If you ride a motorcycle, you know that the cold isn’t always an excuse to not go out for an afternoon ride. But that doesn’t mean you should take needless risks that might result in a motorcycle accident. Colorado riders need to watch the winter weather and take measures to ensure their safety.

Winter poses its own special risks for riders, due to with the well known fickleness and harshness of our weather. So it is smart to keep in mind a few safety tips to prevent you from becoming an accident statistic this year. Wearing a helmet can do much to keep you off the fatality list, and helmeted riders receive fewer injuries to the head, neck, and spine. Enough said. Remember that helmets are mandatory in Colorado for riders and passengers under the age of 18.

Savvy bikers advise that you make a habit of checking your tire tread and inflation before you head out for your first winter ride. As they say, when you only have two wheels, you really need both! Don’t wait till you are on a back road in the mountains, with bad weather moving in, to notice that the steel belt is peeking through your tire.

Your hands tend follow your eyes, so look where you want to go, not at the snow-covered peaks on the horizon. Resist other common temptations, too. Sure, it’s cold, but if you need a hot drink to thaw you out, stop. And if you are running late, consider taking the car.

Practice defensive driving. Even in good weather, automobile drivers can fail to notice an oncoming motorcycle when you are turning left; a leading cause of injuries to motorcyclists. Better to assume the car driver does not see you, and be prepared to take avoidance maneuvers if necessary.

During a warm week in February, it may have been awhile since you have ridden; give yourself some time to regain your former skill level. While it may take you, say, only a week to get back in the saddle again after a short hiatus, it might take you a month or more to recover skills lost from a long stretch of non-riding. Busy roads with snow and ice are no place to get back up to speed.

If, despite your best efforts to be a safe driver, you are involved in an accident, you should seek out the best legal counsel from among the motorcycle accident lawyers in Denver. First and foremost, look for an attorney who is also a motorcycle rider himself, someone who understands the prejudice typically experienced by riders, even when they are not at fault and there are witnesses to support that fact. Attorneys that have experience in the saddle and in the courtroom are often the best motorcycle accident lawyers. They will know how to combat this discrimination and will not be caught by surprise when the bias surfaces. With direct knowledge of motorcycle riding, as well as the experience and perspective needed to understand your case, he can provide the legal assistance you need.

With the high winds, snow and ice that characterize our winters, it is almost inevitable that some rider will be in a motorcycle accident. Colorado residents who find themselves involved in an incident should seek out an experienced attorney for more information.