Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

Motorcycle Accidents

2011-10-06T16:43:00.001-06:00

There is an average of 9,000 motorcycle accidents in Florida every year. Of these, approximately 400 result in death, and 7,500 result in serious personal injury. The reason for this is that motorcycles do not offer the same protection as larger vehicles making an impact to a motorcycle an impact to the biker as well.

The Fort Myers personal injury attorneys at the Cochran Firm South Florida respect and understand the freedom and enjoyment that only a motorcycle can offer. We also know how devastating a motorcycle accident can be for riders. We are dedicated to fighting for your rights, and making sure you are fully compensated for any damages you incur during and after a motorcycle accident.

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

The most common injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents include:

· Traumatic brain injury

· Spinal cord injuries

· Amputations

· Paralysis

· Cuts, burns, and broken bones

While it is true that helmets and other protective gear may help reduce some of these injuries, no biker is safe from the double impact most motorcycle accidents cause.

You deserve compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, and physical and emotional pain and suffering. You deserve the attention of the personal injury attorneys at the Cochran Firm South Florida, who will fight to ensure all of your damages are covered.

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident in or around Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm, or Ft. Myers, Florida, please contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at the Cochran Firm South Florida to schedule a free initial consultation today.

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2010-04-27T14:43:00.001-06:00

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Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

2009-03-20T07:27:00.001-06:00

One third of all motorcyclists killed in motorcycle accidents were speeding. Half of all fatal motorcycle accidents involved alcohol. Along with speeding and driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, dangerous driving behaviors are a major cause of many motorcycle accidents. These behaviors include failure to yield, failure to change lanes properly, failure to observe a safe distance, passing on the shoulder, and weaving in and out of traffic.

If you add the risks involved in riding a motorcycle such as road hazards like potholes, oil slicks, puddles, debris and uneven pavement it is understandable why motorcycle accidents have been on the increase since the nineties. Motorcycles are smaller visually and more likely to be obscured to other drivers in their rear view and side view mirrors.

A motorcycle has no doors, no roof, in some instances no airbags and no safety belts, therefore no rider protection. Inclement weather and driver inexperience also contribute to a rise in motorcycle accidents and fatalities.

All these facts cannot dampen the enthusiasm many feel for riding on the open road on their machines and experiencing the exhilaration only riding a motorcycle can deliver.

If you or someone you care about was injured or killed in an accident involving a motorcycle, please contact a motorcycle accident attorney in your area today to learn about your legal rights.

Identifying Unsafe Motorcycle Helmets

2009-03-06T10:20:00.001-07:00

The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires that all helmets sold in the U.S. meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218. Every year DOT does compliance testing to check that helmets are meeting this standard. Many states also have laws requiring the use only of these helmets.

However, there are helmets sold that do not meet this standard -- they are sold as novelty items and some realize they are unsafe but some do not. People wear them anyway.

Features to Look For in a Safe Helmet

A strong chin strap that is riveted to the helmet
A weight of three pounds, not less
An inner lining of polystyrene foam about an inch thick
No projections on the helmet exterior larger than 2/10 inch

Labels to Look For

There should be a sticker on the back of the helmet's outside surface with "DOT" on it. There are also fake DOT stickers, sold separately and attached to a non-complying helmet.
So also look inside the helmet for a Snell label or an ANSI label (American National Standards Institute). If the helmet meets the standards of one of these private, non-profit organizations, the chances are good that it also meets the DOT standards.
There should be a manufacturer's label somewhere on the helmet that gives the manufacturer's name, the model and size, the month and year it was made, and the materials it was made from. The presence of this label is a good indication that the helmet is compliant.

No single label is sure proof that a helmet is compliant, but if all the labels are there and the helmet has the features listed above, you can be confident.

Wearing a helmet does not of course guarantee you will never be injured. But it does reduce your chances of a brain injury, and these are among the most devastating injuries a person can sustain. They can cause countless disabling conditions, depending on exactly which part of the brain was hurt, and how badly, and can even paralyze you for life.

If you have been severely injured in a motorcycle accident and would like to know more about your legal rights and options, please contact us for a highly-qualified motorcycle accident attorney.

Cost of Motorcycle Injuries

2009-03-04T11:29:00.002-07:00

Attempts to discover and tabulate the cost of motorcycle injuries nationwide run into many problems. There are many types of cost such as long-term medical costs, long-term disability, short-term wage loss, lost quality of life, and acute medical costs. Of those, the only costs that have received much attention so far are the acute medical costs.

A Problematic Project

The U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) did a study of the literature on motorcycle accident injury costs. They reviewed 25 studies, most published in the 1990s, and immediately ran into the many problems that make this task difficult. Some are:

Most studies have not specified what year’s dollars they used to report costs
Costs vary widely among the states
Some include physician fees as well as hospital charges but many do not
Some try to measure actual costs and others use hospital charges, which are typically much higher – e.g., one study in California found that hospital charges were about two-and-a-half times as high as actual costs

Helmets Lower Costs

However, one thing all the studies had in common was that they found higher costs for riders who had not been wearing a helmet. Those who had been wearing one had lower acute medical costs. However the difference between these categories varied among the studies, from ten percent difference to 200 percent difference.

Some Cost Findings

Fatal cases incurred lower costs, as treatment stopped when the rider died. In head injury vs. no head injury:

Those admitted to a trauma center paid an average of $43,214 for head injury treatment but only $15,528 if there was no head injury
Those admitted to a hospital with a head injury paid an average of $22,490 but those with no head injury paid $11,430

Comparing helmet use vs no helmet use, non-helmet wearers paid:

An average of 1.38 times as much as helmet-wearers when admitted to a trauma center
An average of 1.63 times as much as helmet-wearers when admitted to a hospital
An average of 1.23 times as much as helmet-wearers when admitted to an emergency room only

Those figures are averages of the various study figures, some of which included physician costs and some of which included only facility charges.

The finding that helmet use reduces medical costs is not new. In spite of the ongoing controversy about helmet laws and the known risks of riding without a helmet, many riders still prefer to ride bare-headed. Part of the joy of motorcycle riding is the sense of freedom and a helmet does reduce peripheral vision and head movement and does make the head feel hot.

If you have been severely injured in a motorcycle accident and would like legal assistance, please contact us today for an experienced motorcycle attorney.

Allstate and Perewitz at Bike Week

2009-02-27T17:02:00.001-07:00

Dave Perewitz is the owner of Perewitz Cycle Fabrications, a bike-building business that he started in his father’s backyard shed 30 years ago. On Perewitz’ website you can see photos of some of his bikes. He has teamed up with Allstate to promote motorcycle safety and with Allstate personnel he will be traveling around the country to major events.

First up is Bike Week in Daytona, Florida this coming weekend. He has built a “little bobber” for Allstate which will be on display and then raffled off later in the year. At Bike Week he will be at the Allstate Garage and is welcoming people to come by and visit. He will have a computer there and will be happy to help you design a bike on it with a virtual build.

At that Garage you can also have a massage, sign up for the “little bobber” raffle, get cool in a misting station, and enjoy free internet access. Perewitz will be answering questions and signing autographs and photos.

The focus is motorcycle safety and he will be promoting Rider’s Edge classes. Anyone who takes one of these classes will receive a special insurance discount from Allstate.

Allstate’s safety focus is intersections. The company has some “intersection modules” that it bought from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and they include a DVD and some printed material. Allstate has donated such modules to driving schools and libraries around Orlando and Daytona.

Allstate will also have a supply of driving tip cards to distribute free. On one side they have tips for riders and on the other side tips for drivers. They are designed to raise awareness among both riders and drivers of safety considerations.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident and need some legal help, please contact us for an experienced motorcycle attorney.

An Extra-Daring Bike Stunt

2009-02-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

An Australian group of freestyle riders called the Crusty Demons are currently touring New Zealand performing stunts. One of the members, Cam Sinclair of Melbourne, did a double backflip last week on his 250cc dirt bike. He launched from one ramp, flew about 18 meters in the air (about 54 feet), did two reverse revolutions, and landed on another ramp 15 meters away (45 feet).

There was a crowd of 8,000 watching and they leaped to their feet as soon as he landed. Sinclair is only the third person to succeed in this stunt and the other two are U.S. riders who have abandoned it for safety reasons.

Sinclair had practiced this stunt over 100 times with a foam rubber landing pad and had also performed it in Sydney, landing in the harbor. On this occasion in New Zealand there were no safety measures.

Far from regarding this as a triumphant conclusion, Sinclair sees it as a beginning.

“It’s opened the doors to some big things that I've got to work on – trying to do some variations," he told a New Zealand reporter. "I want to start taking my hands and feet off (while airborne) and stuff like that."

Sinclair has been a rider since the age of five. Six months ago he crashed and broke a collar bone and has had other broken bones and “lots of concussions and battle scars along the way”. He plans to do stunt riding for only six more years.

Motorcycle riding on the U.S. highways is far less likely to give you broken bones and concussion than a double backflip, but they are nevertheless real dangers. Bikers are killed continually on our roads. If you have sustained any severe injury in a motorcycle accident and would like some legal support and help, please contact us for a motorcycle accident attorney in your area.

Helmet Laws: Some Pros and Cons

2009-02-06T14:01:00.002-07:00

There is an online poll on the topic of whether helmets should be required for all bike riders. Being a hot topic, it has 230 comments posted so far. Here is a summary of the arguments put forth.

In Favor of Helmet Laws

Just as everyone in a car must wear a seatbelt, so every biker should wear a helmet.
Helmets save lives and protect the less skilled riders.
If a vehicle driver is in an accident with a bike rider and the biker is killed, the driver will have that death on his/her conscience for life and that isn't fair.
It isn't fair to other drivers to create traffic backups by being in an accident without a helmet, being killed, and thereby causing an accident investigation.
Helmet laws would help to keep insurance rates down.

Against Helmet Laws

It should be a matter of personal choice. In places with no laws many people wear helmets anyway if they judge it to be safer.
A helmet law would be the beginning of endless government meddling. Next would be a law requiring full-face helmets; then a law requiring neck braces; then one for spinal armor to prevent broken backs. Then it would be illegal to wear shorts or any clothing which didn't meet some government standard or other …
People drive convertibles without wearing helmets and ride in school buses without seatbelts. So why shouldn't bikers ride without helmets?
Motorcyclists are the most skilled and attentive operators on the road. Bikers should not have to suffer a helmet because of the inattentive driving of passenger vehicles.
Helmets reduce your range of vision, block your hearing and overheat your head, all of which makes you less in control of your riding.

Only four states have no helmet law whatever. Twenty states have mandatory helmet laws for all ages. Twenty-four states have helmet laws for riders over specified ages. Two states have laws with both age and insurance requirements. You can see a color-coded map at the Bikers’ Rights site and links to pages on each state.

If you have been badly injured in a motorcycle accident and need some legal assistance, please contact the law firm of Hardesty Tyde Green & Ashton, P.A. in Jacksonville, Florida.

“I Didn’t See Him,” Said the Motorist?

2009-02-04T16:09:00.001-07:00

The CAR 2 CAR Communication Consortium is a non-profit European organization. It is focused on increased road safety through inter-vehicle communication. They would like to establish a European industry standard based on wireless LAN components with guaranteed European-wide operability. Eventually they plan to go world-wide.

European roads are forecast to have heavy increases in vehicle kilometers. CAR 2 CAR held their second Forum in 2008, with lectures, workgroups and discussions on “Car-to-X-Communication” – referring to the great variety in types of vehicles which use the roads.

They plan to use radio to interlink vehicles and the road infrastructure so that drivers will be informed of any potentially unsafe situations. A uniform radio frequency has already been established of 5.9GHz. Research institutes are involved, and suppliers of hardware and software. Car manufacturers are also joining forces with the Consortium:

Audi
BMW
Daimler
Honda
Open
Volvo
Fiat
Volkswagen

Honda’s Implementations

Honda has an Advanced Safety Vehicle project which is part of the CAR 2 CAR group. They are using GPS data to warn a biker when he is on a collision course with another vehicle and when he is in another vehicle’s blind spot.

The rider will see lights at the base of the windscreen whenever he is approaching danger and by wearing a Bluetooth-equipped helmet will be able to hear a warning also. One might wonder about the blind-spot communication, since GPS is accurate only to about 17 feet and to be in a vehicle’s blind spot one would have to be closer than that. However, Honda has not given any details on that yet.

By increasing communication between all road users, the CAR 2 CAR Communication Consortium hopes to reduce accidents and keep the roads safe. No longer will a motorist be able to say, “I didn’t see him”, as a reason for having collided with a motorcycle.

It is not known when Honda’s new bike will be available.

The HD 2009 Street Glide

2009-01-26T16:31:00.000-07:00

According to many, the Harley-Davidson 2009 Street Glide has many Highs and provokes few Sighs. It's a touring bike with a new two-piece frame which is robotically welded. The total number of frame parts is 40 instead of the 90 in the previous frame.

This makes it a very stable bike which gives riding confidence and invites you to feel free on the curves and push the speed on the straight stretches. The Street Glide weighs 810 lb, but it handles well. It will flick left or right easily and will stay upright without you putting one foot down.

The engine is the same as previously -- a 1584 cc Twin Cam. The peak torque of 92.6 ft-lbs is at 3500 rpm. It has very effective Brembo ABS front brakes -- an excellent improvement. The saddle is a little sculpted and comfortable on long rides.

If you like chrome-encircled analog gauges you will be pleased with the instrumentation. In the speedometer is a small LCD display that gives you the odometer, a low-fuel countdown, and dual trip meters. This bike can get 36 mpg out of its six-gallon fuel tank. There is optional cruise control. For music lovers there is also an optional Harman/Kardon sound system.

Two Small Sighs

As for your luggage, the bags are securely attached with Dzus fasteners and easy to remove, although they have no handles. A hardbag liner would solve that problem. The only other less-than-perfect feature is a tendency of the Bat Wing fairing, handlebar-mounted, towards extra wind buffeting.

This bike has a tough and seductive profile. Its color scheme is metallic-flake Black pearl with color-matched hardbag latches, and with the sun glinting on its chrome parts it looks like the sleek American icon it is.

Don't let your love of motorcycle speed and freedom endanger your health or life. Take a safety class and pay good attention when you ride. If you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident and would like some legal advice, please email Stipe Injury Law in Oklahoma City.

A Million Dollar Bike

2009-01-23T11:25:00.000-07:00

At the Ippodo Gallery in New York there is an exhibit called Liquid Chrome. It is a collection of hand-built bikes by Chicara Nagata, a Japanese biker who survived life-threatening injuries in a motorcycle accident.

Chicara’s Background

Chicara was born in 1962 and at the age of 16 had a motorcycle accident on a curved road. His injuries required an eight-month recovery period filled with blood transfusions and intensive therapies. When he was 20 he began a career in graphic design with a new life-goal in mind: to create beautiful art that the world would enjoy. This was to be his way of expressing his gratitude to those who provided the blood and medical care that enabled him to survive his accident.

In 1993 he started to build motorcycles. He has a workshop filled with antique Harley Davidson engines and all the 500 or so bike parts that go into his custom bikes are hand made. Each bike takes him about 7,500 hours to build. If he works eight hours per day, that is 937 days (about 2.5 years).

The Motorcycles

The bikes are named according to when he built them. One is the Chicara Art I Classic which has a 1939 Harley-Davidson engine and a stainless steel and chrome frame. It has a three-speed transmission and 18-inch wheels. In 2006 it won the first prize in the Freestyle category at the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike building.

Another piece of bike-art is his Art III Classic which he built in 2008. It has a 1950 Meguro Racing Motor and a 1950 Triumph gearbox with four speeds. In with all its steel and chrome are a red seat, red rims and a few other red, copper and brass pieces, giving an impressive and beautiful appearance.

The bikes all run but are not designed for off-road or even street conditions. They are for sale, starting at $1 million for the Art IV Classic. This one has a 1966 Honda moped engine and is his newest and smallest bike.

The Liquid Chrome exhibit began in November, 2008 and will run until the end of January, 2009.

If, like Chicara, you have been seriously hurt in a motorcycle accident and would like to obtain some top-quality legal advice, please contact the Robert W. Kerpsack Co., L.P.A. in Columbus, Ohio.

How Noisy Can a Motorcycle be?

2009-01-20T15:56:00.001-07:00

In Brooklyn, New York there has been a dispute and discussion about the decibel level that is permitted for motorcycles. Exhaust pipes of new bikes have a manufacturer stamp to certify that the bike meets state and federal laws which limit noise to 80 decibels. That is about as noisy as an alarm clock or vacuum cleaner.

A new law was proposed whereby police could ticket bikes which have no exhaust pipe stamp. They could simply inspect parked bikes, rather than having to chase any riders down. The bill is supported by residents who object to motorcycle noise which penetrates to their bedrooms and living rooms and has a jarring effect on them.

Unfair Ticketing?

A local organization called the Concerned Citizens for Motorcycle Safety has been fighting this bill. This is an umbrella organization for a number of local biker clubs. They argue that a louder bike noise alerts drivers of enclosed vehicles, who possibly have their radio or CD player on, that there is a bike nearby.

This is highly valuable, since most motorcycle accidents involve drivers who claim that they did not see the bike rider. One of the biker club's president was quoted as saying: "Every person that rides a bike can give you several stories of how that loud pipe saved them from potentially being killed."

The bikers also claim that some manufacturers place the exhaust pipe stamp underneath where it is not easily visible. They don't expect that police officers would crawl around on the pavement to decipher such a stamp, but would simply ticket that bike.

Concerned Citizens for Motorcycle Safety hopes to eventually get the federal limit on decibels raised. They feel they represent a wide swathe of society, as they have nurses, bus drivers, police, and many others in their group. They sponsor a Little League team. They emphasize that they are not defending the adolescent joy in making a loud noise purposely to irritate neighbors. Their concern is for increased biker safety.

If you have been injured in an accident with a passenger vehicle, whether or not that driver claims not to have seen you, please consult an experienced motorcycle attorney. Some legal advice and possibly legal representation will make life much easier for you and perhaps win you some fair monetary compensation for another's negligence.

An Electric Motorcycle

2009-01-16T14:02:00.001-07:00

A freshman student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA has invented the Uno, an electric-powered motorcycle. It has two wheels side by side instead of front and back. It is balanced by a gyroscope and computer and to maneuver it around, he simply leans forward, backward, or sideways.

The student, Ben Gulak, was inspired to do this after visiting China, with its crowded and smog-infested streets. He imagined the streets filled with battery-powered motorbikes so small that they could easily maneuver through the dense traffic and even be carried upstairs to an apartment.

When he returned to his home in Toronto he took over a machine shop that his grandfather had set up in the house and gathered a lot of conventional motorcycle parts. For a science fair, he began building a prototype.

At first his testing featured engines on fire and brake failures. But this project was a combination of his two big passions in life -- motorcycles and engineering. He persisted and got some help from a robotics engineer to figure out how to stabilize the bike.

His persistence paid off and Popular Science magazine made his bike one of the top ten inventions of 2008. They pictured it on their cover. Mr. Gulak was invited to go on The Tonight Show. Now he is working on international patents and talking to investors. And studying for his exams.

Perhaps such a bike will become popular although it would appear that you'll need strong arms to enjoy riding it for long, as the body is slanted well forward with the feet well back, contacting the pedals horizontally.

If you are in or near Jacksonville, Florida, have been injured in any motorcycle accident and would like some legal advice and representation, please contact motorcycle attorneys Hardesty Tyde Green & Ashton for a free consultation.

Polar Bear Motorcycle Ride

2009-01-07T12:43:00.002-07:00

Every January 1, one of the Pennsylvania chapters of the Christian Motorcyclists Association meets for a winter ride and to raise money. They raise the funds and provide support for someone they choose in their community who genuinely needs the help.

For 2009 they chose their own longtime chapter secretary, Carol Flory, who has ovarian cancer. In 2008 Ms. Flory had two surgeries and several rounds of chemotherapy. She still gets up each day with renewed hope and says that "Each day lets me get a little stronger".

About her supporters at the motorcycle chapter, she says: "If you need somebody to talk to, all you have to do is call somebody and they're there for you."

Temperatures were very low on January 1, but about fifty riders came out for the New Year's ride.

Funds for Terminally Ill Children

Motorcycle groups are often generous with their time and money for good causes. A good example was in December, 2008 in Yuma County, California, when Hells Angels held a fundraiser for terminally ill children. The bikers' Red and White Support Run will help to fund each child's last request, made through the local Catch A Dream organization.

The parents of these local children typically have very high medical bills and this extra money allows their children to have things otherwise not affordable. Almost 400 bikers showed up and paid their $20 to participate in the ride. Some of them came from other areas of California and from Nevada.

After the ride the bikers converged on a lunch place known as The Mine Shaft. The Mine Shaft's owner had bought a 2009 Custom Harley-Davidson Sportster and donated it for a drawing among ride participants. A lucky local won that bike and everyone else had fine weather and good beer. Despite some local controversy about having the Hells Angels participate, there were no incidents.

Motorcycle riding is exhilarating and attracts people from all walks of life. It does have the downside of higher injury and fatality rates than passenger cars. If you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident some legal advice can be comforting and encouraging. For excellent legal help in the Chicago area, please contact motorcycle attorney Barry G. Doyle, P.C. and schedule a free consultation.

New Look For Thai Motorcycle Police

2009-01-05T14:07:00.000-07:00

Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles but in recent years smiling has declined because of social and political conditions. There are roving mobs, government changes, and the two Bangkok airports were shut down for over for a week at one point. Many people are angry.

In December, 2008 a polling agency did a large study, questioning over 2,000 people about the Thai Smile and found that on a scale of one to ten, people gave Thailand only a little over five points for smiles.

The new prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, was elected on December 15 2008, and is already dealing with protesters. To help the general mood of the country, and to help the Thai tourist industry improve, his government has begun a new program with the Thai motorcyle police.

Smiley Cloth Masks

These highway police will be wearing cloth masks which cover the mouth and nose. They have a red cartoon smile painted on them and hide any possible scowls that might be on the police officer's face. They also protect the police officer from air pollution.

When these motorcycle police approach a motorist their mask smile is meant to reduce stress for the drivers. Supporting this goal, there are 200 police booths distributing mints, chewing gum and bottles of holy water.

If you are a motorcycle rider, why not reduce your own stress related to U.S. highway police officers by riding safely? The Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers excellent courses and on their website you can click on your state in their map to find all the local locations where you can take a riding course.

In the event that you have been in a motorcycle accident and need some legal advice or representation, you could email the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. in the Chicago area.

The Rugged Marine Machine

2009-01-02T12:27:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Marine Corps needed dual-purpose motorcycles for convoy control, messenger services, military police work and scouting. Regular bikes, both off-road and on, use gasoline. But for good supply logistics the Marines needed a machine that runs on JP-8. This is fuel used by jet planes that is similar to kerosene and diesel fuel.

A Modified Kawasaki KLR650

So the word was put out and many contractors responded with impractical suggestions and finally a small company in California won the contract. In 2008, the Marines acquired a new bike called the HDT M103M1. It uses parts of the Kawasaki KLR650 -- the chassis, internal transmission parts, and some engine components.

But it has new engine parts designed to use JP-8. At a steady 55 mph it gets 96 miles to the gallon which is about twice the mileage a gasoline engine would give. It starts up a little more slowly than a conventional bike, but as you shift through its five-speed gearbox, it achieves 90 mph and will keep that speed through any harsh environment you test it in.

It has special lights and tougher tires and suspension. When you ride it, the handlebars and foot pegs vibrate because the Kawasaki KLR650 counterbalancer that would control this has been omitted. This is to make the bike lighter-weight and less complex.

These fast machines are not available for street or off-road use unless perhaps you go to your local Marine recruiter.

High speed riding is one of the contributing causes to motorcycle accidents on our highways. On an empty road it is safer but our roads are fuller each year with big rigs and SUVs and other large family trucks. They may not see you, or may not be able to stop or change lanes quickly enough to avoid an accident.

If you are in Ohio and need some guidance and support from an experienced motorcycle accident attorney, please email the law firm of Robert W. Kerpsack today for a free consultation.

Celebrating Female Bikers

2008-12-12T14:53:00.001-07:00

In August, 2009, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) will hold its fifth International Women and Motorcycling Conference. It will be held in Colorado, at the resort town of Keystone, a picturesque mountain area about 90 miles west of Denver.

This conference focuses on the encouragement and education of women in the motorcycling lifestyle. There will be many activities as well as classes and seminars teaching riding skills and knowledge.

The Motorcycle Industry Council reports that women now make up 12.6 percent of motorcycle and scooter riders. The last women’s conference was held in Georgia in 2006, drawing more than 1,100 participants. The AMA expects twice that number at this upcoming 2009 conference.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Part of the 2009 conference will consist of booths offering new bikes, new gear, and the latest in gadgets. You will be able to ride the new bikes and test them out. There will also be social events and opportunities, and let's note that this is not an all-women event. All partners or spouses are welcome and can participate in the social side of things even if they are not taking any classes or seminars.

The Keystone area offers some incredible riding opportunities including some well-known two-lane, off-road and dual-sport experiences. There are top-notch restaurants, breathtaking views and friendly local people.

The 2009 International Women and Motorcycling Conference will be held August 19-22, 2009 and you can make lodging reservations already by calling 800-258-0437.

Better riding skills and expanded knowledge of biker safety are always excellent offerings. When there are motorcycle accidents it is always the biker who suffers the most. Because a motorcycle is a more exposed way of traveling than inside a passenger vehicle, the risk of injury is always higher. By being very familiar with your bike, with road rules, and with safety precautions while riding, you can increase your chance of never being in an accident.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, or if you have a loved one who has, you should consult an experienced motorcycle attorney to learn more about your rights and legal options. The law firm of Burg Simpson serves the entire Colorado and Wyoming areas.

Marine Corps Motorcycle Accidents

2008-11-13T15:46:00.001-07:00

In the 2008 fiscal year, 25 Marines were killed in motorcycle accidents on bases, 22 of them on sports bikes. This is according to the Naval Safety Center which gathers yearly statistics. It was the worst year for the bike-riding Marines so far and the first year in which more deaths occurred in bike crashes than in car crashes.

New Sanctions Allowed

Further, each of the past four years has been the deadliest so far. This is a trend. In response, the Corps has given more authority to non-commissioned officers over their junior enlisted Marines. Officers will now be able to deny requests for leave on the basis of any reckless behavior. There will be tougher penalties for traffic violations and a Marine's on-base driving privilege will be revocable. Riders will be required to wear helmets and reflective vests

More Training

Safety training is be mandatory at both basic and experienced-rider levels and there is a new safety course for sports bike riders. This was offered at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort this past summer. It teaches braking and cornering skills for riders of high-speed motorcycles. It is mandatory for all active-duty Marines if they want to keep their bike's base access sticker. There are three hours of class time plus five hours of ride time.

In motorcycle accident research studies, speed consistently comes up as a factor in fatal crashes. As documented in the November 7 blog in this space, Supersports motorcycles are far more often involved in motorcycle deaths than standards or cruisers.

Yet speed and the accompanying sense of freedom is a big part of the attractiveness of motorcycle riding. Hopefully a more educated type of speeding will reduce the loss of our Marines.

If you have lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident and would like to consult an experienced bike accident attorney, please contact the law firm of Pomerantz Perlberger & Lewis. They serve the Philadelphia area.

Motorcycle Accidents and Type of Bike

2008-11-07T16:29:00.001-07:00

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing highway accident losses – injuries, deaths and property damage. It works with a related organization, the Highway Loss Data Institute, which studies insurance data. Both are wholly supported by automobile insurers.

The IIHS has compiled 2005 statistics on motorcycle injuries and fatalities and classified them according to which type of bike was involved.

Supersports Motorcycles

These are racing bikes modified for street use, and are light weight with aerodynamic styling. They have more horsepower than other types, being able to travel as fast as 190 mph.

They are most popular with riders younger than 30.

Riders of Supersports bikes sustain deaths nearly four times as often as riders of other types of bike.
They made up nine percent of bike registrations in 2005.
There were 22.5 rider deaths per 10,000 registered bikes.
In contrast, there were only 10.7 deaths per 10,000 registered bikes for other sports models.
Riders of supersports models sustained fatal injuries at the youngest average age (27 years) of all motorcycle types. In contrast, riders of other sports models were 34 years old on average.
Speed was a factor in 57 percent of fatal accidents. In contrast speed was a factor in only 46 percent of fatal crashes involving other sports models.

Standards and Cruisers

These bikes with upright handlebars appear to be safer on the roads. In 2005 they constituted 51 percent of bike registrations.

Standards tallied 5.7 rider deaths per 10,000 registered bikes
Cruisers tallied 6.5 such deaths
The average age of fatally injured riders was 44 years
Speed was a factor in 27 percent of fatal crashes

Touring Bikes

Touring bikes appear to be the safest type and attract the oldest group of riders. The average age for accident deaths was 51 years in 2005. In those fatal crashes, speed was a factor in 22 percent.

Statistics like these are not necessarily predictive, but they are suggestive. If you recognize yourself in one of these categories, perhaps you could take some safety measures to try and lower your likelihood of being injured.

If you need an experienced motorcycle accident attorney and are in the Oklahoma City area, please contact Stipe Injury Law.

Motorcyclist Road Rage Causes Death

2008-10-09T13:18:00.000-06:00

Near Centerville, Utah last month a woman was driving her Mazda northbound one evening and tossed her cigarette butt out the window. A motorcyclist was riding along behind the Mazda and became enraged, pulling up alongside the Mazda to yell at the driver. To do that he had to ride in the left-turn-only-lane. He had his young son as a passenger and had placed his own helmet on his son. His wife was riding her bike along behind.

There was minor contact between the Mazda and bike as evidenced by marks on the Mazda’s rear panel and tire. Markings on the road showed that the motorcycle was within a few inches of the line between the turn lane and the northbound lane.

The motorcyclist’s wife claimed that the Mazda swerved and hit her husband, although the driver stated that she was afraid for her safety and did not swerve. No evidence suggests the Mazda swerved.

The rider crashed his bike, sustained severe head injury and died at the nearby University Hospital. His son sustained only minor injuries. The Davis County Attorney’s office is investigating any possible charges.

Many people dislike cigarette smoke and littering, but is the issue of littering something to lose your life over? Road rage is self-destructive. If you are a bike rider who enjoys the freedom and joy of riding, why not look after yourself first and let others deal with littering and people’s smoking habits at more appropriate times.

If you are in Florida and need to consult with a motorcycle attorney, please contact Hardesty Tudy Green & Ashton, P.A. in Jacksonville, who have a great deal of experience in fighting for the rights of motorcyle riders.

The Motorcycle Helmet Hassle

2008-09-16T16:11:00.003-06:00

The controversy over whether motorcycle helmets should be mandatory or not illustrates a deep division within American society. The trend now is away from helmet laws, ever since 1985 when the federal government stopped making helmet laws a condition for funding. Now just 20 states have a helmet law. Some of those laws require helmets only for riders younger than 18.

Freedom Fighters

On one side of this controversy are most of the bike riders themselves who treasure the freedom of choosing whether or not they will wear a helmet. They regard it as a personal choice. Riding a motorcycle is an exhilarating experience and even more so when you can feel the wind and sunshine on you and glory in your speed and control. Helmets and heavy riding clothes interfere with that joy. Riders and their supporters feel that each person is responsible for his or her own safety and no government has any right to mandate what they should wear while riding. They will accept any increased safety risk as the price life demands for their freedom.

Law Makers

On the other side of the controversy are those who don’t necessarily ride a motorcycle but who think that riders should be required to wear protective gear including helmets at all times while riding. They consider increased motorcycle accident injuries or deaths to be unacceptable. They view government regulations and laws as being the correct way to control accident statistics among motorcycle riders. They also get upset about the “mixed messages” of what is safe practice and what is unacceptable practice. They would rather see federal laws imposing uniformity on all bike riders in the nation.

Federal vs. State Government

There is a “state government vs. federal government” issue in all this. Quite apart from helmet laws, some people wish to have federal government laws override state laws on many issues and others feel that is overstepping on the part of the federal government.

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell (D) repealed his state’s helmet law in July 2003 for riders over 21 with at least two years’ riding experience. A spokesman for the Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education (ABATE), a 7,000-member anti-helmet-law group, applauded the Governor’s act – the more so in that the U.S. was founded in Pennsylvania to defend liberty. ABATE maintains that it is every American’s right to be safe, or not safe.

Those who would like more government control point to European countries, where all riders are required to wear head-to-toe safety attire. Opponents respond that Americans are not obliged to copy what is done in Europe.

Motorcycle Education Groups

Rider safety and education are done by many motorcycle organizations, such as ABATE mentioned above, the American Motorcyclist Association, the National Motorcycle Safety Foundation, and the international Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. Local groups also abound where new riders can learn from those more experienced.

As far as injuries are concerned, it is well established that when an accident involves a passenger vehicle and a motorcycle, it is the rider who is typically hurt or killed, not the vehicle driver or passengers. Motorcycles do not pose a great risk to other vehicles on the highways, being smaller than all the others.

The controversy may never be permanently resolved, but may drift to one side and then back to the other as society changes over the years. If you have been badly hurt in a motorcycle accident, learning about your legal rights and options would be a good move. If you are in the Chicago, IL area, the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle is an excellent place to get reliable answers and aggressive representation.

Steps in the Legislative Process

2008-09-09T12:57:00.000-06:00

Since motorcycles on our highways tend to be a controversial issue, with enthusiastic supporters of motorcycle riding not always agreeing with others who want more laws and restrictions, let’s have a look at how the legislative process works.

Only a member of Congress can start a piece of legislation on the “road” to becoming a law. Officially, the process begins when the bill (or resolution) is given a number, with H.R. standing for House of Representatives and S. for Senate (the two Chambers).

Bill is referred to a standing committee in House or Senate
Committee might consider it, or might refer it to a sub-committee. Non-action is death to the bill.
Sub-committee might have a Hearing for the purpose of recording the views of all interested parties.
Sub-committee might change the bill based on Hearing information. Will either recommend it to the full committee or not, and if not, the bill dies.
Full committee might hold another Hearing or vote on the sub-committee’s recommendations, and then “order the bill reported” to the House or Senate.
Committee chairman has a report written up, covering the bill’s scope and intent, and everyone’s views.
Bill is placed on House or Senate calendar. House has several calendars and can kill a bill by not putting it on any calendar.
House or Senate debates bill according to certain rules, and may amend it.
House of Senate votes on bill.
Bill is referred to the other Chamber where it goes through a repeat of the above steps. If no steps are taken, bill is dead.
If changes are minor, bill goes back to other Chamber for agreement. If major, a conference committee is formed to reconcile differences. Lack of reconciliation kills the bill. Otherwise, a conference report is written to describe any recommendations. Both Chambers must approve it.
If approved, bill sent to President, who either signs it into law or vetoes it. President could also kill the bill with a “pocket veto” – taking no action after Congress has adjourned its second session.
If vetoed, Congress might try to override the veto, which requires a quorum and a two-thirds roll call vote.

Looking at all these steps and all the spots where a bill can be killed, it is not surprising that many bills never make it into law. But these steps also protect us from a dictatorship, at least in theory. The above information is courtesy of the American Motorcycle Association.

If you need an experienced motorcycle attorney and are in Connecticut, please contact the Law Firm of Trantolo & Trantolo.

Death of a Motorcycle Racer

2008-09-05T15:38:00.003-06:00

On September 3, 2008, Cliff Gullett, a motorcycle racer, was traveling at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah at 239 mph. That is a place where riders try to set speed records every summer. He somehow lost control, crashed, and lost his life. He was competing in the 500cc Streamliner class for the fastest speed, and had two runs which qualified for the record, although it is not certain now whether they will be counted.

About a week ago he set three world land speed records, one of them breaking a record set 50 years ago in 1958. According to an interview published the previous week in the Billings Gazette, his goal was to be the first to ride at 400 mph on a two-wheeled Streamliner.

He has left a wife, son and daughter. He had owned a motorcycle and snowmobile dealership in Bozeman, Montana called Team Bozeman Motorsports. His manager at that dealership said of his death:

"Cliff always told me that if anything happened on the Salt,
he wanted it tobe quick and not lingering.
He died doing the thing he loved

to do most --
racing at Bonneville."

It is always sad when a successful and capable person dies young. Gullett was 47. But from that quoted remark of his manager's, one can see that Gullett knew he was riding dangerously. He loved doing it, and was riding in a place designated for such riding.

The road and highways used by the general public are not designated for speeding, yet motorcycle deaths continue to rise. The repeal of helmet laws has contributed to the rise, and perhaps higher gas prices have also, as there are reports that more people are commuting on their motorcycles, putting more bikes on the highways.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, or if you have a loved one who has, you can learn more about your legal rights and options by scheduling a free consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney.

Tips for Preventing Motorcycle Accidents

2008-09-02T16:46:00.000-06:00

Riding a motorcycle is exhilarating and gives an intoxicating sense of freedom, especially when you ride without a helmet or heavy clothing. Like all freedoms, there is a price for it. To prevent any serious or fatal accident which would end that freedom, a rider must ride safely.

Do not drink and ride – riding will make you high, so forget the drink.
Get yourself properly trained in how to ride safely – research has shown that about 90 percent of riders involved in accidents were self-taught or taught by a friend.
Maintain your bike well to avoid any malfunctioning on the road.
Always keep some extra space between you and the surrounding vehicles – drivers involved in motorcycle accidents frequently state that they just didn’t see the rider, so if you give them extra space, they’ll have more time to brake.
Consider what you wear -- wear brightly-colored clothing rather than all black; avoid any flapping or loose clothing that could impair your vision; and use leather, which protects you against abrasion if you do get knocked from your bike.
Ride according to your skill level – but by all means improve your skills.
Be sure your license is current – about one quarter of motorcycle riders in fatal crashes were not properly licensed, at least as of 2001.
Wear a helmet. Yes, although they may feel constricting and annoying, they do protect you against head injuries, which are the cause of most fatalities.

Motorcycle riders have a disproportionately high percentage of deaths on the road. To extend your riding days as long as possible, look after yourself and your bike.

If you have injured yourself in a motorcycle accident, or if you have a loved one who has done that, please contact a qualified and experienced motorcycle accident attorney to learn more about your legal rights and options.

Motorcycle Collides with Buggy Killing Driver

2008-08-26T12:22:00.001-06:00

A horse-drawn buggy with eleven people in it was hit by a motorcycle in Wisconsin on Sunday. The buggy was leaving an Amish church when the accident occurred. All eleven people in the buggy were ejected and the motorcycle driver was killed. One of the horses drawing the buggy had to be destroyed as well.

Authorities say the 21-year-old motorcyclist missed a curve on Highway F and crossed the center line, hitting the buggy. He was not wearing a helmet. The buggy contained members of two families, and eight of them, including four children, were taken to area hospitals. A seven-year-old was flown by helicopter to a Madison hospital with severe injuries.

The sheriff's department believes speed was a factor in the accident, and has said vehicle-buggy accidents are on the rise as the Amish population increases. The area where many Amish live has hilly terrain, which limits driver vision, and because they ride in horse-drawn buggies, which are slow, accidents can have devastating consequences.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in your area.

Lawsuit Filed Over 2007 Motocross Death

2008-07-24T13:27:00.001-06:00

The family of a five-year-old killed on a motocross track has filed a wrongful death suit against the motocross promoter and track's owner. Cody Fidler died of neck trauma after an older rider crashed into him on the track.

The lawsuit alleges that Parker Valley Motocross Track in Charlotte, North Carolina neglected to follow track rules by allowing an older and more experienced rider on the track when Cody was participating. The parents are also claiming emotional distress and deceptive trade practices in their suit.

While the death of Cody Fidler is tragic, it also brings to light the young age at which some children begin riding motocross bikes. It raises questions of how young is too young, as well as if certain rules need to be changed. Most track rules class riders based on the size of their bikes. They range in size from Pee Wee, whose engines are 50cc or less, to Quads, whose engines are 250cc and up. There are some rules that have age brackets, such as nine to 13 years of age, but everyone knows that the size difference between a nine-year-old and a 13-year-old can vary greatly.

If your child has been injured in a motocross accident, please contact the Motorcycle Accident Lawyer site to find an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

Increase in Motorcycle Sales Leads to Safety Concerns

2008-07-16T09:59:00.001-06:00

All you have to do is spend some time on the roads these days to see how many more motorcycles there are. Whether it's due to the price of gas or the warm weather, motorcycles seem to be everywhere. While the sale of motorcycles is certainly good news for those who sell them, there are concerns that this increase in riders will lead to an increase in motorcycle-related accidents.

According to James Bloom, General Manager for the Harley Davidson store in Lexington, Kentucky, "Fifty percent of the people in here are looking for an economical means of transportation and motorcycles getting 50 miles to the gallon helped steer them this way." However, places that tow vehicles say they've seen an increase in accidents. Some believe this is due to lack of proper training.

Those who are new to motorcycles confirm this. Bryan Cunningham, a new rider in Kentucky, says he didn't have any training prior to buying a motorcycle. And although he's noticed more accidents involving motorcycles, he believes it isn't always the new riders fault. He worries more about other drivers on the road than he does his own skill, especially because so many cars pull out in front of him every day.

Anyone who has a modicum of common sense will tell you that more bikes on the road means more accidents. Call it the Law of Averages, or, for the cynics, Murphy's Law. But these accidents could be reduced if all those who ride motorcycles would take safety classes to prepare them for the crowded roads.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

Family of Motorcyclist Hit by Ambulance Sues County

2008-07-03T09:18:00.001-06:00

Gene Sergent was struck and killed by an ambulance while riding his motorcycle in Maryland City in September, 2007. His family has filed a $4.4 million lawsuit alleging the driver of the ambulance ran a red light without the emergency lights on. Both the county and the driver are named in the lawsuit. The Anne Arundel County police report states that it was Sergent who ran the red light and struck the ambulance, but witnesses dispute this. An Assistant County lawyer acknowledges there are "discrepancies" with the witness reports.

Sergent's mother alleges the police report can't be trusted because they will back the fire department due to a perceived notion of the fraternity between departments. The investigation closed in April and names Sergent as the one who caused the accident and his subsequent death, but his mother is determined to clear his name.

If you have lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, please contact the Motorcycle Accident Lawyer site to find an experienced injury lawyer in your area. Just because the official police report lists your loved one at fault doesn't necessarily make it so.

Study Shows Increase in Fatalities after Helmet Law Repealed

2008-06-12T13:58:00.001-06:00

It seems like Pennsylvania made a mistake when it repealed their helmet law five years ago. It might be common sense to state that as the number of motorcycle riders has gone up, so has the number of head injuries resulting in death in a state without a helmet law. Of course, some might say that it's common sense to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle even if no law is in place.

According to Dr. Kristen Mertz, the lead author of one study, after Pennsylvania repealed the helmet law, helmet use went down and the death rate rose nearly 32 percent. The number of riders hospitalized due to head injuries rose 42 percent. Dr. Mertz also mentions that the average cost of hospital bills, which doesn't include doctors' charges or post-hospital care, is around $88,000 to treat a head injury.

While Dr. Mertz admits that helmets are not perfect, they reduce the risks of serious head injury or death by 37 percent. Non-head injuries will still occur, and some head injuries may occur even if the rider is wearing a helmet, but one out of every three riders who die could have been saved by wearing a helmet.

Look for more deaths in states like Pennsylvania due to the absence of any kind of helmet law, especially since more people are switching to motorcycles due to high fuel prices.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact the Motorcycle Accident Lawyer site to find an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

Rolling Thunder Brings Additional Message This Year

2008-06-05T10:42:00.001-06:00

Rolling Thunder, the one-mile motorcycle ride from the Pentagon to the National Mall, has been going on for the last 21 years. It is done every Memorial Day to publicize again and again those American service members who are listed as missing in action, as well as those believed to still be prisoners of war. It is called Rolling Thunder due to the sound made when thousands of motorcycles cross the Memorial Bridge into the District of Columbia.

Two new things occurred on the Memorial Day ride this year. The first is the use of the Patriot Chopper, which was ridden by Maj. Gen. James Nuttall, deputy director of the Army National Guard. The Patriot Chopper lead the Rolling Thunder Ride. The Patriot Chopper is usually used for marketing and recruiting potential National Guard soldiers. The second new thing is that using the Patriot Chopper was ridden, according to Nuttall, that, "you can ride a cool motorcycle and still be safe."

The reason safety is being highlighted more this year is that the National Guard has seen 15 soldiers killed this year as a result of motorcycle accidents. They lost 13 in motorcycle accidents in all of 2006. Also noted is that sports bikes are the "number one killer" among Army National Guard soldiers who are 26-years-old or younger.

Due to the relatively high number of soldiers of all branches killed on motorcycles in recent years after returning home from duty, getting the message out about motorcycle safety has been paramount. Military protocol states that motorcycle riders must wear a Department of Transportation certified helmet, gloves that cover the wrists, safety eyewear, long-sleeved shirt, ankle-high boots, and a reflective belt or vest. This protocol also states that these items must be worn regardless of the laws of which state they are riding in.

Consider how military protocol and state laws are similar in what needs to be worn to be safe while riding a motorcycle. Even if you aren't enlisted, the numbers of those killed should make you take note since statistics seem to be on the rise.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact the Motorcycle Accident Lawyer site to find an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.

Motorcycle Accident Kills Promising NHL Rookie

2008-05-29T15:24:00.001-06:00

Luc Bourdon, a rookie defenseman who played for the Vancouver Canucks, was killed when his motorcycle hit a tractor-trailer between the towns of Sippagan and Lemeque, New Brunswick, Canada on Thursday, May 29. Bourdon, who was 21-years-old, was the first round draft pick of the Canucks in 2005.

While Bourdon's family declined commenting to the press about the accident, the Canucks organization stated he will be missed, he was a talented player, and other quotes that will wind up as sound bites on various sports pages, and ESPN.

Here is the point: The accident occurred around 12:30 pm during clear weather. Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents, like all accidents, can occur during any time and any type of weather. The difference with motorcycles is their size, the rate of speed many young riders statistically travel at, and the fact that if a helmet is not being worn and the rider is involved in an accident, the chances of serious injury or death are very high.

A byproduct of accidents that claim the lives of sports figures, musicians, and actors is that ways to avoid or survive these accidents will invariably make it into the news. While this is good on one hand, because being reminded of the limitations or safety regulations while riding a motorcycle should periodically be stressed, on the other hand it is sad that it takes the death of a celebrity to make people take stock of their own riding habits.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact the Motorcycle Accident Lawyer site to find an experienced attorney in your area.

Motorcycle Accidents on Rise Despite Safety Warnings

2008-05-22T09:07:00.001-06:00

This winter seemed especially rough for most states across the country. And, now that it is finally warming up, people are ready to spend more time outdoors. Another trend that comes along with the rise in number of people outside is the number of motorcycles on the road. Motorcycles might be one of the trendy things to own these days, and with rising gas prices, many people see motorcycles as the mode of transportation that will help alleviate some of the financial pain at the gas pump. For example, motorcycle registration grew by nearly 5,000 from the previous year in Kansas.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is not alone in noting the rise in injuries and fatalities of motorcyclists. Though numbers dipped in 2007, the overall rise of these statistics matches those of other states – that is, they keep going up. KDOT states there were 1,171 accidents last year, which is a little higher than the 1,103 reported in 2006. However, this is almost double the numbers from 1998 when KDOT began keeping track. There were 586 injuries and 19 fatalities that year; last year there were 49 fatalities and 1,087 injuries.

Though motorcyclists are told to wear a helmet, jacket, and gloves to avoid serious injury or death, many riders seem to ignore this advice. Of those involved in accidents in Kansas in 1998, only 21.2 percent were wearing a helmet. Last year only 31.5 were wearing a helmet when they were involved in an accident.

Though motorcyclists are not usually to blame when they are involved in an accident with another vehicle, they are the ones most often injured or killed. It is hoped that by continuing to educate motorcyclists in safety classes and about safety gear that eventually most will be wearing helmets and more aware of what happens on the road.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact the Motorcycle Accident Lawyer site to find an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

DUI Crash Kills One during Myrtle Beach Motorcycle Rally

2008-05-13T14:19:00.001-06:00

A Myrtle Beach, South Carolina restaurateur was charged with felony DUI for a crash that killed one person and sent another to the hospital. Michael Hilton, majority owner of the Barefoot Landing Wild Wing Café Inc., was charged with two felony DUIs, including bodily injury and fatality, as well as failure to yield right of way Saturday night. Hilton had a BAC of .15 when given the test.

Hilton allegedly attempted to make a left turn late Saturday night after attending a party. Angelo Gonzalez was killed when his motorcycle hit the rear panel of Hilton's pickup truck. His passenger and girlfriend, Susan Reader, was injured. Both were thrown from the motorcycle. Gonzalez died of multiple traumas and was not wearing a helmet. Reader has a broken pelvis, a broken leg, fractured wrist, two broken fingers and may have to have her foot amputated.

Hilton posted $75,000 bail and was released on Sunday. His lawyer contends that Hilton was not intoxicated and has several friends from the party who state he "had hardly anything to drink" and didn't appear intoxicated.

The Myrtle Beach motorcycle rally lasts for ten days and draws around 200,000 people. It stretches 60 miles from Georgetown, South Carolina to the North Carolina state line.

If you were injured or lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident caused by a drunk driver, please contact the Motorcycle Accident Lawyer site to find and experienced injury lawyer in your area.

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

2008-05-07T09:03:00.001-06:00

Perhaps because May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, it has been announced that in the National Transportation Safety Board's September 2007 meeting, they came up with several recommendations with regard to motorcycle helmets.

Three states (Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire) still have no helmet laws. To these states the NTSB recommends that motorcyclists wear a Department of Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218-compliant helmet while driving or riding as a passenger.
27 states and one territory with partial helmet laws. To these states and territory, the NTSB recommends again that all riders and passengers wear a helmet while on a motorcycle.
To the eight states, the District of Columbia, and the four territories with universal helmet laws, the NTSB recommends that the laws be amended to specify that all riders and passengers of motorcycles wear an FMVSS 218-compliant helmet.

Their point, which hardly needs stressing, is that helmets save lives. The NTSB also brings up that since 1997, motorcycle fatalities have increased 217 percent. The number of motorcyclists killed annually is more than double the number killed in all pipeline, marine, rail and aviation accidents combined. In 2006, nearly 5,000 people were killed in motorcycle accidents. Just over 40 percent of those killed were not wearing helmets.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact the Motorcycle Accident Lawyer site to find an experienced motorcycle accident injury lawyer in your area.

“Alarming” Number of Soldiers Killed on Motorcycles

2008-04-29T15:05:00.001-06:00

The Riverside Press-Enterprise in California reports that the number of marines killed on motorcycles after returning home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is alarmingly high. Last year, there were 19 marines killed while riding motorcycles. In addition, 77 army personnel were killed in 2006, and five Air Force personnel were killed. Between 2001 and 2006, more soldiers died in motorcycle accidents in the US than were killed on the Afghan field of battle during the corresponding years.

According to military commanders, the reasons so many motorcycle deaths have occurred are "boredom, bonus pay that can top $20,000 to $30,000, and adrenalin to burn off after troops return from [the wars]." Add to this list their inexperience, and the chance that there will be an accident increases.

As a result, all marines stationed at Twentynine Palms who own motorcycles are required to pass a competency test before they are allowed to ride on the base. The marines call them "don't be stupid" lectures.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact the Motorcycle Accident Lawyer site to find an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

Woman Dies in Nebraska Motorcycle Accident

2008-04-22T13:23:00.001-06:00

A motorcycle accident in Lincoln County, Nebraska killed one woman and sent another woman to the hospital earlier this week. The driver, 43-year-old Susan McConnell, died at the scene of the accident on Route 27 near the town of Wiscasset. Her passenger, 32-year-old Tamara Hoke, was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

A preliminary investigation has stated that both women were wearing helmets at the time of the accident. No information has been gathered to point to drugs or alcohol being a cause of the crash. The investigation now points to an underinflated front tire that caused McConnell to lose control of the motorcycle in the early afternoon. Both McConnell and Hoke were thrown from the motorcycle into the southbound lane.

Motorcycle accidents are often caused by factors such as speed or alcohol, and death is most often caused by the rider not wearing their helmet. However, in this case, something like an under inflated tire, which seems a minor detail killed a woman wearing a helmet. This should help to reinforce the idea of looking over your motorcycle before you get on to be sure everything, including properly inflated tires, is maintained correctly.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact the Motorcycle Accident Lawyer site to find an experienced injury lawyer in your area. They will be happy to answer any questions you have, and help you decide if you should pursue a claim.

Sobering Statistics

2008-04-15T11:06:00.001-06:00

According to a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's National Center for Statistics and Analysis, between 2001 and 2005, a majority of fatal motorcycle crashes (55%) were between a motorcycle and another vehicle. The fatality rate of motorcycle riders in these accidents was a staggering 90% of the operators, and 8% of their passengers. Only 2% were the occupants of the vehicles. Furthermore, 75% of the time, the motorcycle hit the vehicle they were involved in the accident with.

And, finally, in 2006, 27% of motorcycle operators killed in accidents had a blood alcohol content of at least .08. This is the legal limit across the country.

Drinking and Riding

We've already covered some statistics and ways to protect yourself if you are riding a motorcycle. Because there are so many motorcycles on the road, these statistics will probably continue to increase. To be fair, the percentage of motorcyclists who were legally impaired at the time of their death has gone down from 35% in 1996. This could be because fewer motorcyclists are getting drunk and then riding their bikes, or perhaps they survive more often these days due to safety issues like helmet laws. It's much better to be in a body cast, stuck in bed instead of riding your motorcycle, than it is to be pushing up the daisies and another statistic in reports from the NHTSA or blogs like this.

The percentage of motorcyclists legally impaired when they died was higher than any other type of vehicle. Certainly this percentage can be parsed; there are thousands of more cars and trucks on the road than there are motorcycles, so their percentage of drunk drivers is a bit lower. However, this alone is still terrifying in many ways. Almost a quarter of those killed in auto accidents or truck accidents were impaired at the time of death. Think of the many others out there who weren't in this report because they weren't killed, but instead injured or simply walked away. And how many of those hit and killed a motorcyclist because they were drinking and driving?

Remember, even on a good day you are less likely to be seen by another vehicle simply because the size of your motorcycle is smaller than that of a car. On a bad day you might find yourself staring down a driver who has crossed the center line. What then?

While we all take risks when we drive, motorcyclists need to consider that wearing a helmet can do more good than harm. That's one of the many differences between motorcycles and vehicles, and one of the facts that the NHTSA has covered: helmets have saved just over 750 lives.

So, three things to take away from this: 1) Don't drink and ride your bike; 2) wear a helmet; and 3) beware of what is going on around you on the road.

Finally, if you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident due to another driver's negligence, please contact the Motorcycle Accident Lawyer site to find an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

Warm Weather Means More Inexperienced Motorcyclists

2008-04-08T09:26:00.001-06:00

With spring here, and the weather warming up, it's only natural that more people are going to want to be outdoors. What this means for more and more people, is that they will climb onto a motorcycle for the first time.

Just like driving a car, it takes experience to really learn how to drive. Perhaps because many motorcyclists don't get their bikes until they've been driving for years they feel as if they already have the experience needed and know the rules of the road. What they don't take into account are the many differences between riding a motorcycle and driving a car. Even the simple, and obvious, differences such as motorcycles have two wheels, and cars have four. And riding a motorcycle is not like riding a bicycle.

Looking beyond the numbers from places like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which show through statistical evidence that more people are riding motorcycles, all we have to do is look around us on the roads during the warm months. It has also been surmised that rising gas prices are part of the reason so many people are on motorcycles. Whether or not this is true, the end result is usually a rise in deaths. Statistical evidence shows that this is also the case.

Though spring has just begun, there are reports from all over the country about the death of inexperienced and experienced riders. They come from all walks of life and all ages. However, the one trait they had in common was climbing onto a motorcycle. There are several ways to avoid becoming a statistic that will wind up as part of the NHTSA's yearly report.

Tips

Take classes on how to ride a motorcycle. Just like driver's ed, these classes will teach you what you need to know – and help you get your license.
Wear a helmet. Though many states do not have mandatory helmet laws, except for people under 18 years old, more people are alive today because they wore a helmet.
Obey the rules of the road. Stop signs, speed limits, distance between vehicles, and other laws are not only for cars and trucks.
Do not assume other drivers can see you. Motorcycles are harder to spot due to their size and cars will always win in accidents on the road.

If you, or a loved one, have been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact the Motorcycle Accident Lawyer site to find an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

Three Separate Motorcycle Accidents Claim Three Lives in Two Days

2008-04-01T13:32:00.001-06:00

Accidents claimed the lives of three people in Mobile County, Alabama between 10:30 am Sunday, March 30^th, and 12:30 pm Monday, March 31^st. All three were killed in separate accidents.

Accidents

Sunday, 10:30 am – A 47-year-old man was killed when his northbound Harley-Davidson collided with a southbound El Camino. The car was attempting to turn left into a parking lot.
Monday, 6:30 am – A 37-year-old man was killed when his Kawasaki collided with an SUV. The rider fell, and was then hit by a pickup truck.
Monday 12:30 pm – A 20-year-old man was killed when his motorcycle hit the side of a utility vehicle making a left turn. He hit the truck, and then was run over.

Road Safety Stressed

After these three accidents, Alabama state troopers have stressed safety on the road, not just for motorcyclists, but also for drivers of automobiles. They also want people to know that these accidents are preventable. Lt. Lee Peacock states, "The worst thing for a motorcycle is failure to yield the right of way." He explains that many times people will simply turn in front of motorcycles simply because the drivers are not looking for motorcycles. They're looking for larger objects – like cars.

Jimmy Herman, who co-owns Xtreme Motorsport and Repair, states that bike riders need to be on the defensive at all times, because when a bike and vehicle collide, "the bike is going to lose every time whether [they're] in the right of wrong."

Other Safety Suggestions

Some other things Herman suggests are, because bike riders are generally unprotected and therefore vulnerable on the road, to not take any chances. It might only take a few seconds for a bike speeding down the road at 150 mph to reach a vehicle, and the vehicle's driver isn't expecting that small amount of time when they turn in front of the motorcycle. Herman says riding in groups is safest, giving space between yourself and cars, and staggering the bikes along the road to make yourself more visible.

Officials stress that it is important for drivers to watch out for motorcyclists during fog, dawn, and dusk because that is when the chances of being involved in an accident are greatest.

If you, or a loved one, have been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact the Motorcycle Accident Lawyer site to find an experienced personal lawyer in your area.