Motorcycle maintenance plays an important role in preventing motorcycle accidents. With a motorcycle in good condition, the operator can ride defensively, avoiding danger and protecting their safety.
LA Century Law discusses the role of maintenance in preventing motorcycle accidents in San Bernardino.
Essential Motorcycle Maintenance Tasks for Safety
Visual inspection
A walkaround is a visual inspection that looks at the various parts of the motorcycle. Visually inspect your bike from all directions and angles. Look for unusual things, signs of wear and tear, leaks, deflated tires, and things that may need repair.
Battery check
Check your battery’s health. There are a variety of ways to test a motorcycle battery, depending on the type of battery that you have.
You can use a multimeter and test how easily the battery cranks the engine over. If your battery is weak, you may need to charge it or replace it. There should be a manufacturing date on the battery that can help you gauge its health.
Tires and wheels
Tire health affects a motorcycle’s safety and reliability. The tire’s manufacture date isn’t the only factor—tires are made for use after their sell-by date. You’re primarily checking for wear and tear. Check the wear bar to see if it’s flush with the tire surface, and look at the areas that have the most wear. Make sure that wheel bearings are not worn.
Mirrors, handlebar position
Make sure your bike’s mirrors are firmly attached and in place. Put your handlebars into position and adjust your brake pedal and shifter to the right fit.
Gear oil, coolant
Gear oil is a lubricant used in the transmission and gearbox, protecting the components of the transmission. Although they are similar, motorcycle gear oil is not the same as motor oil. Check your coolant too.
Drive chain, belt
Check for wear, deterioration, binding, or seized links, and clean your drive chain. You can use a tool to check your chain alignment and measure tension. Your owner’s manual will tell you what tension is normal. Check the belt for wear, cracks, cords out of place, or chipped teeth. You can use a tool to check tension.
Brakes
Check your bike’s brakes and brake fluid. Rotate your wheels to check rotors for warping. Look at brake pads for what is left on the brake pads and for even wear. See your service manual for specifications.
Filters
Replace fuel and air filters as needed.
Clutch, throttle
The clutch allows you to change gears and is important for managing power in your bike. Check your clutch and throttle, and make any necessary adjustments.
Tighten everything up
Make sure everything is fastened and tightened back down, especially anything you may have adjusted during maintenance. Put fresh fuel on your motorcycle to start a new season.
Routine and irregular maintenance
You should perform motorcycle maintenance inspections at regular intervals. You should also perform prompt maintenance if you notice anything unusual with your vehicle. Clean your bike regularly.
Recalls and service bulletins
If your bike is subject to a recall or service bulletin, make sure that you have it taken care of as soon as possible.
Common Maintenance Neglect Issues Leading to Accidents
- Brake failure
- Handlebars, and brakes not at the right height
- Tire failure or instability
- Structural failure
- Engine failure
- Loss of steering
- Loss of control from the clutch or gear system
- Electrical failure because of the battery, wear or corrosion
How To Develop a Regular Maintenance Schedule
How often you need motorcycle maintenance depends on how much and how you ride.
Generally, you’ll need oil changes at regular intervals and servicing every six months or every 4,000 miles, whichever comes first. Do a visual inspection of your bike each time before you ride. Check the various components of the bike at recommended intervals. Use an app to create reminders, use a paper calendar, or put a reminder note in a place that will help you remember to do regular motorcycle maintenance.
The Legal Implications of Poor Motorcycle Maintenance
Failing to perform routine maintenance or not taking action when something is wrong can have legal implications. If you’re in an accident, you may be at fault. If a component of your vehicle fails, and it is past due for maintenance, that could be considered negligence and may make you liable to pay compensation for the accident.
Alternatively, if someone else is at fault for the accident, poor motorcycle maintenance may be cited as comparative negligence. In other words, not taking care of your bike can make you liable to pay compensation to others or it may prevent you from getting the compensation that you deserve.
Accidents Caused by Maintenance Neglect
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 2% of motor vehicle accidents are the result of vehicle failure. That’s more than 44,000 crashes each year in the United States. Many of these collisions could be prevented with adequate maintenance.
How To Prove Maintenance Neglect in an Accident Claim
If vehicle maintenance may be an issue in a motorcycle accident claim, you must prove it. The party claiming that vehicle maintenance contributed to the accident must show what was neglected and how it contributed to the accident.
You may perform accident reconstruction. An expert can investigate the events, forces, and trajectories in the accident and what likely contributed to it. You may ask the court for permission to inspect vehicles involved that are not in your possession. In discovery, you can ask the opposing party to detail maintenance and services received for the vehicle. You may also subpoena service records from shops performing maintenance.
An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can help you investigate maintenance neglect as a cause or contributing factor in an accident claim.
Contact an Experienced San Bernardino Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
LA Century Law represents people injured in accidents. Whether you are a motorcyclist or injured in a passenger vehicle, we want to help you receive compensation. Our experienced San Bernardino motorcycle accident lawyers are leaders in litigating on behalf of injured accident victims.
Call or message us now.