The Last Rides of the Season: Why Deer and Early Sunsets Make Fall Dangerous for Montgomery County Motorcyclists
The thrill of the open road. A crisp breeze and beautiful foliage combine to make motorcycling in Fall a fun experience. With that said, there are hazards associated with Autumn that every motorcyclist must be aware of.
Accident rates among motorcyclists tend to increase in the Fall. Being able to prepare for this increased likelihood of accidents helps avoid injuries, property damage, and a significant loss of peace of mind.
Cold Mornings Make for Slick Roadway Surfaces
Many Montgomery County residents look forward to cooler Fall mornings — especially after the warm Summer months have taken their toll. When morning temperatures drop low enough, however, roadway surfaces begin to collect frost. Elevated roads and bridges, in particular, tend to accumulate frost or ice most readily. The result is slick roadways that cannot always be seen from a distance.
The frost or ice does not have to be thick, either. Even thin layers of ice can cause significant issues for motorcyclists. When a motorcycle is a person’s primary mode of transportation, it is not always feasible to wait for the roads to warm up before heading out for the day. If a worker needs to be on the job site before sunrise, that person is at greater risk of injury from a treacherous patch of ice on the road.
Accelerating or braking suddenly also increases the likelihood of injury in a motorcycle accident. Even if a motorcyclist exercises caution on the road, that doesn’t mean another motorist will not cause an accident due to their own lack of caution.
Fall Foliage: Roadways Covered with Leaves Presents a Safety Hazard
Slick roadways are not always caused solely by layers of ice or frost. Rather, the beautiful trees that line the streets, roads, and bridges of Montgomery County present their own unique roadway hazard.
When leaves fall from a tree, they often land directly on a roadway. Motorcycles depend on a strong connection between the tire and the road. A tire that does not maintain constant contact with the road tends to spin out, causing the motorcyclist to lose control of their vehicle.
On top of the more obvious safety issue presented by leaves on a roadway, a motorcycle rider must contend with the possibility that the leaves are hiding other roadway dangers. Potholes and other hazards may be masked or obscured by debris from fall foliage. All it takes is one small area of leafy coverage to cause a major accident.
When Wildlife Present Hazards for Motorcyclists
Montgomery County has its fair share of forests and other thickly wooded areas. To be sure, these areas are beautiful to ride through on a motorcycle. Before the leaves fall off the trees, the scene could not be any more enticing for area motorcyclists to venture into these wooded areas for a positive riding experience.
Every motorcyclist in this area must understand that deer abound in these tree-covered parts of Montgomery County. The activity of these deer is at a yearly high in the Fall as mating season approaches. Auto-deer accidents are notorious for being dangerous — both for the deer and the motorist. The property damage to vehicles after colliding with a deer is typically quite significant. This is even more true for motorcyclists who have nothing to protect themselves from an impact with wildlife.
Deer tend to venture out onto and near roadways at dusk and dawn. The morning sunlight can easily make it difficult for motorcyclists to see what is on the road ahead. Split-second reactions are required to avoid a deer that may not move quickly out of the way. Deer—as just about any motorist can attest—tend to “freeze” when startled.
Chilly Weather Causes Tired Motorcyclists
Unless Montgomery County motorcyclists plan ahead, the cooler Fall temperatures can create risks of their own. Moderate morning temperatures may give way to downright chilly afternoon temperatures. Cold riders generally cannot react as quickly to hazards or other unexpected roadway conditions. The more uncomfortable a rider becomes, the less likely he is to make good driving decisions.
Beware Limited Daylight in Fall
Anyone with a Farmer’s Almanac knows that the Fall months usher in shorter days and longer nights. Shorter days mean that Montgomery County motorists have fewer daylight hours to work with. As a result, it becomes more difficult to see small debris or even animals on the road.
It is not only motorcyclists who suffer due to reduced daylight in the Fall months. Car and truck drivers face the same lack of daylight hours. Couple this reality with the difficulties of seeing a smaller vehicle like a motorcycle, and the chances of experiencing a motorcycle-automobile crash in the fall increase.
Being able to anticipate when and where an accident may occur can help a motorcyclist avoid one. Motorcyclists should familiarize themselves with the roads they plan to use. This is especially true if those roads are prone to limited visibility at dusk or dawn. Even a simple ride can result in serious injuries and property damage if the rider has not planned their route well enough.
Plan Out a Motorcycle Accident Case
Once a motorcyclist has been injured due to another motorist’s negligence, they must consider their goals and how best to achieve them. In a personal injury case, the way to achieve goals is to establish a specific theory of the case based on the available evidence.
Creating a plan like this, with the help of an experienced attorney, provides a substantial advantage for a motorcyclist who suffered injuries related to Fall weather and the increased presence of wildlife on roads.
Contact Anthony C.Gagliano, III, Esquire, P.C.for a Free Case Review
For a free case review, contact Montgomery County motorcycle accident lawyer Anthony C. Gagliano, III, Esquire, P.C. Our team of experienced legal professionals will stand up for you.