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Scott O'Sullivan

Motorcycle Safety BEGINS with ME? What Does That Mean in TODAYS Terms?

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For several years, the tagline Watch for Motorcycles or Look Twice Save a Life really hasn’t had the punch that we riders would hope for. The biker community continues to be injured in epidemic numbers. In 2021, the State of Florida had over 5k accidents and over 500 fatalities. Colorado and Nevada during a pandemic saw a 33% increase in motorcycle accidents and fatalities. This is no longer a local issue, but a national problem that requires motorcycle riders to take a different approach, which is to BE READY and INFORMED.

Today we will talk about 3 topics

  • Trauma kits versus First Aid Kits
  • Accident Scene Managment Safety classes
  • Motorcycle Insurance and why the cheap becomes expensive.

Trauma Kits versus First Aid Kits

At first glance, it might be easy to confuse a trauma kit with a first aid kit. Both are bags full of medical supplies. And they may even carry some of the same equipment. So to understand the difference, you must look at the underlying focus of each type of medical kit.

First off, a first aid kit is designed to treat basic, superficial wounds that people suffer every day. They help with injuries such as small cuts, scrapes, and stings that don’t require a hospital or a doctor. These are the type of injuries most often treated with a first aid kit. Most first aid kits include bandages, burn cream, antiseptic, and over-the-counter medications

On the other hand, a trauma kit is designed to treat severe, life-threatening injuries long enough to treat the injured until paramedics or EMTs can arrive on the scene.

We’re talking about life-threatening injuries from situations such as car or motorcycle accidents. Tragic events when getting someone stabilized and transported to an emergency room is of the utmost importance. In such situations, most over-the-counter first aid kits are not nearly enough, and a trauma kit is best.

Now, it’s important to keep in mind that the primary focus of a trauma kit is to save lives. This means they often forgo items that might alleviate a victim’s temporary discomfort and pain. Why? Because these items are considered secondary to keeping them alive.

It’s a bag full of life-saving tools designed to keep someone’s vital functions working.

Trauma kits on your bike can be vital to stabilizing an injured rider until medical assistance can arrive. Trauma kits can be purchased for a reasonable amount given the care they can provide to render aid. If you are interested in getting a trauma kit, there are some motorcycle organizations that can help you get the trauma kit you need.

If you are interested in making the PLEDGE today to have this life-saving item on your bike, BikerDown Foundation offers riders a fully loaded trauma kit that will fit easily on your motorcycle – click here. You can also contact RoadGuardians (ASM) also offers a fanny pack trauma kit – click here

Accident Scene Management Classes

ASM has trained over 40,000 motorcycle riders thru their nationwide instructor and class hosts

For 10 years, BikerDown Foundation with the help of RiderJustice, Full Throttle Law, and other sponsors has sponsored Accident Scene Management Basic (ASM) and Advanced classes to give motorcycle riders basic training. ASM has trained nearly 40,000 motorcycle riders through the expertise of its instructors. ASM is the largest motorcycle trauma training organization in the world and classes can be done in-person or online.

Rider Justice ASM Basic class shows riders how to properly roll over a victim so that they can prepare to remove them from the road.
M. Busch got her Trauma kit at the Full Throttle Law ASM Basic Class

The basic 100 series class teaches you what to do in the first 5-30 minutes after a crash until professional help arrives. Some of the topics you will learn are helmet removal (many believe you don’t do that, but what if the rider isn’t breathing and needs CPR?), securing the scene, rescue breathing, moving the injured rider, controlling bleeding, and much much more.

Class attendees completing their ASM Basic Class in Las Vegas

Good Samaritan Law

Legal concerns can come up at the scene of an accident. Questions on legal issues come up in our basic and advanced classes, and there is a part of our instruction that deals with this. Many students ask me, “If I help someone at the scene of an accident, will I get sued successfully?”  Fortunately, in most states, there are statutes that legally shield you from liability. In Colorado, we have Revised Statute  13-21-108. This is the Colorado Good Samaritan Law.  In Nevada, there is NRS 41.500. The statutes in both states say that you are shielded from legal liability when rendering aid at the scene of an emergency or accident. There are some things you have to remember for this to apply. First, the person you are helping is not a person you are required to treat, and you are not there being compensated as part of your job. For example, Paramedics responding to the scene are not covered as it is their duty to respond and treat them. Volunteers on a rescue squad are protected from liability even though they have to react as they volunteer. 

Second, if you act in good faith and do not do something completely negligent, you are protected under the Good Samaritan Law. There is a scene in a funny movie where a woman performs a minor surgical procedure on someone she believes is choking. She has never been trained to do this and only saw the procedure performed on a television show. This woman would not be shielded from liability. For the record, we do not teach minor surgical procedures in Accident Scene Management, not even the advanced class.

Motorcycle Insurance and what that really means after an Accident

Call one of our motorcycle attorneys TODAY and get your FREE Insurance Reviews

Insurance coverages/Reviews – Bike insurance, 2nd to safety gear, motorcycle insurance is the most essential item you can have for your bike.  It outranks 85.00 Harley-Davidson shirts, cool chrome accessories, jackets, and rain gear….it outranks everything.  Without good bike insurance and add ons such as under-insured or uninsured motorists, the injured riders will be surprised how un-insured they are and what the current bike insurance covers.  RiderJustice.com, Full Throttle Law, Upstate Biker Lawyer, and Two-Wheel Attorneys has always offered any biker a FREE insurance review to discuss what your existing insurance covers.  In Colorado at the Colorado Motorcycle Expo, be sure to stop by the Rider Justice booth in February and get their suggested levels of insurance to keep you covered in the event of an accident.

At the scene of a motorcycle crash:

  • Do not move your bike from where it landed after the impact.
  • Take pictures of the entire scene, including your bike, the car, the intersection and debris.
  • Get contact information from any witnesses.
  • Take videos of witnesses explaining what they saw.
  • Take a picture of the other driver’s insurance card.
  • Make sure a police officer comes to the scene and files a report. (Never, ever, ever exchange insurance information with the other driver and leave the scene. You need that police report.)

Motorcycle Awareness begins with US, the motorcycle rider.

So in the event of an accident, having these 3 things in your arsenal will not only protect you and help you recover, but also help you help others. We must take control of our ride, in the event of an accident that trauma kit, ASM Basic class that you took, and the right kind of insurance, can actually help you SAVE LIVES of a friend, family member or complete stranger on a ride.

The 36th Annual Children’s Hospital Toy Run is BACK – Run Scheduled for December 12th

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In December, the Toy Run at Children’s Hospital is one of the biggest gatherings of motorcycle riders in Colorado.  For 36 years, bikers have been like the postal service; they would ride their bikes and deliver the toys in rain, snow, sleet, or hail. 

If you haven’t attended this event, there is nothing like the kids at Children’s Hospital steaming up the windows and waving to the bikes as they pull thru the main hospital entrance.  They know when they hear those Harley engines roar, toys are on the way.

I am happy to report that after a year of COVID modifications and mandates, THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL TOY RUN IS BACK and set for December 12th, 2021.

Riders will still see some changes, but the time-honored traditions you have come to expect are back.  The big one is that we will all be gathering at Aurora Sports Park again. The first bike in at 8:00 a.m.  

Breakfast, hot coffee, and chocolate will be at the Park all morning, donated by RiderJustice.com and BikerDown Foundation. There will be multiple ride-through toy drop-off lanes, along with lots of greeters in the East parking lot. Procession to the hospital as in the past will begin around 10:00 a.m.

Due to current health restrictions only, patient family members are allowed inside the hospital at this time. Riders will then be directed out of the hospital and are invited to attend the after-party celebration at Mile High Harley-Davidson in Aurora. All riders, all brands, and all clubs are welcome and encouraged to participate in all activities. 

This year, pre-registration will be digital (online) with wristband pickup and pin pickup (pins can be purchased online or in-person) at several dealerships around town and at the Sports Park day-of.

For more detail, contact Robby Farrow at Mile High. It will be an excellent event for the kids and the riders, as always (the 36th year), benefiting Children’s Hospital Colorado!

Rider Justice

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If you want to see first-hand the difference between a law firm that says they represent injured motorcycle riders and a motorcycle law firm, then call RiderJustice.com. For over 20 years, Scott O’Sullivan and his team at RiderJustice.com have been fighting for motorcycle riders. They offer

  • Free Traffic Ticket Support
  • Free Insurance Review
  • Legislative/Policy Advocacy
  • Community Events
  • Philandthropy

Broadway Customs: Bringing the Build Community Back Together

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Scott O'Sullivan - Founder of Rider Justice
Scott O’Sullivan

By Scott O’Sullivan, Founder, Rider Justice

What do you do when you’ve got a motorcycle dream – a big, roaring, airbrushed, custom, community-building dream – and you don’t know the first thing about making it a reality?

According to Cody Kiebler, you take the first step. Then the next step. Then “take advantage of everything that comes your way.”

Cody and his business partner, Kevin Bolser, are the owners of Broadway Customs, a tiptoe-tail, full-service motorcycle shop. Walking in Broadway Customs (which they encourage EVERYONE to do, not just motorcycle geeks), you’d never know that they’ve got biology and aerospace degrees between the two of them. How did these two ever open a motorcycle shop?

Actually, it starts with a motorcycle crash.

Kevin, an American military veteran, got hit on his Harley, and it was totaled. When he got a check from his insurance company to rebuild it, he called his good friend Cody. The two of them had always dreamed of owning a motorcycle shop but didn’t know how to start. Now, thanks to Kevin’s insurance check, they had enough money to build a motorcycle. That seemed like a good place to start.

They built their first bike: a hardtail, bobber-style Sportster. They worked out of Cody’s garage. Then a buddy came by and asked them to turn his dirt bike into a café racer. They said, “Yeah, we can do that!” And they did.

With two bikes under their belts, Kevin headed to Motorcycle Mechanic School at Universal Technical Institute, and he earned his Harley certifications. 

Cody was already working in the aerospace industry and was skilled at computer animated design (CAD). He was ready to put his design and manufacturing skills to work on motorcycles. Together, they opened their first, small commercial bike shop.

That’s when the Old Bike Barn selected the two of them as a builder in their Greasy Dozen Builder Collective. Not only did that experience expand their own skills and their reputation, but it helped them to articulate their mission: To bring the motorcycle build community back together.

“A big part of what the Old Bike Barn does is to share knowledge,” says Cody. “They got frustrated with the bike build culture of the 90s, when nobody shared their knowledge. With the Greasy Dozen, they bring 13 winners together, give them the prize money up front, and encourage them to work together as a community. We want to replicate that culture in our shop.”

As the men were establishing themselves as full service bike experts, they were on the lookout for more space. They discovered an old building at 4398 S. Broadway, which had been a motorcycle shop since the 1980s, and it felt like serendipity.

“The price was right, the timing was right, the location was right,” says Cody, who says that the traffic on Broadway has expanded their business exponentially. Broadway Customs was officially born.

Dream realized, right? Wrong. Cody and Kevin just keep expanding their dream and taking the next step, then the next step to make it a reality. 

For example, they invested in a carbon fiber 3D printer, which enables them to print custom parts for custom jobs, and they have also created their own retail shop with custom products. Because the parts are so much lighter than typical motorcycle parts, they anticipate this work will revolutionize the racing industry. 

But it also helps them serve their individual clients better.  “We had a customer come in and he needed a lever bracket,” says Cody. “We brought the bike in, designed the part, printed it and had it on his bike that day!” 

Next up: they want to purchase another 3D printer that prints in aluminum, titanium and steel. But that item will have to wait while the guys install their new DynoJet 250IX, which will enable the shop to performance-tune any bike, trike, or powersports equipment with wheels. The Dyno also allows the shop to expand their diagnostic capabilities with digital accuracy. 

Throughout all of this expansion, Cody and Kevin have also sought ways to put their mission into practice: they seek to constantly build community as they build bikes.

“The motorcycle build community doesn’t have a reputation for sharing,” explains Cody. “These guys have a lot of pride but when they refuse to share their knowledge, it pigeonholes them into a very small avenue of work.”

He continues, “For us, the motorcycle community is vast. We want to share our techniques with everyone. We want our shop to be a comfortable place for everyone, no matter their skillset or experience.”

Broadway Customs hosts bike nights every other Thursday, where the shop’s employees teach important, fun maintenance and customization skills. Cody also rides with members of his church, the Red Rocks Church, hoping to meet as many riders as he can.  “We want the build community to be open to everyone.”

Today, Cody says that Broadway Customs can do just about anything a person could dream of doing to their bike… or just provide regular maintenance. From cracked frames, to ground-up new builds, to next-level airbrush design, to oil changes, Broadway Customs does it all.

Cody says they are now dreaming about building a bike that could break a land-speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats.  “I’ve got a Honda that we want to work on,” says Cody. “In the Honda’s class, not a lot of records have been set at Bonneville, so we’d like to build it and break a record at Bonneville.”

It’s all about taking the next step.

Rider Justice – AD

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Are you a motorcycle rider who has been injured? RiderJustice.com has been helping injured riders for over 20 years and the majority of our practice is motorcycle accident-related. We understand your injuries and what you are going thru. We offer all riders FREE Insurance Reviews to make sure you have the right coverage in the event of an accident. Rider Justice is devoted to the biker communities events and causes that are important to you. Give RiderJustice a call today at 303-865-3934

Rider Justice Partners with Four Corners Motorcycle Rally

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Rider Justice is proud to announce our partnership with Four Corners Motorcycle Rally, an event with a storied past and an exciting future!

Founded by Ben Nighthorse Campbell – “The Harley-Riding Senator” – The Four Corners Motorcycle Rally draws riders from around the country. And, because 2020 was so hard, we expect this year to be bonkers fun, like a family reunion!

The annual event is held every Labor Day weekend in Durango, CO. 2021, Labor Day Weekend and the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally action will be on Friday, September 3 through Sunday, September 5 and the festivities will include:

  • Races
  • Stunt Shows
  • Bike Shows
  • Bike Giveaway: 2020 Harley-Davidson Street Glide from Quaid Harley-Davidson
  • Million Dollar Highway Ride: Colorado’s famous highway includes 284 turns in less than 80 miles, running near old mining towns, over 10,000-foot passes and through the gorgeous San Juan Mountain Range.

Watch the official website for hotel packages, camping and the full event schedule.

A Rally with a Special History

Originally called the “Iron Horse Motorcycle Rally,” this event was launched in the early 90s as the brainchild of Senator Campbell, who was a lifelong rider and understood not only the vibrant motorcycle community, but also the economic impact of great rallies and rides. Sadly, after several decades of success, managerial infighting brought the event to its knees by 2017.

That’s when John M. Oakes, owner of Freeze Management, and friend of owner of Durango Harley-Davidson, Trevor Bird, purchased the rights to run the event. And they are people with big plans and big hearts.

The Four Corners Motorcycle Rally has a long history of fundraising for various causes. One of this year’s benefiting nonprofits is the Warrior Built Foundation, which honors the service and sacrifice of combat veterans and wounded service members by providing vocational and recreational opportunities. Learn more by watching this video. As well, Building Homes for Heroes as a national organization has gifted over 300 mortgage free homes to Veterans. Four Corners Motorcycle Rally with other community businesses is committed to raising funds to building a mortgage free home in the Durango area through various annual fundraisers until they meet their goal.

Oakes said, “This event has a long history of supporting our nation’s heroes. It’s one of the many reasons I wanted to grow it back to its original, proud roots as a destination rally for motorcyclists from around the country. The location is spectacular, everyone needs to ride to Colorado and hit the Million Dollar Highway.”

Scott O’Sullivan, founder of Rider Justice, loves the story and the cause behind this historic rally.

“There is no community on the planet more generous and heartfelt than motorcycle riders,” said O’Sullivan. “I am so proud to partner with John Oakes and Durango Harley-Davidson to help make this event amazing and to raise as much money for great causes as we possibly can.”

This Rally’s Got It All

While the main hub of the rally will be in Durango, specifically around Durango Harley-Davidson and the Million Dollar Highway Saloon, events will be held all over town and throughout the region, including:

  • Sky Ute Casino
  • Downtown Durango
  • La Plata County Fairgrounds
  • Purgatory Resort

Participants will enjoy Hooligan Racing, concerts, stunt shows, charity rides, bike shows, Wheelie Pig’s Hill Climb Challenge, a fishing derby, camping and more. Less than 70 miles away, Four Corners Monument enables you to stand in the only place in the country where four states meet: Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. You can also plan to visit the astonishing Mesa Verde National Park just an hour’s drive away.

Watch the official Four Corners Motorcycle Rally website for updates as our plans unfold! YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THE PARTY IN DURANGO!

Why Motorcycle Accidents are Different from Auto Accidents

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As my Rider Justice friends know, I’m not just a huge advocate for Colorado motorcycle rights and safety, I’m also a motorcycle and car accident attorney. I’ve been a Denver personal injury attorney for more than 20 years. It is my vocation – my calling in life – because I can’t stand when a victim’s rights are violated by negligent drivers and insurance companies.

Scott O'Sullivan - The O'Sullivan Law Firm, motorcycle accident attorneys
Scott O’Sullivan, Founder of Rider Justice

But I digress.

Accident Reconstruction

Recently, I worked with a company called Knott Laboratory, which performs accident reconstruction investigations. As Ricky L. Nguyen said to me, Knott Lab provides forensic reports on every type of machine you can imagine.

“If it’s got moving parts, we get it,” said Ricky, who added that they also perform fire event investigations. You can check out their demo reel here. Caution: even though the images are computer-generated, it can be pretty alarming to see the types of accidents they investigate. (One word: woodchipper.)

As he and I were talking, I started sharing stories of some of my past cases, explaining why some of them were so upsetting or surprising. While there may be common types of accidents (such as left-hand turns in front of oncoming traffic), I do often find myself so concerned for victims that I ask, “Why?!” Sometimes, we never get the answer to that question. But Ricky can answer “how,” which can help me get the proper compensation for victims from insurance companies.

How Motorcycle Crashes are Different

Ricky and I began discussing the differences between motorcycle crashes and auto crashes, and he said, “motorcycles do funny things in accidents.” (I’m sure that he meant “strange” when he said “funny.”)

I have seen a lot of images from motorcycle crashes in the Denver metro area and I can tell you that they are definitely different from car accident scenes. Sadly, they are usually much more tragic.

Of course, motorcycles are smaller than cars, so they don’t stand much chance in a collision with a vehicle that outweighs them by many factors. However, Ricky, who is an engineer, said that there are some other issues that make motorcycles behave strangely in crash situations.

Ricky explained that, “Motorcycles are smaller and they act erratically in accidents. They aren’t like cars, which tend to be like smooth boxes. Motorcycles have parts sticking out that catch on the road and cause them to do funny things, curve around other objects, land funny. Also, the weight difference between motorcycles and cars is significant. Motorcycles change trajectory more easily.”

I have hired accident reconstruction engineers in the past to help me prove that the other driver is at fault, causing my client’s injuries. In some cases, I observe the reconstruction process like a great episode of CSI. It takes a ton of investigative work to discern the cause of an accident.

Ricky said that the engineers at Knott Lab gather police reports, witness statements, visit the accident site for remaining evidence such as skid marks, talk to the district attorneys that may be involved, collect photos that may have been taken at the accident, and assemble pretty much anything else that they can get their hands on.

They also use high-tech to assess the vehicles’ damage as well as the scene of the accident.

“We do a laser scan of the vehicles so that we can recreate the vehicle visually and do a 3D image,” said Ricky. “We also do a scan of the accident site so that we can assess slope, geometry, heights of nearby obstacles, etc.”

Based on that information, the engineers can often create a written report that explains what happened and who was at fault. But for more complex cases, Ricky said they create the computer simulations like what you see in their demo video.

Advice for Bikers

I asked Ricky if he had any advice for motorcycle riders who are in accidents, things that they can do to help prove their innocence. Gratifyingly, he said something that I say all the time: take pictures!

“Everybody has smart phones today; take pictures!” he said. “As many as possible! Also, try not to touch or move the vehicle. Typically, police officers want you to move the vehicle, but take pictures first. And take pictures of the damage on the road, your motorcycle, the other driver’s car, everything. The more we can see of the accident scene, the more it helps.”

Finally, as someone who fights for motorcyclist rights, I want you to know that, just because the police give YOU the ticket after an accident (because they normally assume it was the biker’s fault), don’t assume that you don’t have a good case. I have won cases for motorcyclists even after the cop gave them the ticket. I can find witnesses and even hire a company like Knott Lab to prove your innocence. I’d love to help you.

How to Insure Your Motorcycle Without Going Broke

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Insurance is so important. As an avid biker, you embrace the risks as part of the freedom you experience. You also need to embrace insurance.

Scott O'Sullivan - The O'Sullivan Law Firm, motorcycle accident attorneys
Scott O’Sullivan

The good news is that, by taking a little time to do some research, you might be able to reduce your insurance premiums. It’s important to understand what Colorado insurance companies take into account when determining the premium on your motorcycle and how to keep your insurance costs down.

The more expensive the bike, the more expensive the insurance

Like most car insurance policies, motorcycle insurance costs vary from bike to bike. Insuring a small or commuter motorcycle will be much less expensive than insurance for a high-end bike that has high horsepower. Therefore, when you’re purchasing your motorcycle, don’t get captivated by the most expensive bike you can possibly afford because you need to leave money in the bank for the high insurance rates you’ll pay on that bad boy.

Consider your budget not only for what you’re willing to pay for the bike up front, but also for how much you can afford when you have to pay the insurance premium every month. 

Also, the bigger the engine, the more it will be to insure. Big engines mean big speed, which generally means big crashes. Along these lines, sport bikes tend to come with much higher insurance premiums than cruisers. It’s important to remember that the safer your motorcycle is, the less expensive your policy will be.

See what insurance Rider Justice recommends for motorcyclists.

Drive Safely

Are you an extremely safe and meticulous driver in your automobile? Some insurance companies will give you a discount on your motorcycle insurance if you’re a good auto driver. The same is often true for motorcycles. Obviously, nobody wants to get in an accident, but if you play it extra safe and always stick to the rules, you’ll have a greater chance of being accident-free. Having no accidents may entitle you to a no-claims bonus. The qualifications for this bonus vary between insurance companies and states so be sure to do your research.

Ride Alone

“Guest passenger” coverage is a category of insurance that only pertains to motorcycles. This is different from automobile policies, which generally cover all other passengers in the vehicle without any extra costs. If you’re a fan of being one—and only one—with your motorcycle, or if you’re willing to become a fan of solo riding, this might be a good way to save some money on your insurance coverage.

Here’s the catch, and it’s important: If you don’t have guest passenger coverage because you’ve decided to be an exclusively solo rider, you should never, EVER let another person ride with you.

If you should get into a motorcycle accident, the financial impact to you could be catastrophic. Imagine your friend with severe or life-threatening injuries and your insurance company saying to you, “We owe you nothing.”

That friend of yours (or their family) could actually sue you (I’ve seen it happen over and over again between people who were the tightest of friends) for help paying their medical bills. You could lose your home and all your other possessions. Never let another rider on your bike unless you’re insured to cover them.

Cap Your Mileage

For a lot of people, their motorcycles aren’t their primary mode of transportation. Some riders just use their motorcycles during spring and summer months, while others tend to take them out only on the weekends. If your motorcycle is more like a toy or a hobby, you may want to consider capping your mileage. Some insurance companies may offer a lower premium for lower annual mileage.

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, in most states, “insurers can use your credit-based insurance score to determine your premiums.” For example, they reason that if you seem responsible with your money, you’ll be responsible for your own safety.

Insurance companies also figure that you will pay your premiums on time if you have no history of being delinquent on a bill. Each insurance company uses different criteria to determine how you would manage your risk exposure, so make sure to do your research.

Take a Motorcycle Safety Class

I saved the best for last. For many reasons, you should take a motorcycle safety course. The best reason is because it could save your life, and even help you save other lives. Another good reason is because your insurance company may reduce your premium when you give them proof that you passed the course.

My favorite place to take a motorcycle training class in Colorado is at the Motorcycle Training Academy, which has schools in Colorado Springs and Aurora. The instructors there have huge hearts and they understand the passion people have for their bikes. That’s why they are passionate about keeping you safe.

Once you’ve taken that basic safety class and you’ve got some miles under your belt, go back to MTA and take advanced rider courses to keep your skills sharp and learn advanced skills. If you’re willing to invest in new equipment for your bike, be willing to invest in yourself.

There are other ways to reduce your motorcycle insurance premiums, but I don’t necessarily recommend them. For example, don’t increase your deductible just to save a few bucks every month. Also, you NEED to get underinsured motorist coverage (UIM), which will add to your premium, but since Colorado has so many uninsured or underinsured drivers, you need to protect yourself from them. 

As always, if you have any questions at all about this topic, call or text me at 303-388-5304.

On the Road Again

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Scott O'Sullivan - The O'Sullivan Law Firm, motorcycle accident attorneys
Scott O’Sullivan

The whole world may be exhausted from stay-at-home orders and social distancing, but none have the advantage that bikers possess to escape the lock-down blues. 

One recent Saturday morning, driving back towards Denver on highway 285, I saw hundreds of riders, going in the opposite direction headed into the hills. From what I could tell, they seemed to all be smaller groups going out on individual adventures. It was a beautiful sight! It made me think about how riders must all be laughing to themselves that they can continue doing what they love while mostly maintaining COVID-19 safety guidelines. 

Yes, there are recent setbacks that are, again, straining our favorite restaurants, bars and entertainment venues, but the spirit of motorcyclists continuing to enjoy the freedom that the open road offers is pretty special. And together, we’ve all reached the end of our ropes and are ready to get back to events that let us celebrate the brotherhood and sisterhood that bikers hold so dear. So, let me share a few things that we have to look forward to for the rest of the summer.

8/22: On The Wings of Angels Poker Run

This is our second year sponsoring this event for Angel Eyes. Angel Eyes is a non-profit that helps Colorado families cope with the sudden, unexpected death of an infant or toddler, miscarriage, and stillbirth loss. They offer professional bereavement counseling, a support group, peer connections, and community referrals to those who are grieving.

This is their 4th Annual Motorcycle Poker Run and what a great event to support! The ride starts and ends at Dirty Dogs Roadhouse and entry fees include breakfast, lunch, swag bag and door prize ticket! Other fundraising takes place through their silent auction and 50/50 drawing.

We’ll be there to cheer on riders and give away more prizes. You can find out more details and register at angeleyes.org.

8/29: Colorado Women’s Day of Rock

Rider Justice was all set to sponsor the Women’s World Record Ride on 8/29 but organizers were recently denied necessary permits due to COVID-19. This may limit the number of out-of-state lady riders for that date, but the rest of us are still here and desperate for entertainment. We decided to keep the national act Lez Zeppelin, an all-female Led Zeppelin tribute band, booked and plan for next year’s world record attempt.

The show will be free with in-kind donations going to local non-profit, BikerDown.

Mark your calendars and join us on 8/29. There will be vendors and live music all day. Join us early to grab a picnic table with a great view and celebrate the women who will beat that world record in 2021! 

9/5: Honda Monkey Contest Drawing/ Look Twice Save a Life Ride

The bad news is that we were originally going to give away this fiery little 125cc beast at the Look Twice Save a Life Ride in May. The good news is that you still have time to register because the BikerDown annual ride is now scheduled for September 5th.

Because of all the uncontrollable issues with events so far this year, we’ve adjusted the contest where there will be five pre-qualifiers drawn before the event and another five will be drawn on the day of to offer more chances at winning. We will have keys and each qualifier will have a chance to see if their key starts the bike! 

Remember, you can register once online and every time you see Rider Justice or BikerDown at an event. The day of the event will be your last chance to register so plan on spending the day with us after the BikerDown ride.

Register now for the Look Twice Save a Life Ride at BikerDown.org as early registration guarantees a ride t-shirt. Day of registrations are welcome and appreciated but shirts may be limited at that point.

Gaiter survey

We have a small giveaway we’re doing with your voluntary help with a very short survey. It’s three questions only and at least the first 50 people will receive a customized Rider Justice gaiter in the mail.

You may participate in the survey giveaway here.

What to do

There was this blissfully brief time this spring when motorcycle accidents were extremely low. Unfortunately, the trend is swinging back hard. If you or someone you care about has been in an accident that wasn’t their fault, encourage them to take the time to speak with me. People seem to be eternally optimistic that if they have medical and motorcycle insurance, everything will work out, but I am here to tell you that you want someone who knows their tricks on your side. I will happily meet with anyone to discuss their case for free and help them figure out next steps. Call or text me anytime at 303-388-5304