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Motorcycle Safety: A Quick Pre-Ride Inspection Checklist

Robert Stahle • September 7, 2018
motorcycle safety - Fitch & Stahle Law Firm

In recent years, there’s been a movement to increase awareness of motorcycles on the roadways. These campaigns have mostly been focused on tips for drivers and passengers in other types of vehicles on how to safely share the roadways with motorcyclists. While most motorcycle operators understand the importance to ride safely and responsibly, it’s also important to consider the physical condition and functioning of the motorcycle itself before setting out on the open road.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association(NHTSA), motorcyclist deaths occur at 27 times the frequency than fatalities involving other types of vehicles. As a motorcyclist, for your own safety and that of everyone else on the road, it’s important to do a quick pre-ride inspection whether you’re dusting cobwebs off your bike after months in the garage or heading out for your daily ride.

Inspect Your Wheels

Motorcyclists have less control than a passenger type vehicle when a tire blows. Taking just a couple minutes to inspect the integrity of your tires can save you from a potentially devastating accident.

When inspecting your tires, check to make sure that the pressure is correct, especially if there’s been a recent change in temperature. Assess the treads and look for worn spots, bulges and foreign objects that have punctured the tire or become lodged in the tread.

While you’re there, also check to make sure the spokes are firmly intact, and that the rims are not bent or damaged with visible separation between the rim and the wheel. Now’s also a good time to do a quick spot check on the health of your bakes.

Check Your Lights

It’s often easy for other motorists to misjudge how much space they need to give to motorcyclists. When your lights aren’t working properly, it significantly increases the chances that other motorists won’t be able to react appropriately to your actions on the road. A quick 2-minute light inspection is a must for your safety.

Check brake lights, tail lights and headlights – including high beams. You’ll also want to look at the condition of lighting wiring and take note that reflectors are firmly intact.

Gauge Fluid Levels

Unfortunately, this is one that often gets left out of quick, pre-ride checks. Leaks can happen at any point between routine fluid checks, so it’s important to make sure all fluid levels – including brake, transmission, oil, coolant and fuel – are at proper levels. Checking for changes in the color or viscosity of fluids can also help identify other mechanical issues before they become a major problem on the road.

Look Over the Controls

Finally, check all the controls to make sure they’re in good working order. Are cables and hoses firmly intact with no frays or other signs of wear? Check that controls move smoothly with the right amount of tension. Any change in the way the controls function can interfere with your reaction time on the road.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

These steps can help ensure that you arrive to and from your destination safely, but if an accident should occur, don’t waste a minute contacting a personal injury lawyer to review your case. If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident, we’re experienced with personal injury claims and we can help. Contact Fitch & Stahle Law Offices today for a free consultation.

What Victims Should Know About Drunk Driving Injury Lawsuits in Iowa and Nebraska

By Robert Stahle • July 28, 2025
Including Dram Shop Liability

Drunk Driving Accidents & Nebraska Dram Shop Laws:

By Robert Stahle • July 16, 2025
How a Sioux City Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You Seek Justice Each year, drunk driving crashes leave thousands injured or killed—causing devastating emotional, physical, and financial consequences. Despite strict DUI laws and public awareness campaigns, impaired drivers continue to pose a serious threat across Iowa, Nebraska, and the country. For victims, the aftermath of a drunk driving accident is more than just painful—it can be life-altering. At Fitch & Stahle Law Firm , we fight to hold negligent drivers (and sometimes even the businesses that served them) accountable under the law. If you’ve been hurt in a crash involving a drunk driver, we’ll explain your legal options, including how Nebraska’s Dram Shop law may play a role in your case. Why File a Drunk Driving Lawsuit? Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not just illegal—it’s a reckless act that endangers everyone on the road. When a driver chooses to get behind the wheel impaired, they can (and should) be held civilly liable for the damage they cause. While a criminal DUI case focuses on punishing the offender, a civil personal injury lawsuit is about helping you rebuild. It allows you to pursue compensation for: Medical expenses (past and future) Lost wages and diminished earning capacity Pain and suffering Emotional trauma Property damage Rehabilitation costs Punitive damages (in cases of extreme recklessness) Nebraska’s Dram Shop Law: Holding Alcohol Providers Accountable Under Nebraska’s Dram Shop Law , victims of drunk driving accidents may also be able to file a lawsuit against the business or establishment that overserved the intoxicated driver. Here’s how it works: A licensed alcohol vendor (such as a bar, restaurant, or event venue) can be held liable if they served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person or a minor , and that person later caused injury or death. Nebraska law limits these claims to commercial sellers of alcohol—not social hosts. A dram shop claim can help recover damages if the drunk driver lacks adequate insurance or personal assets. This area of law is complex, and not all attorneys are familiar with how to navigate the strict requirements and timelines involved in dram shop litigation. That’s why working with a firm like Fitch & Stahle , which handles cases in both Nebraska and Iowa , is crucial. What Needs to Be Proven in a Drunk Driving Case? To recover damages in a drunk driving lawsuit, your legal team must prove the following: Duty of care – The driver had a legal responsibility to drive safely. Breach of duty – That responsibility was violated by driving impaired. Causation – The impairment directly led to the accident and your injuries. Damages – You experienced real harm—such as medical costs, lost income, or emotional distress. In dram shop cases, your lawyer will also need to demonstrate that the bar or establishment served a visibly intoxicated individual who went on to cause the crash. Why You Need a DUI Injury Lawyer in Nebraska or Iowa Drunk driving cases are rarely straightforward—especially when multiple parties may share liability. Insurance companies will often try to minimize payouts, shift blame, or dispute your injuries altogether. At Fitch & Stahle Law Firm , we will: Preserve key evidence such as police reports, BAC results, surveillance video, and eyewitness accounts Analyze potential dram shop liability Work with medical and accident reconstruction experts to build your case Identify all available sources of compensation Aggressively negotiate with insurance companies—or take your case to trial if needed Our team has deep experience with Nebraska’s unique dram shop provisions and Iowa’s liability standards. We understand what it takes to hold all negligent parties accountable. What Damages Can You Recover? Depending on the specifics of your case, compensation may include: Economic damages : Medical bills, lost income, future treatment costs, property loss Non-economic damages : Pain, suffering, mental anguish, loss of companionship Punitive damages : Intended to punish especially reckless conduct—like drunk driving In cases where dram shop liability applies, these claims can be especially valuable when the at-fault driver is underinsured or has no assets. Time Is Critical – Act Now In Nebraska, the statute of limitations for personal injury and dram shop lawsuits is typically four years , but specific timelines may apply depending on the facts of your case. Evidence like surveillance footage and eyewitness memories can fade fast—so it’s essential to speak with an attorney right away. Get Help from a Sioux City Personal Injury Attorney Who Understands Nebraska Dram Shop Law If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver—especially one who may have been overserved at a Nebraska bar or restaurant—you have the right to seek full and fair compensation. At Fitch & Stahle Law Firm , we’ve helped countless clients across Sioux City , Iowa , and Nebraska recover after devastating crashes. We’ll handle the legal details so you can focus on healing. Call us today for a free consultation — and let’s start fighting for the justice you deserve.