Sun Times reporting motorcycle accidents on the rise

The cover story of today's Sun Times is a story that we have covered many times in this blog -- the frequency and severity of motorcycle accidents in Chicagoland.

The article makes some good points about why the numbers of motorcycle crashes is up, including increased numbers of relatively inexperienced riders out on the road.  However, the article gives short shrift to the most preventable causes of motorcycle accidents: the increased incidence of distracted driving due to cell phone usage and the simple failure of drivers of automobiles to see motorcyclists and yield the right of way to them when required.

The lawyer interviewed in the article made a few good points for riders: (1) you should travel with as much personal protection as possible, including a helmet and (2) you need to buy as much insurance as possible, including medical expense coverage and underinsured motorist coverage as possible because almost every motorcycle accident will result in significant injuries and medical expenses, and that kind of coverage provides protection to you and your family.