Does Police Have a Bias Against Motorcycle Riders?

December 24, 2020

No psychological studies are available to support the theory that police officers exhibit prejudice against motorcycle riders. However, regular riders are well aware of the fact that this bias does exist.

The Origins of Motorcycle Bias

One must only look to the media portrayals of motorcycle riders to understand the origins of bias against motorcycle riders. Many fictional forms of entertainment depict motorcycle riders as rebels who are not concerned with the conventions of society. This “bad boy” image likely plays a role in how others, including police officers, view motorcyclists.

The mobility of motorcycles may also play a role in the bias some officers show against riders. Motorcycles are much more maneuverable in traffic than cars. Some riders are not shy about taking advantage of this capability.

The Consequences of Bias Against Motorcycle Riders

The bias police officers have against motorcycle riders can result in several consequences for the rider. First, there is the presumption of rider liability whenever a motorcycle is one of the vehicles involved in an accident. Secondly, motorcyclists often receive lower settlement offers from insurance adjusters after accidents. Even when a court decides that the other driver was at-fault in an accident, the motorcycle rider may receive less damage compensation from a jury than a driver in a car with similar injuries.

Police bias against motorcycle riders can show itself through several false assumptions:

Motorcyclists Are Difficult to See

Police officers and other people sometimes assume that the small size of motorcycles makes it more difficult for the driver of another vehicle to see a rider. However, this argument is often illegitimate. Motorcycles are visible through rear and side mirrors like other vehicles. A large number of crashes blamed on the inability of drivers to see a motorcycle rider are front-accidents. These accidents happen when a car turns left in front of a motorcyclist without the right of way.

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Motorcycles are Loud

Police officers and other motorists blame the loud sound of a motorcycle engine for contributing to an accident. This argument is problematic since a loud sound from a motorcycle would seem to call attention to its presence even if other motorists do not see the rider.

Motorcyclists Enjoy Speeding

Anyone who has spent any significant amount of time on American roads has seen a motorcycle rider traveling at high speeds. But most riders do not make it a habit to drive at unsafe speeds. One report shows that the average motorcycle is traveling at just over 20 miles per hour when an accident occurs. Only one in 1,000 motorcycle accidents involve a driver traveling faster than 85 miles per hour.

Motorcyclists are Reckless

Reckless is another unfair description often attached to motorcycle riders. In truth, a large percentage of motorcycle riders who experience accidents are young with little riding experience. More than nine out of ten of these riders also received no formal training regarding motorcycle safety. However, accidents involving motorcycle riders have much more to do with inexperience than reckless behavior.

How Motorcycle Riders Can Protect Themselves From Bias

Some actions will help motorcycle riders who have an accident or find it necessary to interact with police officers.

Be Kind – This tip should go without saying, but it is a good idea to remain courteous when making contact with police officers.
Wear a Helmet – A motorcycle helmet may save a rider’s life during an accident. Wearing a helmet is also a demonstration that the rider is concerned with safety.
Ride Safely – The best thing a rider can do to combat the stereotypes associated with motorcycles is to not live up to them. Drivers should refrain from speeding, lane-splitting, and other reckless behaviors.

The unfair bias against motorcyclists is an unfortunate fact of life for motorcycle enthusiasts. This bias is the result of several misconceptions and can result in problems for motorcycle riders. Fortunately, there are steps available for motorcyclists to avoid becoming the target of this bias.

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Dr. Andrea Natale’s AFib Work

Last year, Dr. Andrea Natale became one of the first cardiologists to implant a device to reduce strokes in patients with non-ventricular atrial fibrillation. The implant surgery marks the most recent in a series of medical contributions by the world-renowned Dr. Natale to save lives and advance scientific knowledge of AFib. Dr. Andrea Natale implanted a WATCHMAN FLXTM Left Atrial Appendage Closure device in August 2020. The device cuts off blood flow to an area of the heart known as the left atrial appendage, which prevents blood clots from forming in the LAA. The device can make blood thinners unnecessary for patients suffering from AFib. What is AFib? AFib refers to a type of irregular heartbeat. A healthy heart beats between 40 and 100 beats per minute. AFib causes the heart to quiver, beating 300 to 600 beats per minute. If untreated, AFib can damage organs, including the brain, or cause strokes. Patients with AFib are five to six times more likely to experience a stroke than members of the general population. Dr. Andrea Natale’s AFib Work Dr. Andrea Natale is an expert in Cardiac Electrophysiology, a field that studies and treats electrical abnormalities of the human heart, such as AFib.. In addition to being one of the first to implant the Left Atrial Appendage Closure device, he performed the first percutaneous epicardial radiofrequency ablations in the U.S. for patients who aren’t helped by conventional ablations. A cardiac ablation creates scars in the heart to block abnormal electrical signals and restore a normal heartbeat. Dr. Andrea Natale also has developed several catheter-based treatments for rhythm disorders and holds several patents. Currently involved in several trials, his research interests include Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, defibrillation mechanisms, the effects of thrombosis on platelet aggregation, signal-averaging, TxA2 metabolites production in patients with unstable angina and post-myocardial infarction, and ablation treatment of supraventricular arrhythmias. In addition to being a much sought-after speaker, he has published more than 100 articles in professional journals, and edits the Journal of Investigational Cardiac Electrophysiology. His research has been featured more than 500 times, and academics and researchers have cited his research more than 10,000 times. Editorial Boards Dr. Andrea Natale serves as a reviewer or member of the editorial boards of several prestigious medical journals, including the following: The American Heart Journal The New England Journal of Medicine The American Journal of Cardiology Journal of the American Heart Association The British Medical Journal The International Heart Journal The International Journal of Cardiology. Publications on which he serves on editorial boards include: World Journal of Cardiology The Journal of the American College of Cardiology, The Journal of Innovations in Cardiac Rhythm Management, The Journal of Interventional Electrophysiology The Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology Review Dr. Natale’s Career Dr. Natale graduated with honors in 1985 from Universita’ degli Studi di Firenze, School of Medicine and Surgery in Florence. After that, he studied cardiology at the Catholic University School of Cardiology in Rome. His first career post was as head of the physiopathology section of the Italian Air Force’s Department of Medicine. He then relocated to the United States where he completed a research fellowship at Baylor College’s Methodist Hospital, followed by residencies at the University of Wisconsin and Western Ontario University in Canada. After completing residencies, he served on the faculty at Duke University, becoming the director of electrophysiology and section head of the Department of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology. Next, he accepted the position of medical director at Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Atrial Fibrillation, before being named to the Taskforce for Atrial Fibrillation created by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Natale also served as director of the Arrhythmia Center at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, as well as the executive director of the Al Sabah Arrhythmia Institute at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Medical Center in New York. In 2008, he moved to the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute (TCAI) in Austin, Texas, where he currently practices medicine. While at TCAI, he has simultaneously served at other universities and institutions, including Stanford, Western Reserve University, and the Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, where he inserted the Left Atrial Appendage Closure device. Dr. Natale’s Honors Dr. Natale has received many prestigious medical honors, including: Top Doc in Cleveland and Austin Best Doc in Northern Ohio Best Doc in the United States Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology Fellow of the American College of Cardiology Fellow of the Heart Rhythm Society
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A 17-year-old boy died by suicide hours after being scammed

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Self-storage facility coverage and tips

How to safely store—and best insure—your off-premise stuff Self-storage units can be a good way keep clutter out of your home. And having the right insurance coverage is the best way to financially protect your off-premise belongings. Properly choose your self-storage facility The storage facility you choose can impact the safety of your belongings. To choose wisely: Look for a secure facility. At a minimum, make sure there’s fencing that secures the entire property and controlled access. Ideally, the storage building should have onsite security features such as 24-hour video surveillance cameras and coded security pads. Also, find out about the facility’s procedures in cases such as a fire or flood. Look for a unit with climate control. Very high or very low temperatures and dampness can quickly cause damage to appliances and furniture. Make sure that rising ground water from snow or rain is unable to penetrate the storage. Consider a storage company that offers insurance. If your renters or homeowners insurance does not provide off-premises coverage, you may want to opt for one of the storage company’s coverage options. Keep in mind that any facility should also have its own insurance to cover damages to the property, or injuries that occur on the premises. Check that the facility is clean and well maintained. If a storage facility is not routinely and thoroughly cleaned, there is a good possibility no one is monitoring for bugs and rodent infestations. Verify that the facility has a permanent, reliable pest extermination contract in place before you trust them with your belongings. Before you store your stuff Take steps to adequately insure your belongings before you put them in storage. Ask your insurance professional about off-premises coverage. Some standard homeowners and renters insurance policies include coverage for personal possessions kept off-premises, including those in a storage facility. Off-premises coverage includes theft and damage from fires, tornadoes and other perils listed in the policy. However, it does not cover for damage caused by flooding, earthquakes, mold and mildew, vermin or poor maintenance. And check the coverage limits, as these vary by company. Find out what type of financial protection is provided by the storage facility. Most facilities provide reimbursement based on the square footage of the unit. Check both the coverage limits and whether it is provided on an actual cash value or replacement cost basis. Most storage facilities will also offer a variety of supplemental insurance packages; ask your insurance professional if it makes sense to buy this additional coverage. Consider special insurance or storage for expensive items. If you intend to store valuable property—such as art, antiques, jewelry or furs—there may be dollar restrictions under your standard homeowners or renters insurance policy for theft. Ask your insurance professional about adding a floater to your policy in order to fully cover these items. There are also specialized storage facilities available for these types of items, as they often need to be kept at specific temperature and humidity levels. Small items such as jewelry will cost less to insure if they are kept in a bank safe-deposit box. Keep in mind contents in a safe-deposit box are not insured by the bank. Create an inventory of items to be kept off-premises in storage. Add the items you’re moving to the storage unit to your home inventory so that you can keep track of your belongings and make sure you have the right amount of insurance to protect them.
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Does Police Have a Bias Against Motorcycle Riders?

The Origins of Motorcycle Bias

The Consequences of Bias Against Motorcycle Riders

Motorcyclists Are Difficult to See

Motorcycles are Loud

Motorcyclists Enjoy Speeding

Motorcyclists are Reckless

How Motorcycle Riders Can Protect Themselves From Bias

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