Highlights of 2014

As Seen in Thunder Road Magazine

 

 

 

The Consortium offers "hands-on, comprehensive motorcycle training… taught by professional, certified instructors," as per their website. When Debbie Parinello, a member of my staff, mentioned the Consortium's need for training bikes, I didn't hesitate; I'm always looking for concrete ways to give back, and this one was a no-brainer, especially since I did my own motorcycle safety training course at the same location many years ago.

 

Getting the certificate and letter of thanks in the mail got me thinking about some of the other positives from 2014, and I thought I would use this opportunity to summarize some of the highlights we've seen for motorcyclists in Michigan as well as for our firm.

 

Overall, 2014 was a good year for my team and I in terms of giving back to the biker community. In February, we launched our new Biker Card, which helps motorcyclists in two ways: First, it allows bikers to easily carry first aid information that could potentially save a life in the event of a crash. We've handed out hundreds of these cards this year, and we are glad that so many Michigan motorcyclists will have this potentially life-saving information with them if they need it. Second, our Biker Card gets the cardholder discounts and freebies at over 100 Michigan vendors, which we hope will encourage riders to try new products, services, and restaurants while they're out enjoying the open road. We also had many, many requests for our "Watch for Motorcycles" bumper stickers, especially during Motorcycle Awareness Month in May.  Our goal is to get as many bumper stickers as possible onto cars across America in order to remind drivers that motorcycles are everywhere.

 

Also in May, House Bill No. 4781 was passed. This Bill amends the section of Michigan’s vehicle code (MCL 257.306) that deals with the Temporary Instruction Permits (TIPs) for motorcyclists. TIPs were designed to give new motorcyclists the chance to practice riding before taking their rider skills test, but some people were applying for a new TIP every year instead of getting their full CY endorsement, which is a requirement to ride legally on Michigan's roads. Starting January 1, 2015, the new law limits the number of TIPs granted to riders to just two in every ten-year period. That's more than enough time to practice for a Skills Test if the rider doesn't want to take a certified Rider Safety Course (Note: I always recommend that new riders take a certified Rider Training Course). Ultimately, limiting TIPs is a good way to encourage more motorcyclists to get their CY endorsement.

 

This fall, "Nathan's Law" (House Bill No. 5438) was passed into law. The new law is named for Nathan Bower, a young rider who was killed in a motorcycle-vehicle crash back in 2009. It mandates that driver education programs must "include information concerning the laws pertaining to bicycles and motorcycles and shall emphasize awareness of their operation on the streets, roads, and highways of this state." In other words, motorcycle awareness is finally a mandatory part of driver education programs, a win for motorcycle safety advocates. Obviously there is still much to do in terms of promoting motorcycle awareness and safety among motor vehicle drivers, but teaching young drivers to "Watch for Motorcycles" from the beginning is certainly a step in the right direction.

 

Finally, in November my team and I were pleased to announce that we have been named one of America's "Best Law Firms", according to U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®. We offer clients the highest value of service possible; with free consultations, our no-win, no-fee policy, our commitment to giving back to the biker community, and all the free information we provide via our website and magazine articles like this one. I also found out this fall that I have once again been named to Michigan’s Super Lawyers list. I am honored to be one of only five percent of Michigan attorney's named to the list of 2014 Michigan Super Lawyers. I'm also very proud of my team, because they have helped make our firm one of the "Best Law Firms" for injured motorcyclists.

 

Now that I've looked back at 2014, it's time to start looking forward: My hope for the coming year is to see an overall reduction in motorcycle crashes, injuries, and fatalities. I hope we continue to see positive legislation that will promote motorcycle awareness and safety without restricting riders' freedoms. I hope my team and I can continue to give back to the biker community by helping injured motorcyclists and their families and by doing our best to prevent crashes by promoting motorcycle awareness. Finally, I wish all motorcyclists a long and safe riding season in 2015.