Ohio hunters killed about a quarter-million deer annually, but Ohio’s deer population has climbed in recent years to more than 750,000.  

Many people are oblivious to deer, or think deer only are a danger in the fall when deer are in their peak breeding season. However, you can encounter a deer in the roadway year-round. The moderate temperatures of spring often lead deer out in search of food, especially early in the morning and late at night. A majority of deer-vehicle accidents take place at dusk and dawn. More than half of deer-vehicle accidents take place between 5 p.m. and midnight and another 20 percent occur between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m.

In 2010, there were 23,201 deer-vehicle crashes in Ohio. According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, four people died in those crashes and 1,063 people were injured. The Ohio Insurance Institute estimates that damages to vehicles involved in deer crashes approached $72.2 million in 2010.

The motorcycle injury lawyers at Elk & Elk are very serious about motorcycle safety. That’s why we started MotorEagles, our ongoing motorcycle safety and public awareness campaign.  We want you to have a safe, enjoyable time as you enjoy your favorite pastime.

Here are some helpful hints from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to help you avoid hitting a deer.

1. If you see one deer in the road, expect others are close by. Deer usually travel in groups, so the odds are high that other deer will be in front of or behind the deer you’ve seen.
2. Flash your lights or honk your horn to frighten deer away from the side of the road.
3. Stay alert. Deer can be very unpredictable.
4.  Be on the lookout for deer crossing signs and slow down. Being aware of your surroundings can help save your life. Just because you don’t see a deer crossing sign doesn’t mean deer can’t unexpectedly appear.

Because of their size, deer pose a real threat to motorcycle riders, who don’t have a sturdy metal frame to protect them. So what can you do – be aware, stay alert, and be safe.

At Elk & Elk, we have been very pleased to see news coverage about Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month from coast to coast. From the California Highway Patrol to the national news centers in New York City, law enforcement agencies, government organizations and the media are helping to get the word out.

The message of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is an important one that all motorists need to be aware of. Drivers and riders need to share the road. Raising awareness about motorcycles and educating drivers and motorcyclists about ways to safely co-exist on the roads can lead to a reduction in the more than 4,500 motorcyclists who were killed in 2010.

Just this weekend, there were at least two fatal motorcycle accidents and many more motorcycle injury accidents in Ohio. A 20-year-old Youngstown woman died Friday in Poland Township after being hit by a car while riding her motorcycle, and an Akron man died Sunday evening after losing control of his bike near Peninsula.

Last week, we shared some tips to help drivers be aware of motorcyclists in this blog post. Today, we are going to share a few tips for motorcyclists – things they can do to be more visible and safer on the roads.

1)      Be as visible as possible. Wear bright colored, reflective clothing. Always use your turn signals and lights, and avoid drivers’ blind spots

2)      Watch the road surface. Any debris or uneven spots in the road can upset the balance of an unsuspecting rider.

3)      Avoid riding in bad weather. But if you have to ride in wet conditions, be extra careful with the brakes, throttle and steering to avoid sliding.

4)      Wear a helmet and protective gear. Even if your state doesn’t require it, wearing a helmet can be a true lifesaver. Studies show that riders without a helmet are three times more likely to suffer brain injuries than helmeted riders. And without the benefit of a car’s ton of steel protecting you, it is important to dress properly. T-shirts, shorts and flip flops are not safe attire for motorcycle riding. Weather a leather or other reinforced jacket, jeans, non-slip boots and gloves to protect your body.

The personal injury lawyers at Elk & Elk encourage all motorists to be extra cautious as summer travel season and motorcycle riding season kick into full gear. It just might save a life.

June 1-3 – Ohio Bike Week

June 6 – Columbus Quaker Steak & Lube Bike Giveaway

June 7 – Dayton Quaker Steak & Lube Bike Giveaway

June 8-10 – Ohio Bike Week

June 13-23 – AD Farrow 100^th Anniversary

June 20 – Columbus Quaker Steak & Lube Bike Giveaway

June 21 – Mentor Quaker Steak & Lube

June 22 – Ferrari Night – Southeast Harley-Davidson

July 3 – AD Farrow Downtown Columbus

July 7 – Ohio’s Fallen Heroes AD – Ferrari Night

July 11 – Valley View Quaker Steak & Lube

July 12 – Sheffield Quaker Steak & Lube

August 1 – Canton Quaker Steak & Lube

August 2 – Mentor Quaker Steak & Lube

August 11 – C&A HD 35^th Anniversary

August 12 – Mercy & Grace AD Farrow

At Elk & Elk, through our MotorEagles safety and public awareness campaign, we promote motorcycle safety and awareness all year long. As part of MotorEagles, Elk & Elk has started the “Save A Life – Look  Twice” campaign. The campaign aims to:

• Increase driver awareness
• Increase rider visibility
• Promote driver and rider training
• Promote rider safety
• Encourage patience and tolerance
• Protect rider rights
• Limit rider injury

Motorcyclist fatalities increased slightly in 2010 to 4,502, accounting for 14 percent of total fatalities for the year. A 2009 report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Highway Loss Data Institute found that more than half of fatal motorcycle accidents involved at least one other vehicle. In 42 percent of fatal two-vehicle motorcycle crashes, a vehicle was turning left while a motorcycle was going straight, passing or overtaking the vehicle.

Many times, the other driver in the passenger vehicle simply didn’t see the motorcycle coming because he didn’t take the time to look for something other than a car or a truck coming toward him. But as more and more motorists are buying and riding motorcycles, the chances of crossing a bike’s path are increasing.

All it takes is a few seconds to save an oncoming motorcycle rider’s life. By looking not once, but twice in each direction before pulling out, motorists will give themselves enough time to spot an oncoming motorcyclist.

Here are some helpful tips for drivers from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to keep motorcyclists safe:

• Remember that a motorcycle is a vehicle with all the rights and privileges of any other motor vehicle
• Always allow a motorcyclist the full lane width – never try to share a lane
• Perform a visual check for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or exiting a lane of traffic, and at intersections
• Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic
• Don’t be fooled by a flashing turn signal on a motorcycle – motorcycle signals may not be self-canceling and motorcyclists sometimes forget to turn them off. Wait to be sure the rider is going to turn before you proceed.
• Allow more following distance – three to four seconds – when following a motorcycle so the rider has enough time to maneuver or stop in an emergency. Under dry conditions, motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars.
• Remember that road conditions that are minor annoyances to motorists can pose major hazards to motorcyclists. Motorcyclists may change speed or adjust position within a lane suddenly in reaction to road and traffic conditions such as potholes, gravel, wet or slippery surfaces, pavement seams, railroad crossings and grooved pavement.

The motorcycle accident attorneys and wrongful death lawyers of Elk & Elk believe this is one of the most preventable causes of death and injury on our roadways today. Please help us spread the word that just taking one more second to look twice really can save a life.

But not everyone will look twice and motorcycle accidents will still occur. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact the motorcycle attorneys at Elk & Elk at 1-800-ELK-OHIO.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has 9 tips to ensure a fun and safe group ride.

1. Arrive prepared. Be sure to arrive on time, and with a full tank of gas.
2. Have a riders’ meeting. Discuss things like the route, rest and fuel stops, and hand signals. Assign a lead and tail rider. Both should be experienced riders who are familiar with group riding procedures.
3. Keep the group to a manageable size. Five to seven riders is ideal. If your group is larger, break up into smaller sub-groups, each with its own lead and tail rider.
4. Ride prepared. At least one rider in each group should have a cell phone, first-aid kit and a full tool kit.
5. Ride in formation. A staggered riding formation allows a proper space cushion between motorcycles so that each rider has enough time and space to maneuver and to react to hazards.
6. Avoid side-by-side formations. Riding side-by-side reduces the space cushion. If you needed to suddenly swerve to avoid a hazard, you won’t have room.
7. Periodically check the riders following in your rear view mirror. If you see a rider falling behind, slow down so they may catch up. If all the riders in the group use this technique, the group should be able to maintain a steady speed without pressure to ride too fast to catch up.
8. If you’re separated from the group, don’t panic. Your group should have a pre-planned procedure in place to regroup. Don’t break the law or ride beyond your skills to catch up.
9. For mechanical or medical problems, use a cell phone to call for assistance. If the situation is serious enough that you need assistance, don’t hesitate to call for help.

The motorcycle riding lawyers at Elk & Elk hope you have a safe and fun riding season, whether you are riding solo or as part of a group. We hope these tips will help make your group riding experiences ones you will live to remember.