Hopefully everyone got to enjoy the beautiful weather we had this past weekend. Even though spring seems to arrive in fits and starts (It's rained all day), it is now officially that time of year when we can expect improving weather, and often glorious stretches of clear skies and pleasant temperatures. I took my family to a tulip festival in the Willamette Valley on Sunday, and it was clear from the size of crowds that people are ready to get outside.

Unfortunately, a little sunburn isn't the only danger good weather brings. Good weather also means the roads are going to increasingly be filled with people who don't have the protection of a two-ton automobile cocooning them. When the sun comes out, the number of people that take to the streets on motorcycles increases dramatically. Just yesterday in the news locally there were two reported serious car and motorcycle collisions, with one man on a motorcycle losing his life. It's a sad reality that these types of collisions happen with increasing frequency when the weather turns nice. The attorneys at Schauermann Thayer Jacobs Staples & Edwards have represented numerous seriously injured motorcyclists and their families over the years, and many of their fateful rides took place on beautiful days just like the ones we've been having.

Tragedies like these highlight the need for all drivers to drive attentively. It can be bad enough to be involved in a collision between two automobiles. But when one of the parties to a collision is a motorcycle the consequences are usually more severe. Please make a focused effort to use caution on the roadways: don't call, text, or otherwise use your electronic devices while you're driving; check and re-check blind spots for motorcycles before changing lanes; and give yourself plenty of stopping distance. A sideswipe or rear-end collision that might have resulted in no injury if two cars were involved could be deadly if a motorcycle is involved. It can be tempting for drivers and riders to get distracted during these sunny days, with so much to see and so many fun places to hurry and get to. Do your part to keep the roads safe by taking your time and paying attention. That will help ensure that everyone has a safe spring and summer.