enforcement professionals about what happened can help protect those affected by road rage. Those seeking to hold road rage drivers accountable may need help reviewing insurance coverage, initiating claims or preparing for civil litigation.

People make poor decisions about driving all the time. Some people even choose to drive drunk, despite the legal risk and potential for injury. The knowledge that drunk driving is illegal and unsafe is nearly universal. However, many people think they can drive drunk without getting caught or that their skill while driving drunk allows them to avoid police detection. Others may not even realize that they are over the legal limit and cannot drive safely. Whatever the reason for a drunk driver getting behind the wheel, they put everyone else at risk. Some people are drunk early in the morning or in the early afternoon. Drivers can encounter a drunk motorist at any time. There are certain times when the chances of a drunk driving crash occurring are higher than usual. Motorists who limit their driving when the drunk driving risk is highest can help protect themselves and their loved ones from potentially devastating wrecks. When are people most likely to encounter drunk drivers on public roads? Around Major Holidays When looking at statistics about fatal drunk driving crashes, there tend to be significant increases around major holidays . Summer holidays, including Labor Day, Memorial Day and Independence Day, often involve barbecues and alcohol. They are there for some of the most dangerous days to be on the road. Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day are also days with unusually high levels of drunk driving fatalities. Minimizing time spent on the road on potentially dangerous federal holidays could help people reduce their risk of encountering intoxicated motorists. In The Evening as Venues Close Drunk driving collisions tend to be more common in the late evening and early morning hours. Many people stay out drinking until they absolutely need to go home, possibly because an establishment closes for the evening. Others wait until the sun sets because they assume they can drive home undetected while encountering fewer vehicles on the road. Friday and Saturday evenings are among the most dangerous times for motorists when looking at the likelihood of a drunk driving collision. If someone under the influence causes a crash, they may be liable for the harm they cause others. Pursuing a car crash compensation claim can help people affected by drunk drivers hold such drivers accountable.

Car accidents often leave victims with injuries, medical bills and uncertainty about who is at fault. When more than one driver shares responsibility for a crash, Rhode Island’s comparative negligence law decides how much each party can recover. Knowing how these rules work helps you understand your rights after an accident and avoid surprises during a claim. What Comparative Negligence Means Rhode Island uses a pure comparative negligence system, which means you may still collect a portion of your damages even if you share some blame for the crash. However, your percentage of fault reduces your compensation. Therefore, if you’re 30% at fault, you can still collect 70% of your total damages. For example, if your total damage is $120,000, you still receive $84,000. How Fault Is Determined Determining fault is not always straightforward. Insurance companies, investigators and sometimes courts review several factors such as police reports, traffic laws, witness statements and physical evidence from the crash scene. When you understand comparative negligence, you know what to expect from a settlement or trial. Even a small percentage of fault lowers your recovery amount. On the other hand, Rhode Island’s system lets victims claim compensation even if they bear most of the blame—something not all states permit. This rule can play a key role in complex cases involving multiple vehicles or unclear evidence. Getting Guidance After A Crash Car accident claims can quickly become complicated when people dispute fault. You need to gather, analyze and present evidence clearly to protect your rights. While you can handle a claim on your own, you may benefit from consulting an experienced car accident attorney. A lawyer explains how comparative negligence applies to your case, negotiates with insurers and helps you pursue fair compensation . Having legal guidance is not required but it can give you peace of mind during a stressful time.

Discussions about major car crashes often focus on how drivers can reduce risks. A large percentage of collisions occur because motorists make bad decisions in traffic ordo not invest adequately in the maintenance of their vehicles. However, outside parties can also influence the likelihood of a wreck occurring. When a collision involves a semi-truck or another vehicle, the transportation business that hired the driver may have a degree of fault in addition to the drivers who may have contributed to the situation. There are actually multiple ways that commercial transportation companies can reduce the likelihood of major crashes occurring. If transportation companies don’t take all three of the steps outlined below, then they may have a degree of responsibility for a recent wreck. Properly Vetting Employees Operator error is a leading cause of semi-truck collisions, just as it is a top cause of other types of crashes. Transportation companies can reduce the likelihood of their drivers causing preventable collisions by maintaining very strict standards regarding who they hire. Ensuring that they only work with drivers who have clean records and adequate professional experience can drastically reduce the likelihood of collisions occurring. Properly Maintaining Trucks A minor issue with a commercial vehicle could have catastrophic consequences in traffic. Transportation companies should make reasonable efforts to keep their fleet vehicles in the best condition possible. In fact, they may want to increase their investment in safety infrastructure, such as underride guards. According to commercial collision statistics, roughly 10% of the crashes that commercial vehicles cause occur due to issues with the commercial vehic le. Setting Reasonable Work Stan dards Transportation companies often put an unsustainable level of pressure on their drivers. They offer bonuses or better routes to drivers who always get their loads in on time. They make these demands without accounting for traffic backups or bad weather. They may also demand that workers respond to dispatch updates using digital devices, which can lead to distraction and preventable collisions. They schedule their workers for long shifts, increasing their likelihood of falling asleep at the wheel. When transportation companies don’t follow common-sense rules that could significantly reduce the likelihood of a crash, they may be responsible if a serious wreck occurs. If there is evidence to support the assertion that the trucking company was negligent, a lawsuit against the company might be possible, in addition to a commercial insurance claim. Understanding the ways that trucking companies may contribute to semi-truck crash risk could help people as they seek compensation after a wreck.

For people with motorcycles, the summertime is synonymous with riding. They eagerly await the first day in spring when they can get their motorcycles out of storage. They may spend their evenings or weekends out touring on local roads. Motorcycles are a reliable and cost-effective form of transportation that are also truly enjoyable to operate. However, they don’t provide much physical protection for riders in the event of a crash. Despite social stereotypes implying the opposite, many motorcycle riders are very fastidious about following the law and trying to ensure their safety on the road. Unfortunately, the people operating larger vehicles may not be quite as safety-oriented. They may cause motorcycle collisions and could then try to deny that they are responsible for the incident. In many cases, they claim that they didn’t see the massive, loud vehicle or its operator before the collision. Why do so many drivers insist that they didn’t notice a motorcycle before hitting it? Driving Is Hard On The Brain The human brain manages all physical processes, many of which are subconscious. It also processes sensory information to help keep people safe. The brain’s analysis of incoming visual information is one of the most demanding functions it performs. The brain has to prioritize information that it believes could affect the safety of the person. People tend to notice large and threatening objects in traffic. However, the brain may not recognize motorcycles as a source of risk. Psychologists refer to this as inattentional blindness . Unless people intentionally look for motorcycles, they may never notice them in traffic even if they look directly at them across an intersection. The recent surge in distracted driving only worsens this phenomenon. People splitting their attention between mobile devices and the road are even more likely than others to overlook motorcycle riders and other smaller objects in traffic. Regardless of what excuse a driver gives, they are likely still responsible for the major collisions that they cause. Motorcycle riders may need help managing insurance claims and looking into whether they have grounds for personal injury lawsuits, and that’s okay. Holding drivers accountable for causing motorcycle crashes can provide injured motorcycle riders or grieving families with a sense of justice

As the school year winds down and summer begins, so will the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer”—a period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when traffic fatality rates, especially those involving teen drivers, experience a sharp rise. Statistics show that the summer months inspire a surge in traffic accidents, particularly those involving young, inexperienced drivers. With more teens out of school and on the road, there’s a significant increase in distracted driving, speeding, impaired driving and nighttime travel. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, more than 30 percent of fatal crashes involving teen drivers occur during this 100-day stretch. To add to the chaotic nature of this time, warmer weather means more road trips, more people on vacation and more vehicles on highways generally. Drivers may be traveling on unfamiliar roads or driving long hours without adequate rest. Additionally, construction zones are more common in summer, and pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are more likely to be out and about—further increasing the potential for serious collisions . What Can Be Done? When accidents do happen, the consequences can be life-altering. Victims of serious crashes may face long recovery periods, lost income, and overwhelming medical bills. In the most tragic cases, families are left grieving loved ones due to another driver’s carelessness. As such, the need to guard against these kinds of tragic scenarios cannot be overemphasized. As the 100 deadliest days of summer come near, do what you can to teach your teen to stay alert, drive responsibly and encourage others – especially other young drivers – to do the same. If tragedy strikes despite their best efforts, your family can turn to an experienced legal team for help.