The motorcycle crash lawyers at Elk & Elk want to remind you that February is a great time to register for a motorcycle safety course, as many training schools are beginning the enrollment process.

Whether you’re a new or experienced rider, the motorcycle accident attorneys at Elk & Elk agree that completing a motorcycle safety course may be one of the best decisions you ever make. Not only can a motorcycle safety program help you become a better rider, but it can also save you money on insurance premiums. Here are a few other benefits you’ll gain by enrolling in a motorcycle safety course:

1. Improved skills: More than 4,400 riders were killed in motorcycle crashes in 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A motorcycle safety course can teach you how to avoid hazardous situations and help you avoid becoming a victim.
2. Confidence: A motorcycle safety course can give you greater confidence so you can stay calm under pressure.
3. Insurance discounts: Although most providers have different policies regarding motorcycle safety course incentives, the majority offer some sort of discount for riders who successfully complete a course. Check with your provider to see what type of insurance discount they offer. Keep in mind that some insurance programs only accept certificates of completion from approved programs. You can obtain a list of approved motorcycle safety school from your local DMV.
4. Licensing test: Select states will waive the motorcycle skills test and/or the written test required to obtain your motorcycle license.
5. Cost: Many states offer inexpensive or free safety courses. Check with your local DMV.
6. Courses: Most motorcycle safety schools offer two types of courses – beginner and advanced/expert. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation, a non-profit organization that offers motorcycle safety courses throughout the U.S., has had more than five million graduates throughout its 2,700 course locations. Most courses consist of a 15-hour curriculum and last about three days.
7. Beginner course: A beginner course will teach you:

• Safe riding techniques
• Street strategies
• Motorcycle safety gear
• Braking
• Turning
• Shifting
• Increasing visibility
• Clutch and throttle control

(Source: The Unofficial DMV Guide):

8. Advanced course: An advanced rider course will teach you:

• Threshold braking
• Decreasing radius curves
• Corner adjustment
• Navigating around curves
• Safe following distance
• Defensive riding
• Safe swerving

(Source: The Unofficial DMV Guide):

Despite whether you’re a new or experienced rider, the motorcycle crash lawyers at Elk & Elk acknowledge that there are many benefits to enrolling in and completing a motorcycle safety course. With thousands of MSF training sites throughout the U.S., you can find a convenient location near you and choose a course that’s right for you.

Motorcycle courses are designed to give you the skills you need to stay safe while operating a motorcycle. But unfortunately, advanced training cannot always protect your from reckless drivers. If you’re injured in a motorcycle accident because of someone else’s negligence, contact the motorcycle accident attorneys at Elk & Elk. We will protect your rights and help you get the compensation you deserve.

The decision to wear a motorcycle helmet may be one of the most debated issues in the motorcycle world. The debate focuses on whether wearing a motorcycle helmet should be a matter of choice.

Safety officials and lawmakers argue that helmet use should be required for all riders because they save lives. Meanwhile, opponents think the decision to wear a helmet should be a personal one.

The motorcycle accident attorneys at Elk & Elk have heard both sides of the argument, and we know firsthand that helmets save lives. Now, we’re sharing information with you so you can let us know where you stand

Proponents:

• Helmets save lives and reduce the risk of injuries to the head and brain during a motorcycle collision
• 20 states have comprehensive motorcycle helmet laws for all riders
• Seven states have laws requiring riders under the age of 20 to wear a helmet, while 19 states require helmets for those under 18. Some states, such as Ohio, also have laws requiring novice riders to wear a helmet for the first year after obtaining their motorcycle endorsement.
• In states without helmet laws, taxpayers are burdened with expenses related to motorcycle injuries. For example, when an uninsured or under-insured motorcyclist is injured in a motorcycle crash, motorcyclists use public funds to pay for emergency care

Opponents:

• ABATE, a well-known motorcycle organization, says education is the most important factor in motorcycle safety, not legislation
• Federal law requiring riders to wear helmets violates the rights of each individual state
• Motorcycle helmet usage should only be required for minors
• Helmets do not protect against injury but rather they impair vision and hearing. They are also too hot and heavy for riders

Here at Elk & Elk, we’re not just motorcycle lawyers– we’re also motorcycle lawyers who ride. So, it’s safe to say that throughout our years of riding and fighting for the rights of injured victims, we’ve learned a thing or two about motorcycle safety. The bottom line is motorcycle helmets significantly reduce the impact to the head in a motorcycle crash.

Motorcycling represents a lifestyle of freedom, and for many riders, that means being able to make the decision whether to wear a helmet. When you’re faced with that choice, the motorcycle accident attorneys at Elk & Elk hope you’ll make the same, responsible decision we make – to wear a motorcycle helmet each and every time we ride.

Do you think motorcycle helmets should be required for all riders? Share your opinion with the motorcycle lawyers at Elk & Elk. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Around the Web:

American Motorcyclist Association: Senate Committee Set to Vote on Motorcyclist Safety Grants and Helmet Mandates

There are several things you need to consider if you plan on riding with a passenger. Even if you’re an experienced rider, two-up riding requires practice, patience and preparation.

The motorcycle attorneys at Elk & Elk want riding together to be an enjoyable experience for you and your passenger. Here are 10 tips on how to ride safely (Adapted from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation):

1. Law: Every state has different requirements for riding with passengers. In most states, you need to have a full motorcycle license before you’re allowed to transport another person on your bike. Review the law in your state.
2. Bike: Some states have certain equipment requirements that need to be met when riding with a passenger. For example, your bike should have a separate seating area to accommodate for a passenger. It should also have separate foot pegs for the passenger.
3. Weight: The weight of a passenger will affect how your bike operates. Review your owner’s manual for weight limitations and other related recommendations, such as adjusting the tire pressure and motorcycle suspension.
4. Operator: You need to make some adjustments to how you ride when you’re carrying a passenger. Keep in mind, it will take more time to slow down, speed up and turn.
5. Secondary riders: It’s a good idea to ride with a passenger who knows how to operate a motorcycle. They can help you follow the proper safety instructions.
6. Safety gear: You and your passenger should wear proper safety gear, including a helmet.
7. Children: Most states have age requirements for passengers. A child should only be allowed to ride as a passenger with permission from a parent or legal guardian. The child should be tall enough to reach the foot pegs and mature enough to follow all safety instructions.
8. Passenger: If your passenger is new to riding, instruct him or her on where to place his or feet, how to sit and where to hold on (your waist or the bike’s hand holds). Let your passenger know to keep his or her feet on the foot pegs at all times in order to avoid contact with hot or moving parts. Lastly, tell your passenger not to make any sudden movements that can affect your ability to control the motorcycle.
9. Practice: You need to be an experienced motorcycle rider before you can safely carry a passenger. The MSF suggests practicing low-speed clutch/throttle and emergency braking in a low-traffic area before moving to busy streets.
10. Safety course: Even if you’re an experienced rider, it’s always a good idea for you and your passenger to take a motorcycle safety course. A safety course can help you better understand the proper procedures for riding safely with a passenger.

Riding with a passenger can be an enjoyable experience, but it can also be a dangerous one. Make sure you, your passenger and your bike are prepared so you can avoid a motorcycle accident when riding together.

If you ride with a passenger, what are your tips for riding safely? Share your thoughts with the motorcycle attorneys at Elk & Elk. You can comment on our blog and Facebook, or you can follow the motorcycle accident attorneys on Twitter.

If you’ve wanted to cross off some items on your bucket list, 2012 is the year to do it. From Daytona Bike Week to Biketoberfest, there are major bike events planned for 2012 and they promise to be bigger and better than ever.

The motorcycle accident lawyers at MotorEagles® have compiled a list of the most sought out motorcycle events throughout the country. From poker runs and motorcycle shows to live entertainment and great food, there’s sure to be something for everyone at these events and we hope you’ll find the trip that’s right for you. The 11 events we chose begin in March and go through the beginning of November.

1. Daytona Bike Week® –March 9-18 Daytona Beach, Florida: Don’t miss out on one of the biggest events of the year! You’re sure to find something to keep you busy at this event, including old school biker parties, motorcycle races, concerts and bike games.
2. Arizona Bike Week® – March 28-April 12 Scottsdale, Arizona: Take some time to explore Arizona’s desert and mountain roads. From charity rides to choosing your own path, there’s something for every biker.
3. Leesburg Bikefest – April 27-29, Leesburg, Florida: The 16^th annual Lessburg Bikefest is a free event offering a wide array of live entertainment, exhibitions, motorcycle shows, vendors, shopping and great food.
4. Myrtle Beach Bike Week® – May 11-12 Murrells Inlet, South Carolina: Be a part of the largest motorcycle event in the Carolinas – You can expect great entertainment, bike shows, poker runs, tours, shopping and much more at the Myrtle Beach Bike Week® Spring Rally.
5. Ohio Bike Week – June 1-10, Sandusky, Ohio: Join your fellow bikers at the 20 Ohio Bike Week, which will take place along the shores of Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio. You can enjoy live bands, rides, races, vendors, great food and drinks and a lot more. Hotels and camping accommodations will make this trip safe and enjoyable for everyone.
6. Laconia Bike Week – June 9-17 Laconia, New Hampshire: This major rally will include the Laconia Bike Show, featuring some of the best custom bike builders, a ride-in bike show, motorcycle parade, motorcycle auction, poker runs, live music and much more.
7. Sturgis Motorcycle Rally – August 6-12, Sturgis, South Dakota: You have to be there to believe it! You can expect bike shows, concerts, concerts and racing events (just to name a few) at this world famous rally.
8. Las Vegas Bikefest – September 27-30, Las Vegas, Nevada: This four-day event will take over much of downtown Las Vegas, offering a variety of contests, more than 100 vendors, live entertainment, bike shows, poker runs and much more.
9. Myrtle Beach Bike Week Fall Rally – September 28 – October 2, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina: If you are unable to attend the spring rally, you definitely don’t want to miss out on the Myrtle Beach Bike Week Fall Rally. This is a shorter event than the spring rally, but events will be held in the same locations. There will be a lot going on through North Myrtle Beach & in Murrells Inlet during this event.
10. Biketoberfest – October 18-21, Daytona Beach, Florida: Get away for a long weekend at this award-winning motorcycle festival. With activities planned all weekend long, you’ll be sure to enjoy motorcycle shows, live entertainment, great food, beaches and of course, plenty of sunshine.
11. Lone Star Rally – November 1-4, Galveston, Texas: Known as the largest biker event in Texas and the largest weekend rally in the U.S., You don’t want to miss out on this event. The Lone Star Rally 2012 promises to be bigger and better than ever, with hundreds of thousands of bikers expected to stop by for some live music, bike shows, contests, rides, vendors, military tributes and more.

Whether you’re a die-hard biker or you’re planning on attending a motorcycle event for the first time, the motorcycle attorneys at MotorEagles® encourage you to check out the events listed above. There’s sure to be something for everyone at each of these top-rated motorcycle rallies.

At MotorEagles®, we share that same thrill for riding that you do, and we are also just as concerned about motorcycle safety as you are.   That’s why we spend a lot of time seeking out the most popular motorcycle events in the country for you so you can enjoy safe and fun motorcycle riding all year long.

Of course, if you should need assistance throughout your travels, contact your MotorEagles® motorcycle attorneys. We are your official one-stop spot for nationwide motorcycle safety resources and motorcycle accident lawyers who actually ride.

Sometimes snow blows, but your whole winter doesn’t have to – just ask the experienced motorcycle attorneys at MotorEagles, many of whom ride snowmobiles avidly throughout the winter months. It’s a great way to keep your reflexes sharp, take in some great scenery and maintain that adrenaline flow your warm-weather rides routinely supply.

Read on to learn a little bit about this sister-sport of motorcycling’s history, the machines and equipment involved and some organizations that support the sport and help new riders learn about it.

Our experienced motorcycle attorneys take a look back at early snow travel

It’s interesting to note that it took five years longer for man to move across snow than it did to fly. According to the Northern Timber Cruisers Snowmobile, Cross Country Ski Club and Antique Snowmobile Museum in Millinocket, Maine, the Lombard Log Hauler – a big, locomotive-looking machine with a half-set of tracks and a pair of skis up front – claims that honor. Various over-snow vehicle designs followed; an early example being a Ford Model T fitted with a ski-and-track conversion and another – a wind-driven sleigh powered by a Model T engine – were conceived and constructed simultaneously, unbeknownst to either builder, our motorcycle accident lawyers found out through the Northern Timber Cruisers’ site.

The International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association has a brief history of snowmobiling on its site (http://www.snowmobile.org/facts_hist.asp) which shows the development of modern snowmobiles didn’t really take shape until the late-1950’s and the dawn of smaller gasoline engines which could power such sleds. This is when modern recreational snowmobiling has its genesis, the ISMA reports.

Within a decade, numerous manufacturers were producing snowmobiles which cost a few hundred dollars apiece and were quite basic when compared to today’s models. But then, again, recreational snowmobiling has grown to a hobby enjoyed by some four million people, the association reports, and is responsible for a hefty boost in tourism to many places in Canada and our very own Snow Belt states, among other places.

MotorEagles motorcycle accident lawyers scope out the modern sled

The Website www.gosnowmobiling.org features a helpful section dedicated to the aspiring snowmobiler – “How to get started in snowmobiling” – that offers a primer on the different types of snowmobiles (entry-level, performance, touring, mountain and utility), where to go snowmobiling, whom to snowmobile with and some guidance on licensing and staying safe on your sled.

Gosnowmobiling.org said about getting started in snowmobiling that “It’s so easy that we condensed it down to a few questions that should make you want to run out, get a snowmobile, and look to the sky for snowflakes!”

As far as the initial cost to get into snowmobiling goes, new riders would be well-advised to find a local dealer or motorsports club that offers rentals. A number of online resources make the search simple, starting with everyone’s favorite search engine: Google. Snowmobiling is a lot like snow skiing or canoeing in that rental shops proliferate in the area surrounding snowmobile trails. So all you have to do is decide where you want to go and find a nearby rental outfit.

Finding out where to ride is another easy task, especially if you live in any of the Snow Belt states, like Michigan, Ohio, New York, Indiana and Wisconsin, or have plans to visit Canada. Of course, snowmobiling is popular anywhere snow falls. A number of online services provide routine trail condition updates, area information and other details, by state, about snowmobiling opportunities. One such site is www.trailconditions.com. Additionally, states, provinces and territories which design, build and maintain snowmobile trails provide news and information about the sport, where to do it and what laws apply to it on their respective Websites.

Our experienced motorcycle attorneys talk damages

Once you’ve given snowmobiling a try, you may learn you have another habit, uhhhh… hobby, rather, on your hands. If that’s the case and you want to buy a machine and snowmobiling equipment of your own, you can look at spending a few thousand to more than $10,000, depending on whether you purchase a brand-new machine or a used sled. A proper snowmobiling suit consists of a solid, weatherproof, insulated coat and bibs, which can be purchased for $150-$200 through a variety of retail venues. A helmet can run $100-plus and, if you ride, you likely already know all about gloves: You get what you pay for and that can run into the hundreds-of-dollars, depending on your preferences.

So whether you’ve been an avid biker for years and you want to give something new a try or you can’t bear the winter blahs and just need some wind in your face this snow season, snowmobiling just might be the rush you’re looking for.