Ohio Motorcycle Laws Helmet requirements and other matters

OHIO MOTORCYCLE LAWS

Road
Safety Helmet Required by law for novice riders,
required under age 18

State Funded Available for all eligible applicants -
Rider Ed required under age 18

Eye Protection Required by law unless equipped with windscreen


Daytime Use Modulating headlight permitted
of Headlight

Passenger Required if carrying a passenger
Seat

Passenger Required if carrying a passenger
Footrest

Passenger None
Age

Restriction
Helmet No Restrictions
Speakers

Periodic Required by law - random
Safety
Inspection

Mirror Left(L) One required by law
Right(R)

Radar No Restriction
Detector

Turn Signals Required if manufactured in 1968 and
after

Muffler Muffler required.

Maximum Counties and Townships may adopt
Sound Level regulations that establish Max A-
weighted sound level based on
measurement at a distance not less
than 50 feet from center line of travel
1)82dBA at 35 mph or less; 2)86dBA at more than 35 mph. (see : Ohio
Revised Code 4513.221 Local
regulation of passenger car and
motorcycle noise.)

State Compulsory Liability (Minimum Limits)
Insurance (12.5/25/7.5)
Requirements

Handlebar Maximum of 15" above seat
Height

Rider- Skill Test
Education
Waiver
Accept Yes

Motorcycle
Endorsement
From Other
States

Motorcycles § 4511.55. Riding bicycles;
operating motorcycles abreast Persons riding
two abreast bicycles or motorcycles upon a
in same lane roadway shall ride not more than two
abreast in a single lane, except on
paths or parts of roadways set aside
for the exclusive use of bicycles or
motorcycles.

Lane Splitting Not referenced in Administrative Code
or Statutes But do not do it in Ohio . you need to drive in Marked lanes

Motorcycle Group Iron Samaritans Feed the Homeless

The Iron Samaritans, a motorcycle group, recently held a support the homeless under the 6th street viaduct. They had chairs set up so people could eat the food they provided in comfort. They had food for everyone. Plus they has clothes that the folks could pick up. I really enjoyed my time there. It was great to see Randy and Donna, husband and wife filled with joy for their outreach.

The homeless community is large but invisible. The Iron samaritans know them well. They minister to them on a regular basis.

Funny story. when I told my son where I was going he thought is was the biker group the Iron Horseman. You may be confused by the two names. This is the iron samaritans web site. You will see they are a "Christian group". But they do not push any religion on you.

Somewhat surprising was the attendance by the mc highwaymen. They have been in the news about their differences with the Iron horseman. But maybe it should not have been a surprise. The 'biker" community consists of all walks of life. Even the groups with the negative press support charitable events.

Don't be scared of us. Take time to get to know us. The bikers I know would give you the shirt off your back if you needed it.

By Cincinnati motorcycle accident injury lawyer Anthony Castelli

Wrongful death in Ohio What is a Life Worth by Cincinnati Lawyer Anthony Castelli

Listen to this radio show Wrongful Death in Ohio What is a Life Worth by me Cincinnati motorcycle accident attorney. wrongful-death-what-is-a-life-worth in Ohio

Sadly I have represented in the past  and I currently represent the family of a motorcyclist killed by the fault of another. This is called a wrongful death and family members can seek compensation for their loss thru the civil justice system. Listen to my take on why jury verdicts are not that high. It seems property is valued more than life thanks to big insurance's propganda.

Sure money will not bring the deceased back, but it is the only thing society has to make up for not only the financial loss but the emotional loss due to a life cut short by someone's neglect. We are guaranteed life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This is the social contract we live by. If life is wrongfully taken justice moral fairness cries out for compensation to be paid. I guess we could go back to any eye for an eye. But what would that make us?

 Call Cincinnati motorcycle lawyer Anthony Castelli to get your questions answered if you have lost a father spouse child as a result of the fault of another. 1-800-447-6549

7 Motorcycle Accident Safety Tips

Here are 7 motorcycle accident safety tips in a video I created. Please watch and maybe you can learn or reinforce something that can save you.

You need to be trained properly. You need to be constantly vigilant. You can be doing everything right and some car can deicimate you. Defensive riding and skills to evade can make the difference .





By Cincinnati motorcycle accident attorney Anthony Castelli I ride a motorcycle . Lots of attorneys that are so called biker lawyer do not even ride a motorcycle. Call me today to get the help you need 1-800-447-6549

Motorcycle Insurance 101 Buy Enough Coverage

Ohio Motorcycle Insurance Explained

Bodily Injury & Property Damage Liability (BI/PD) - BI/PD covers you if you are at fault for an accident that injures another person or damages someone's property, up to the limits you select.

Comprehensive & Collision - This motorcycle insurance coverage pays to repair or replace your motorcycle if it's stolen or damaged in an accident, regardless of who is at fault. For each coverage, you select a deductible that you pay out of pocket. The insurance company pays for the remaining damage. So if you are at fault this pays for damage to your motorcycle.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – When you are injured by the fault of another for an accident and that person does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance, UM/UIM will cover your injuries and damages that the at-fault party is legally liable for, such as medical treatment and lost wages and pain and suffering. They pay to the extent your policy exceeds the amount of the at fault party's insurance.

Medical Payments - MedPay covers the cost of necessary medical care you receive as the result of a motorcycle accident and can be used regardless of who is at fault. MedPay often is limited to medical treatment received within the first three years after an accident and is limited to a specific dollar amount. In some states, MedPay only applies after other medical insurance is exhausted.

Custom Parts & Equipment - When you purchase Comprehensive or Collision motorcycle insurance coverage, at least $3,000 of Accessory coverage for your custom parts and equipment is included in most states. Up to $30,000 of additional Accessory coverage can be purchased to cover custom parts that exceed the included value.

Roadside Assistance - If your motorcycle breaks down, Roadside Assistance will pay to tow it to the nearest qualified repair facility. Roadside Assistance also covers the necessary labor costs at the place of breakdown when your motorcycle or off-road vehicle is disabled.

Please Get Enough Coverage – You should at least buy liability coverage in the amount of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. The same is true of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Do not buy the minimum limits in Ohio of $12,500 per person/$25,000 per accident/$7500 property damage. This will not protect your assets if you really hurt some one.

Also if you get this amount for underinsured/uninsured motorist you will at most have $12,500 of protection if an uninsured driver causes your injury. Even higher amounts of liability and uninsured/underinsured such as $250,000-$500,000 would be better. A single limits policy is a policy that pays the same amount per person as it does per accident. It depends on the insurance company if you can by this. I'd recommend single limits of $500,000.

By Cincinnati Motorcycle Accident Attorney Anthony Castelli to get help or answers to your questions you can call me at 1-800-447-6549

Top Ten Reasons To hire a Motorcycle Accident Attorney for your Serious injury

Not everyone needs an attorney just because they were in an accident. In fact serious accident injury attorneys will only take a case where they can add significant value. Motorcycle accidents usually involve serious injury even if you are geared up. There are many reasons why you should consider consulting if not hiring a motorcycle accident attorney.

In this months RoadWheeler magazine I give quite a few reasons why its smart to hire a motorcycle attorney. Although no on can guarantee a result, insurance company documents state you are likely to get a higher settlement if you have an attorney. Why, because insurance will try to get away with paying you as little as possibe. If you are not guided by an attorney you are stuck with what they offer.

Watch this slide presentation to learn 10 reasons to hire an experienced motorcycle accident attorney.



Then pick up September's issue of Road wheeler or read it at their web site


By Cincinnati motorcycle injury attorney Anthony Castelli call 1-800-447-6549 today for the help you deserve

Cinicnnati Motorcycle Attorney Reviews New American Chopper

The reivew of the new American Chopper is not the type of blog post we usually write here. But I thought you would enjoy a review of the series and this years first show. Let me give you some background.

American Chopper is a reality TV show about the company Orange County Choppers. The cast are the Teutul family; Paul Teutul Sr., his son Paul Jr., and Mikey.

Paul Teutul Sr. and Paul M. Teutul had a severe clash. This was explored on American Chopper last year. Father was having severe emotional and physical problems from the fights with his son.

Last year in Season 6 , Paul Sr. and son had a disagreement over the business agreement, which led to Paul Jr.’s departure from the company. After a brief reconciliation, Paul Jr. left the OCC for good to look into other things. In later episodes, Paul Jr. helped as a consultant at Orange County Choppers for a period of time.

Paul Teutul, Sr. claims he had a deal with his son, Paul M. Teutul, in which he could buy his son’s stock from the Orange County Choppers Holdings, Inc. motorcycle company.

Paul Sr. sent a letter to Paul Jr. exercising an alleged right to purchase Paul Jr.’s share of the stock he owns in Orange County Choppers since Paul Jr. no longer works there.
Paul Sr. apparently has filed the lawsuit to the Supreme Court of New York; He also filed a suit against Orange County Choppers, Inc., to force his son to give him the stock and damage

The new American Chopper, Senior vs. Jr. went on the air, with this fight still hanging in the air. Essentially if you like reality soap this is at least different than the boy meets a thousand women or vice versa.

The debut show, was interesting. The lawsuit is still ongoing. The family had not spoken for over a year, until just recently. Dad is heartbroken and wants his sons back. But needs their respect.
Jr. was buying or leasing a building for his new shop.

Here's a peak of the first show that was shown this year. motorcycle show American Chopper.

Here is a short of last years last episode.

Stay tuned for some more action and then you have the real bad boy biker show Sons of Anarchy coming in September.

By Cincinnati motorcycle accident attorney Anthony Castelli. Call him to get your questions answered about Ohio bike law or your injury case. 1-800-447-6549

Cincinnati biker attorney Promotes Injury help

If a fellow biker goes down wouldn't you like to know how to help immediately and maybe save a life. Or would you be like me and stand there frozen afraid I'd do more harm than good. Watch this video link on accident scene managemet program. Lets bring this program to Cincinnat. Let me know if you are interested in attending, or helping sponsor this program.

http://accidentscene.org/documents/TonyandVicki-HostaClass100.doc Here's what it takes to bring these folks to Cincinnati.

Face it when riding with our brothers and sisters we are first responders. Yes you can call 911 but wouldn't you like to make a difference before that.

by Cincinnati motorcycyle accident attorney . Anthony Rides a harley low rider and will gladly answer your question over the phone at no charge 1-800-447-6549

Motorcycle Accident Safety tip Going thru Gravel

Going thru gravel can be hazardous to a motorcyclists' health. But sometimes you do not have any alternative. Here are some suggestions that should help to keep you upright.

The first thing to do is slow down before you get to the gravel . But be sure not to be on the brake when you hit the gravel.

Always approach the entry to gravel by heading straight into it; entering from a turn decreases traction. So make sure your font wheel is heading straight ahead.

Hold the knees around the tank as you enter – not in a “hang-on and ride” clutch but as a mechanism for stability. Let your knees work to keep your hips centered. Keep a light but firm grasp on the handlebars. If you can’t get away from a vice-like grip, try to keep your arms loose and flexible. The front wheel must have some play – not too much, but some – and if you don’t give it up, the wheel will take it anyway. The front wheel should do the negotiating, and it will “shimmy” just a bit, whether you like or not. Let it shimmy.

“Speed” on gravel is debated. Some experienced riders like a bit more speed. For most of us, too slow doesn’t work and too fast doesn’t work, either. Assume that “somewhat slow,” is better.

Braking techniques are the cause of most drops. Don’t use the front brake, in fact, don’t brake at all unless you must. In first gear, with no braking, there’s a much better chance of getting thru the gravel, upright and healthy.

Look where you want to go. Keep your head and eyes up - always. Looking down will take you down. Looking anywhere but where you want to go is a mistake.

by Cincinnati motorcycle accident attorney Anthony Castelli. For more information check out his Cincinnati personal injury accident blog

Motorcycle Safety Tip Handling Turns

Turning in A Curve Safely

The first thing to do is to prepare yourself before the turn. That means make sure you are not taking the turn to fast and lightly tap brake before entering a turn so anyone behind you knows you are there. You surely do not want to brake while the front wheel is turned as this could cause you to loose stability.

Most instructors teach the outside inside outside method and roll on the throttle.
This means start on the outside of the turn, helps visibility, then go inside then finsh back outside. Here is a link to a great article in negotiating a curve.

by Cincinnati motorcycle Attorney Anthony Castelli. He invites you to call for a no cost consultation if you have been injured by the fault of another 1-800-447-6549. Or you can go to his web site www.castellilaw.com for educational articles and videos about your rights if injured in Ohio

Motorcycle Accident safety tip - Countersteering

Counter steering is counter intuitive. And for many its hard to explain and hard to understand. Bottom line it's useful if you have to swerve around something. This vidoe has a good explanation. Hopefully it will help you avoid a motorcycle accident.

So watch this video on Countersteering



By Cincinnati, Mason, Ohio motorcycle accident attorney

Ohio Motorcycle Helmet Law The Myth of No Helmet no Compensation

This video by a Cincinnati motorcycle accident attorney explains the motorcycle helmet law of Ohio. It also talks about not letting big insurance goad you into taking a lower settlement because you were injured in a motorcycle accident while not wearing a helmet.


If you have been injured by the fault of another do yourself a favor and consult with a Cincinnati motorcycle accident attorney. tony will be glad to speak with you at no charge. Call 621-2345 or go to his website.

What To Do If You Are Injured in a Motorcycle Accident

So you did everything you could to avoid being in an accident with a cager. But you did not count on someone rearending you while you were stopped at a light .

You now are facing medical bills and lost time from work with your ordinary bills still coming in. You have been seriously injured and the insurance company for the car driver that caused your injury is treating you poorly and questioning why you did not have a helmet on. You are up against their experienced adjustor whose job it is to pay you as little as possible .

Educate yourself about your rights and consult with a Cincinnati, Ohio motorcycle accident lawyer for no cost and no obligation. Take a look at these 5 videos about what you need to do, by motorcycle accident injury attorney Anthony Castelli.

1. How you can afford a motorcycle injury attorney

2. What motorcycle attorenys do and 9 reasons to hire one

3. The motorcycle helmet myth in Ohio

4. Attorney ratings hiring the best motorcycle attorney

5. Protect yourself with Underinsured motorist insurance



Then call Anthony today to get the help you need to get the compensation you deserve 1-800-447-6549 or go to his web site www.castellilaw.com

Free Motorcycle Safety Awareness bumper stickers

If anyone from Ohio would like a free bumper sticker like this, just send me your name and address. My hope is that drivers will see these and think about motorcycles and maybe we can prevent some Motorcycle accidents and injuries and save a life . That would really be grreat. You can email it through my web site http://www.castellilaw.com or leave it here in comments . Ride Safe Ride Free

Great illustration on Motorcycle safety tip

This link shows a great safety tip in an obvious situation where a motorcyclist thinks they are safe but are not.http://www.msgroup.org/CASESTUDY1.aspx?num=5

Although I certaily diagree with the conclusion that this accident was caused by rider error. The cager clearly violated the biker's right of way. But it does point out that the more defensive driving bikers do, the better off they will be to aviod or prevent an accident when a driver fails to look twice to save a life.

by Cincinnati motorcycle accident attorney . Call 621-2345 if you need help.

Motorcycle Accident Safety by the Marines

The United States military became concerned about servicemen and women being injured in motorcycle Accidents. They tried to think outside of the box to protect veterans from motorcycle accident injury. Here is a great short video they created.



This blog was started by Cincinnati motorcycle accident attorney Anthony Castelli.
He will gladly answer any questions you have about Ohio motorcycle injury.

Motorcycle Injury Awareness for Car and Truck drivers

5 Things Car drivers Should Think about Bikers

1. Driving while texting is impaired driving, if you kill somebdy it could be vehicular manslaughter.

2. Motorcycles because they are smaller are not as easily seen. Please check you blind spot twice.

3. Most motorcycle accidents occur when a drive turns in front of a motorcycle. Make sure you look effectivey and make sure the motorcycle is a safe distance back before you turn.

4. Because of its small size a motorcycle may seem to be moving faster than it really is. Don't assume all motorcyclists are speeders.

5 When a motorcycle is in motion, don't think of it as motorcycle; think of it as a person.

Motorcycle Accident Awareness of Ohio Help video

Please watch this video especially if you are a car driver. The aim is to raise awareness to help lessen motorcycle accidents and injury especially in Ohio and everywhere.

Your attitude informs the way you drive a car. How much attention do you give to the fact that motorcycles are on the road with you and may be harder to see, especially if you don't consciously look for them or subconsciously fear or dislike motorcycle riders.

This video helps you get to know motorcycle riders, bikers if you will. most of them would give you the shirt off their backs.



by motorcycle safety awareness and injury help of Ohio

Motorcycle Safety Tips For When You Get Tailgaited

If you ride a motorcycle you probably have been tailgated by a car or truck. It is scary , and dangerous. I represented a young lady who was riding on the back of a motorcycle and they made a slow gentle turn right into a gas station. The car driver following too close (tailgaiting) struck the rear of the bike almost severing my client's leg.

I doubt this could have been prevented since this was innatention on the car driver. But what is the best way to get an intentional or on intentinal car driver off a motorcyclist's back.

Every motorcycle rider knows , that a car or truck is always going to prevail in a car motorcycle accident. So your main objective as a biker and a motorcycle rider is to avoid collisions with cars at all cost, , even if you have to give way.

The first thing that you should do is to put your turn signal on, switch lanes, and get out of the way as fast as reasonably possible.

If you are on a one lane road, put on a right turn signal, and then tap your breaks to get the cars attention. In some cases this will cause the car to back off if they are simply not paying attention while driving.

If it is an intentional tailgater , this hopefully will not anger them because they will see that you are trying to get off of the road, and they will back off and give you time to pull over to let them pass. You should then try to pull off of the road at a place where is safe to do so and let the car pass. When the car passes, now you can resume your ride.


The reason you want to get out of the way, and let a tailgater pass you is plain; you don't want to be rearended, if you are forced to stop or slow down suddenly.
It is better to let them pass, and let it go. The number one reason is that you do not want to end up in the hospital or lose your life.

by Cincinnati motorcycle accident attorney Anthony Castelli