Image above of Chancho (to the right), the Uricchio Law Firm office pup, with his buddy.

As motorcycle accident attorneys and riders ourselves, we frequently see people riding with their dogs. While we’re dog lovers and think taking pups along is a wonderful idea, all too often we see riders not taking the precautions for their pets that they should. Following are some questions to ask yourself along with ideas to make your journeys with your dog safe and fun:

Does Rover like to ride?

The first question you need to answer is whether your dog should ride with you. Is your dog adventurous, or does he or she love lying on the couch and sleeping? If your dog is older or prefers to be indoors, he or she might not want to take long motorcycle trips.

How does your dog deal with the bike? A dog that gets nervous or sick likely won’t enjoy riding no matter how comfortable or secure you try to make him or her. This is not to say your dog can’t get used to the bike and eventually enjoy it, but we are saying that if he or she hasn’t ridden often, an extended trip isn’t a good idea right now.

When acclimating your dog to the bike, take it slow. Make sure he or she is comfortable with the sound first, then take a few rides, each one a little longer than the last.

Can your dog sit still and ride?

Some dogs settle in and enjoy the ride, while others bounce around and want to see everything that’s going on. How your dog acts will dictate how you secure him or her and what kind of carrying case you buy. Our next blog post will discuss carrying cases and other doggy riding accessories in detail.

Will you be able to focus on riding without being distracted?

No matter who or what your passenger is, you still need to be able to ride safely and focus all your attention on the road. If your dog fidgets or gets restless, you can be distracted—and if your dog is large and not used to the bike, his or her weight moving around could pose a problem.

Do you travel with your dog, and how do you keep him or her safe while riding?

Lane splitting is riding your bike between lanes, including maneuvering between lanes of slow or stopped traffic. It’s also called filtering, stripe riding, and white lining.

Laws vary, but generally, lane splitting is not allowed in most areas of the U.S., with the exception of California. Some states do not specifically ban lane splitting, but have other laws in place that effectively condone or forbid it. South Carolina specifically prohibits lane splitting. Motorcycles are entitled to a full lane just as cars are, and motorcycles can travel two abreast in a single lane. Check with law enforcement in your state.

Some of the dangers of lane splitting include . . .

• Car doors opening suddenly, causing loss of control.
• Cars changing lanes without warning or signals.
• Hands, dogs, or objects coming out of windows.
• Drivers of larger vehicles not seeing you.
• Drivers not seeing you at intersections and turning.

If you split lanes, most of these dangers can be avoided by being aware of cars around you, adjusting your speed to conditions, staying out of drivers’ blind spots, wearing bright clothing, and making noise when you’re moving. When you stop, stay in front or behind a car, and always make sure drivers can easily see you. At intersections, always assume a car will turn and stay away from the side. Remember, cars cannot see you as easily as you can see them.

While drivers and law enforcement consider lane splitting dangerous (we do too), proponents of lane splitting say that it reduces rear-end collisions for bikes and reduces traffic congestion. Opponents say it is dangerous and doesn’t offer any real congestion relief because of the low numbers of motorcycles. Unfortunately, in case of accident, riders are often deemed at fault if the crash occurs while lane splitting, even in areas where it’s legal.

Do you split lanes, and why or why not?

It’s that time of year to roll out the barbecues and start cooking up some summer favorites with friends and family. So what better time to host a biker-style barbecue than this weekend?

Below are a few ways to make sure that your biker barbecue is one that your friends will be talking about for years:

Food

Wings: One of my all-time favorite chefs is Guy Fieri of The Food Network. I like his style and I love his recipes! In fact, one of my favorite recipes from Guy is his Carolina Wings recipe, which combines spicy, tangy, and sweet. You’ll want to make a lot of these since they’ll go fast.

Sliders: For some tasty sliders, I suggest Emeril Lagasse’s recipe for Sirloin Sliders with Crispy Bacon and Creamy Horseradish Mayo. You’ve never tasted anything so good and neither have your guests.

Corn on the Cob: Chef Bobby Flay can teach you a thing or two about awesome barbecue. In my opinion, one of his best recipes is his Grilled Corn on the Cob with Barbeque Butter. It is truly the best compliment to any barbecue.

Potato Salad: With ingredients that include fresh lime juice, ancho chilies, beefsteak tomato, garlic, and jalapenos, Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill Potato Salad is an absolute must for a biker barbecue. It’s creamy and fresh and will knock your socks off with zing and spice.

Sandwiches: When it comes to real southern barbecue, just look to The Neely’s of The Food Network for their expert tips. With their recipe for Pulled Pork Sandwiches, you’ll never be able to find another sandwich quite like it.

Decorations

Spice up your barbecue even more with some biker-style decorations.

Some items might include . . .

• A biker cooking apron.
• Metal biker signs.
• Biker invitations.
• A Skull and crossbones tablecloth and plates.

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We did a sweep of current motorcycle news across the country and found a few states that are in the works of changing their motorcycle helmet laws. Below are three mini news stories related to motorcycle helmet laws across the country:

Connecticut: According to a recent article on NewHavenIndependent.org, “The analysis of state Department of Transportation crash data between 2001-2007 found that there were 9,214 motorcycle crashes, including 358 fatalities. The number of fatalities was more than twice as high – 235, or 65.6 percent – among those riders who were not wearing helmets as among those who were – 123, or 34.4 percent.”

Connecticut implemented a mandatory helmet law in 1989 for motorcycle riders 17 years of age and younger. Since 1989, legislation was to change these laws arose five separate times, however, the law has remained the same.

Michigan: According to an article on Northern Michigan’s 9&10 News, 2011 just might be the year when motorcycle helmet laws are dropped. “Some still feel optimistic this could be the year the law gets repealed due to the republican control in the state house, senate, and the new republican governor.”

Oregon: Currently, all motorcycle riders must wear a helmet—no matter their age. According to the Insurance Journal, Oregon legislators are attempting to pass partial motorcycle helmet laws, which would require motorcyclists under the age of 21 to wear a helmet. Click here to view the 76^th Oregon Legislative Assembly House Bill 3141.

To view all state motorcycle laws, click here.

As we all know, it can be a challenge finding a helmet that fits in your price range and protects you from injuring yourself. In the below video, you’ll find out what features to look for when helmet shopping and understand what elements make a helmet effective.

See below for this video:

See below:

Paul Uricchio—lawyer and manager / owner of Uricchio Law Firm: “To take an occasional day off.”

Terri: “To keep my boss happy.”

Chancho—our office pup: “To expand my picky palate”

Cristin & Katie—lawyers at Uricchio Law Firm: “To get our concealed weapons permits”

Dawn: “To not make any New Year’s Resolutions—it just sets yourself up for disappointment”

Mandi—Uricchio Law Firm’s legal assistant: “To lose the holiday pounds” (To which the rest of us at the firm say “BOOOOO”)

What’s your New Year’s resolution(s)?