One of the most important forms of protection for motorcyclists may be their helmets. A helmet, despite often being no more than a few layers of plastic and padding, could prevent a rider from experiencing serious head trauma in an accident by absorbing shock from an impact, while also protecting them from bugs, flying debris and the elements. 

A helmet can be protective and versatile, but is it the only thing cyclists should wear? Shouldn’t you wear protective gear in other places? Here’s what you should know:

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After getting into an auto accident,  you have to be extremely cautious. You should call 911 and seek medical care even if you think you’re not injured. Why? There is a risk that you could have a delayed-onset injury.

Delayed-onset injuries are some of the worst, because they cause damage unbeknownst to the person who has them. There may be underlying injuries that have not yet come to the surface following an auto accident, and those injuries could put your life at risk.

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Those involved in motor vehicle accidents usually experience an incredible surge of adrenaline in the moments following the crash. Unfortunately, adrenaline and other hormones can prevent accident victims from realizing an injury occurred.

Even if you seem fine after your car accident, you should still consider having a medical evaluation. Doing so can help you address an overlooked injury, and it can strengthen your auto accident claim.

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When you’re involved in a crash, one of the first things you’ll do is seek medical attention. You need to make sure that you are receiving the care you need and starting on a pathway to recovery.

It’s common for car accidents to leave people with injuries, but depending on the situation, yours may be more severe than expected. In that case, you may not be sure if you want to start your claim right away, because you may not yet know how long it will take for you to recovery or the true cost of what you’ve just gone through.

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Commercial truck drivers are a unique breed of people in many ways. They have to spend hours on end behind the wheel. It can be a lonely existence. However, most drivers who share the road with them are thankful that they don’t have the distraction of a passenger sitting next to them. Or do they?

Can commercial truck drivers have passengers? Can they bring along a spouse or a child with whom they get to spend too little time? Can they pick up a hitchhiker or someone they meet along the way who needs a ride in the direction they’re going (ignoring the potential threat to their own personal safety)?

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Never rush to apologize or accept responsibility for an accident, even if you think you were at fault. Otherwise, you may hit a wall when you try to claim compensation for your losses.

Fault is a big part of all car accident claims. It determines the amount of settlement that one can claim for damages suffered. Under Missouri’s fault system, you can only get compensated to the degree you were not at fault for the accident. It means that if you are 80% to blame for the accident, you can only recover 20% of the damages awarded.

Here are other reasons why you should not admit fault following a car crash:

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Motorcycle riders in Missouri will all give you different reasons for why they ride. Some people have always enjoyed the rugged aesthetic associated with motorcycles. Others ride to honor someone they love, like a father or an uncle. A small subset of riders choose motorcycle transportation because it costs less to purchase, fuel and insure a motorcycle than a four-wheeled vehicle.

Regardless of why you ride a motorcycle, you are at major risk of injury in the event of a crash with a four-wheeled vehicle. Enclosed motor vehicles can cause catastrophic collisions for motorcyclists while suffering little more than cosmetic damage. A motorcycle will absorb some of the force of the crash, but it largely leaves you exposed to physical trauma during a collision.

Your risk for such a crash has actually gone up recently, which is reason to make safety your main focus when you head out for your next ride.

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You enjoy a stroll around the city on the weekends. Maybe you have even ditched the car and prefer to walk to work each day instead. In any case, it’s crucial to stay safe as a pedestrian. The sad reality is that pedestrians can suffer catastrophic injuries if they’re struck by a vehicle.

While there are no guarantees that you won’t be hit by a driver, there are some simple measures you can take to help protect yourself as a pedestrian. Let’s look at a couple.

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The last thing anyone wants is to be involved in a car crash. Unfortunately, there are many people on the roads right now who are tired, distracted and being negligent.

Drowsy driving is one of the issues that could lead to automobile crashes, so it’s important for you and anyone you know to be informed about the risks of driving when you’re tired. By avoiding this behavior yourself, you can help make the roads safer. By understanding the condition, you may be better able to identify it and know when another driver is acting unsafely because they are tired or have fallen asleep behind the wheel.

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If you are hit by another driver, it is your right to make a claim against them for the errors leading to your injuries. If you were injured on a highway, you may need to interact with the Missouri State Highway Patrol as a part of your case.

Any time you’re injured, the first step should be to call 911 and to see out the medical care you need. Along with the emergency medical service (EMS), the MSHP may come to the scene as well. The Missouri State Highway Patrol officer will take an official crash report that will be used during your case.

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