Understanding What Motorcycle Racing Teaches About Risk, Injury, and Recovery
Motorcycle racing is more than a sport—it’s a constant exercise in awareness, control, and risk management. For Christopher Shows, a Baton Rouge personal injury attorney and lifelong motorcyclist, those lessons from the track have directly shaped how he approaches accident cases and recovery strategies for his clients across Louisiana.
With over 30 years of legal experience and decades of hands-on riding, Christopher shares how lessons learned from the road apply to managing risk, understanding injury, and navigating the complex realities of modern personal injury claims.
Motorcycling and Risk Management: Lessons from a Lifetime of Riding
Christopher Shows has spent his life around motorcycles. From his first bike—an Indian Boy Racer—to competing in cross-country and trials racing, motorcycles have been in his blood since childhood. Even after scaling back his fleet following a cancer recovery, he continues to ride and stay connected to the sport.
That lifelong passion taught him to see risk differently. Riding, especially on the street, requires what he calls hypervigilance. Every turn, every lane change, and every stoplight demands attention. Riders must anticipate danger long before it happens—watching for front wheels turning, scanning for oil stripes, and staying alert to unpredictable drivers.
“It’s about leaving yourself an out,” Christopher explains. “Don’t box yourself in next to an 18-wheeler. Don’t sit still at a red light without checking your mirrors. You have to stay one step ahead.”
Louisiana Roads: A Challenge for Motorcyclists
Louisiana’s aging infrastructure adds another layer of risk. The state’s fuel tax hasn’t been adjusted in decades, leading to billions in deferred road maintenance. Asphalt deforms in the heat, creating deep wheel ruts and uneven surfaces that pose serious hazards for motorcyclists.
“The oil stripe in the center of the lane is both high and slick,” Christopher notes. “And those ruts collect water, increasing hydroplane risk. Riders have to constantly read the road and adapt to those changes.”
From uneven pavement to bridge icing in winter, Louisiana’s road conditions demand skill, awareness, and preparation.
Understanding Motorcycle Injuries and Recovery
Having raced for decades—and raised two sons who also rode competitively—Christopher has firsthand experience with the physical toll of crashes. While he’s been fortunate to avoid life-changing on-road injuries, he’s seen everything from broken vertebrae to collarbone fractures and shoulder damage, both personally and in clients.
Motorcycle crashes often result in spinal, neck, shoulder, and wrist injuries because riders separate from the bike and absorb the full impact. But safety technology is evolving. Professional MotoGP racers now use airbag suits that inflate in milliseconds during a crash—technology that’s slowly becoming available to everyday riders.
“It’s coming,” Christopher says. “I expect long-distance riders and touring motorcyclists to start using these systems soon. It’s a real safety game-changer.”
The Role of Training, Gear, and Awareness in Preventing Accidents
For Christopher, proper training is the foundation of safe riding. He strongly advocates for programs like the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), which offers structured, multi-level training for riders in Louisiana and across the country.
He also believes off-road riding provides valuable skills for managing traction and balance in unpredictable conditions. “Riding in low-traction environments teaches control and how to react when the bike slides or loses grip,” he explains. “Those instincts translate directly to street safety.”
Small, controlled training environments help riders understand how body positioning and weight distribution affect handling—a lesson that applies whether you’re maneuvering over rocks or leaning into a 180-mph corner on a racetrack.
Why Staying Calm and Getting Legal Help Early Matters
When a motorcycle accident happens, the aftermath can feel overwhelming—medical treatments, insurance calls, and legal paperwork all at once. Christopher emphasizes the importance of staying calm, staying quiet, and calling an attorney early.
“Years ago, people could handle claims directly with insurance adjusters,” he explains. “That’s not true anymore. The industry has changed from ‘Good Hands’ to ‘Boxing Gloves.’ Adjusters today are trained to minimize claims—not settle them fairly.”
He warns that even casual conversations with insurance representatives can hurt your case. Many riders unknowingly say things that reduce the value of their claim or limit what they can recover later.
“The earlier we get involved, the better,” he says. “We preserve evidence, handle the communication, and protect your rights. That’s what gives clients peace of mind and the best chance at full recovery.”
A Final Word on Risk, Recovery, and Resilience
After decades on the track and in the courtroom, Christopher Shows has learned one simple truth: risk can’t be eliminated, but it can be managed. Whether it’s the split-second decisions made on a bike or the long legal process that follows an accident, awareness and preparation make all the difference.
For Louisiana riders, that means staying trained, geared up, and legally protected.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle or car accident in Louisiana, Christopher Shows and his team at Pearson Shows Personal Injury Attorneys help clients rebuild with clarity, compassion, and strong trial advocacy.
Learn more at pierceandshows.com.