Motorcycle Safety
I have never ridden on a motorcycle, but I am frequently surprised to see how mainstream motorcycle riding has become. When I was growing up, there was a feeling that motorcycles were ridden only by young, unmarried men who had a strong rebellious streak in them. Today, motorcycles are enjoyed by people at all stages of life and frequently used as primary means of transportation.
Two recent clients who came to our office reminded me of the importance of staying safe when riding a motorcycle. One rider was lawfully riding his bike down a residential street when an inattentive motorist pulled out of a driveway right in front of him, causing him to have to lay his motorcycle down on its side and control it while it skidded and crashed into the offending car. The rider was a father of three in this thirties who had his young son, age nine, on the back of the bike. Fortunately, both father and son were wearing solid motorcycle helmets, and, while the father sustained some hand fractures, the young boy came through the event with only minor physical injuries and no serious head trauma even though he was thrown from the bike.
The second client was a long-time, factory worker coming home from nightshift work when a deer suddenly ran out into his path. The bike and the deer collided, and the driver was thrown from the bike. As it turned out, the man was wearing a helmet of inferior quality and protective properties, and he sustained a significant head injury which has disabled him from working since the time of the accident.
If you or your family rides a motorcycle, you should have training in emergency evasive maneuvers and know where to find the safest and most protective motorcycle gear. A couple of valuable websites are: The Motorcycle Safety Foundation and Motorcycle Consumer News
