Accidents, unfortunately, happen. The key is knowing what to do to avoid accidents, and knowing what situations are especially dangerous. So here are a few tips to help you avoid a motorcycle accident in the event of a flat tire. (Image Credit: David Mark/ Pixabay)
What to do first
When a flat tire occurs, common step-by-step practices include slowing down at a steady pace by easing off the throttle. Speeding up or coming to an immediate stop could lead to an accident.
You want to make sure you maintain a straight path so you don’t go into another lane and possibly cause an accident. Your bike is naturally going to wobble with a flat tire, but it’s important to try to maintain a straight path by focusing on what’s ahead and having both hands securely gripped on the handlebars.
Eventually, you do want to come to a complete stop as continuing to ride can lead to damage to the bike or, in a worst-case scenario, an accident.
Lastly, you want to get your bike and get yourself to a safe place that’s out of the way of traffic. Once your bike is at a complete stop, it’s best to push it to the side of the road away from other vehicles.
What to do afterward
Once you and your motorcycle are out of harm’s way, you can call someone you know or a towing service so you can get your bike picked up and repaired.
Motorcycle accidents aren’t necessarily more common than car and truck accidents, but they can lead to more severe injuries and more deaths because of the nature of motorcyclists not being strapped in, the rider being out in the open, and motorcycles weighing less than other types of vehicles.
While flat tires aren’t always avoidable, it’s important to do routine maintenance and have high-quality tires. Using quality Dunlop motorcycle tires, as compared to tires that haven’t been rotated or changed in a long time, can decrease your chances of a flat tire and also make your drive more smooth and enjoyable.
Every vehicle is different, so it’s best to review your owner’s manual, but a common practice is to rotate your tires every six months or 5,000 to 7,000 miles. That time frame and mileage can change based on the quality of your tires, how much you drive, and other factors. Different tires can have different average life expectancies, so check with the company that installs your tires or the manufacturer.
General advice
Every situation is different when it comes to a flat tire. In some cases, there might not be any other drivers on the road with other cases having bumper-to-bumper traffic. Therefore, some scenarios are easier to manage than others.
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. So it’s important to reach out to accident lawyers in Vancouver or wherever you live to get the compensation you deserve.
A flat tire is an inconvenience, but following the steps above can help decrease the chances of any further damage or an accident taking place. Even in the event of a flat tire in which no other cars are on the road, an accident with another vehicle might not be at stake, but further damaging your motorcycle could be.
Lastly, as a friendly reminder, we encourage motorcyclists to wear helmets as they can help prevent brain injuries and death.
