Can you believe it’s already time for the kids to head back to school? While many parents are celebrating this time of year, a lot of us bikers are not quite as happy.  Back-to-school season means more traffic and pedestrians, and it also represents the beginning of the end of the motorcycling season for another year. In keeping with the back-to-school theme, I wanted to use this month's article to present a few different education options, from motorcycle laws and motorcyclist's rights, to becoming a better biker, to what to do in the event of a crash, there are plenty of opportunities out there for bikers who want to learn.

 

I have to admit, a lot of bikers don’t think about motorcycle laws as “sexy” or even interesting topic. Of course, as The Motorcycle Lawyer, I disagree. And, even if it’s not “sexy”, knowing about your rights and the laws here in Michigan, or in any other states you might ride in, is really important. Nothing ruins a day on the open road quicker than getting pulled over for a violation you don’t even know you’re making! Providing free information about bikers’ rights and the laws, both in Michigan and across the country, is something I do a lot of. Whether it’s by social media, or on one of my websites or blogs, or even through these articles, I want to make sure that motorcyclists are aware of what they can and should be doing when they’re on the roads. Recently, I started filming a series of law-oriented videos, providing advice about what to do if you’re in a crash, information about helmet laws in Michigan and elsewhere, and many other topics.

 

The great thing about these videos, and the other information I share, is that I get to answer YOUR questions directly, and share that information with a wider audience. For example, we've been getting a lot of calls lately from injured bikers in Arizona, so my most recent videos have been focusing on Arizona motorcycle laws and biker's rights. If you have questions about laws or your rights as a biker, contact me (information below). You never know, I might make your question into my next video!

 

If you're looking for more hands-on education, why not look into taking a Certified Rider Training course? Even if you took one already, there are all sorts of different classes available; refreshers, advanced riding courses, special classes focused on turning and braking techniques, you name it. No matter how long you've been riding, there are always new things to learn or try that could make your ride even better. I took a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) safety course through Schoolcraft College in Detroit. The Schoolcraft location offers a few different classes; for beginner riders or those who haven't been on a bike in a few years, they have a Basic, 3-Wheel Basic, or Returning Rider course. For bikers who have been on the road for awhile, they also offer an Advanced Rider course. You'll need your own bike for all but the basic course, and it will need to be registered, titled, and plated. I like the MSF classes offered by Schoolcraft so much that I donated one of my own motorcycles to the program last year, to help new riders get hands-on experience.

 

Finally, do you know what to do if you arrive on the scene of a motorcycle crash? If not, I suggest you look into Accident Scene Management, Inc.'s, courses.  Neither myself nor my firm is formally affiliated with Accident Scene Management, Inc. (ASMI), but I think that the work they do is so important, I actually put a member of my staff, Debbie Parinello, through EMT school so she could become an ASMI instructor. In addition to that, I also provide classroom space and information for a legal portion of the Bystander Assistance Course that Debbie teaches through ASMI. The Bystander Assistance Course teaches motorcyclists what to do in the event of a crash, including first aid, how to move an injured biker or their bike, and how (and when) to properly remove a rider's helmet*. The goal is to reduce the number of people injured or killed at the scene of a motorcycle crash, including rescuers, and to increase the effectiveness of first responders by training bystanders to tend to the injured until help arrives.

 

As the kids head back to school and summer begins to wind down, I encourage all motorcyclists to take advantage of the educational resources available to them that could potentially help keep them safe or improve their ride. In my opinion, you can never know too much or be too prepared. If nothing else, getting a biker education could be an easy and beneficial way to extend the riding season into the winter months.

 

To see my videos about motorcyclists' rights and motorcycle laws, check them out at youtube.com/TheMotorcycleLawyer1, or visit our website at www.TheMotorcycleLawyer.com

If you have questions about your rights as a biker or about motorcycle laws in any state, send them to me by email at writer@lawyerforlife.com or post at www.Facebook.com/TheMotorcycleLawyer. You can also call me at 1-877-BIKER-LAW.

 

To find out when Debbie is teaching the next Bystander Assistance Course, call us at 1-877-BIKER-LAW.

 

 

*Removing a helmet can be dangerous and should only be done when certain criteria are met.