Five Motorcycle Safety Tips Every Rider Should Follow

Although riding a motorcycle is a great way to get around town, it is also dangerous. In 2017, 5,172 motorcyclists lost their lives in fatal accidents across the country. An additional 89,000 motorcyclists suffered serious injuries. To avoid serious accidents, safety experts recommend a variety of motorcycle safety tips. While these tips will not prevent every accident from occurring, they can significantly reduce the risk of getting into a serious motorcycle crash. Here are the top five motorcycle safety tips that are recommended by our Dayton law firm.

1 – Always Wear a Helmet

First, it is important that you always wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle. In 2017, 39 percent of motorcyclists who lost their lives were not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Despite these statistics, Ohio still does not have a universal helmet law. Even so, motorcycle safety experts urge motorcyclists to wear a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) approved helmet always when riding. This is the best way to reduce the risk of suffering from life-threatening brain injuries.

2 – Wear Visible and Appropriate Gear When Riding

While motorcyclists should always wear a helmet, they should also wear reflective or bright clothing. Doing so will increase the chances that other drivers will see them on the road. In addition, motorcyclists should also wear protective clothing and gear to minimize the severity of injuries in case of an accident.

Some of the best motorcycle safety clothing for includes:

  • Leather jackets
  • Leather boots with nonskid soles
  • Kevlar riding suits
  • Goggles
  • Riding gloves

Leather clothing helps avoid road rash should you tip your motorcycle. Proper footwear helps avoid burns from the extremely hot exhaust, while also protecting your feet and ankles if you are thrown off. Gloves help maintain dexterity and proper circulation in your hands.

3 – Take a Motorcycle Riding Course

Although clothing is important, it is also important to improve your knowledge of motorcycle safety. Thus, you should consider taking one of the numerous motorcycle riding courses in your community. This will help you improve your riding skills further. These classes are especially great for newer motorcyclists. However, even seasoned veterans can benefit from taking a safety course with the help of a certified safety instructor.

4 – Never Drive Drunk

While not everyone is legally obligated to wear a helmet or take a motorcycle riding course, they are required to avoid driving under the influence. In Texas, it is illegal and dangerous to ride a motorcycle under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Unfortunately, alcohol is a factor in 43 percent of all fatal motorcycle crashes. To reduce the risk of suffering from a severe motorcycle crash, it is important to refrain from riding when you are intoxicated. Instead, call a rideshare service such as Uber or Lyft to get you home safely. Also, use caution when riding after taking medications. Even over-the-counter medications can lead to fatigue and result in deadly accidents.

5 – Perform Consistent Motorcycle Maintenance

Finally, it is important to perform consistent motorcycle maintenance. Before riding, be sure to check your motorcycle’s tires, brakes and lights carefully. Also, look for signs of oil or gas leaks, and clean and adjust every mirror. Furthermore, you should perform a safety check on your bike before every ride. Doing so, can help you avoid a serious and deadly motorcycle accident that could have been easily averted.

If you are ever unfortunate enough to suffer a motorcycle accident, you need experienced representation on your side. Motorcycle accidents are often physically, emotionally and financially devastating, and it’s not a process you should go through alone. Call the experience motorcycle accident attorneys, Cowan & Hilgeman Law, at (937) 222-2030 to schedule your free, no obligation consultation.

How Much Time do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Ohio?

motorcycle accident claim

From the moment you are injured in a motorcycle accident, the clock starts running on how long you have to file a claim. In Ohio, the Statute of Limitations for a motorcycle accident claim is generally 2 years. If you fail to file suit within that time frame, the defendant (the person you’re trying to sue) will almost certainly file a “motion to dismiss”, and the Court will reject your case on statutory grounds.

Even if you are horribly injured by a person who was clearly in the wrong; after two years, they can no longer be held responsible through a motorcycle accident claim.

With a few exceptions:

  • In cases where the victim was under 18 years old or ‘of unsound mind’, the time limit in which they can file a motorcycle accident claim is lifted. The two year time limit starts again, however, once the injured party reaches 18 years old, or is deemed to be sane and responsible.
  • If the defendant “departs from the state” or absconds, or conceals” him or herself within the state of Ohio, the time limit in which to file a motorcycle accident claim does not start again until the person can be located. In other words, if the defendant skips town for a couple of years to avoid taking responsibility for their actions, you have 2 years from the date of their return in which to file a lawsuit.
  • If your Ohio motorcycle accident claim stems from injuries caused by a defective product, a special filing timeline may apply to your case, especially if consumer fraud or a product warranty is involved.

Motorcycle accidents are usually very serious. Due to the lack of protection around a motorcycle rider, accidents can be life-changing. If the victim was lucky enough to survive someone else’s mistake on the road, the injuries, pain, loss of livelihood, potential surgeries and rehabilitation can have ripple-effects throughout their entire life.

After a motorcycle accident, it is extremely important to get an experienced, aggressive attorney fighting in your corner. Auto Insurance companies will try to persuade you to settle for a much lower amount than your case is worth – 100% of the time. Their responsibility is to share holders, not to make sure that you receive the medical care and support you need.

At Cowan & Hilgeman, we have successfully handled countless motorcycle accident claims, including cases that other law firms have rejected. To schedule your FREE consultation with our Dayton Personal Injury Attorney, call (937) 222-2030.

Motorcycle Safety Tips

With the warm weather comes Motorcycles; People brushing off the winter and taking to the open road, feeling the sun and the wind in their hair.

The less fun side of this that no one likes to discuss, however, is that an average of 4,200 motorcyclists die per year in the United States. At Cowan & Hilgeman Law, we believe you should ALWAYS put your safety first to avoid becoming part of this statistic.

The personal injury lawyers at Cowan & Hilgeman have recovered millions in compensation for our clients. Our lawyers create plans of attack for each case specific to the client’s needs and expectations. The lawyers at Cowan & Hilgeman handle claims involving personal injury, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, product liability and wrongful death. We routinely recover compensation on cases that other law firms reject.

Cowan & Hilgeman offers free personal injury case evaluations and only get paid an attorney fee if we win your personal injury case.

Call 937-222-2030 to get your free case evaluation.