Warmer Portland Weather Means More Motorcycles on Roadways

As warmer weather prevails, more and more motorcycles will be sharing our roadways, which means extra care should be taken by both motorists and motorcycle riders to avoid accidents. The Portland motorcycle accident attorneys at DuBois Law Group want to take this opportunity to remind the Portland community to be on the lookout for motorcycles, many of which may be driven by inexperienced first-time motorcycle owners who aren’t your average youthful riders.  In fact, according to some reports, the average age of motorcyclists has been increasing right along with the increase in our aging population.

Consequently, we are seeing a growing number of motorcycle fatalities and severe injuries in older riders as the likelihood of difficulty in recovery from injuries of any type obviously diminish as our bodies age.  In fact, a recent Brown University study found that motorcycle riders between the ages of 40 and 59, suffer serious bodily injury in the wake of a motorcycle accident 66 percent more often than younger riders and are two and a half times more likely to require emergency treatment after such an accident.

Therefore, while all motorcyclists should take proper precautions to stay safe while riding, older riders should take extra care, taking into consideration that as we age our reflexes slow, our visual acuity diminishes, and our muscle mass and bone strength are less likely to be able to endure the results of an accident of any kind, especially one that involves a motorcycle.

Safety Precautions All Motorcyclists Should Take

Safety precautions that all motorcycle riders should adhere to (and older riders should adhere to in particular) to avoid the need of the services of Portland motorcycle accident attorneys include:

• Wearing a helmet
• Wearing proper motorcycle gear like gloves, boots, a jacket, and pants
• Wearing retro-reflective or brightly colored motorcycle attire
• Checking out your motorcycle to insure it is functioning properly each time you ride
• Never riding a motorcycle while impaired by drugs or alcohol (even prescription medications)
• Keeping fit in general with a proper diet, exercise and adequate sleep
• Warming up and/or stretching before each outing on your motorcycle
• Keeping healthy with regular checkups and visual exams

Oregon Law Requires Mandatory Motorcycle Safety Classes

As of 2013, Oregon Revised Statute 807.175 requires that all motorcyclists under the age of 61 successfully complete a mandatory motorcycle safety class to obtain or retain a motorcycle license in Oregon. A detailed description of all requirements for endorsement as a motorcyclist in Oregon as required by the Oregon Department of Transportation can be found at ORS 807.170.

No matter what your age or skill level, motorcycle riders are always at a higher risk for injury in accidents that involve a motorcycle and any other type of motor vehicle. As such, if you are involved in a motorcycle accident, you should immediately see your doctor (of course, if seriously injured, you should seek emergency assistance) and contact an experienced Portland motorcycle accident law firm to assist with your insurance claim or potential lawsuit against the at-fault driver in the accident. A

s a motorcycle accident victim, you are entitled to the same benefits and compensation as car accident victims so don’t neglect to contact your insurance provider and report your accident to the Oregon Department of Transportation just as you would if involved in a two-car accident.  For assistance with any motorcycle accident injury claim, contact the Portland motorcycle accident attorneys at DuBois Law Group for a free evaluation of your case.