The Injury Board Commentary - Motorcycle Accidents - Most Popular

Brandon Motorcyclist Killed by Drunk Driver

Joe Saunders — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:34:25 GMT

The holiday season is once again upon us as is the rise in drunk driving accidents and fatalities around the Bay area. This morning we're unfortunately hearing about a yound motorcyclist from Brandon who lost his life as a result of an auto accident with a drunk driver. Motorcyclists are more vulnerable to serious injury in a car accident especially when that accident involves an impaired driver. As holiday parties ramp up and drinking also rises, be smart and think ahead. Use a designated driver, call a taxi, spend the night where you are. What ever you do don't drink and drive.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Joe Saunders

New Motorcycle Safety Classes in Effect, But Are They Effective?

Joe Saunders — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:18:03 GMT

The Florida State Legislature passed a bill this year requiring new motorcyclists to take a safety course prior to registering their motorcycles. Unfortunately, they didn't require a helmet law which would have helped prevent some of the severe head injuries that result in motorcycle crashes.

While it's too early to tell if the classes are going to actually make driving a motorcycle safer, many cyclists are complaining that the courses are so backlogged that they have to wait months before taking the classes. Part of the popularity of motorcycles as well as scooters is the surge in gas prices. Many have opted for the more fuel efficient modes of transportation offered by the motorcycle and scooter. Yet, it's a tradeoff. The roads can be unforgiving for motorcyclists and scooter operators. Too often, drivers of other motor vehicles don't take proper precautions and/or don't recognize motorcycles on the road. Given the size discrepancy, the motorcyclist often comes out on the wrong end of any crash, no matter how safely he or she is operating the motorcycle.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Joe Saunders

Protect Yourself from Staged Accident

Rick Patterson — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 11:23:12 GMT

It has recently been noted by the Insurance Research Council (IRC) that almost one-fourth of all motor vehicle accident claims may contain fraudulent information. As a result of the amount of fraud, the cost may add approximately $4.5 billion to auto injury settlements each year. Obviously, at the end of the day, we all pay the price for fraud.

So, what do you do to protect yourself and your family. To find out, go to the link to watch a segment that was aired on Thursday on "FOX & Friends." The segment covers how to protect yourself from staged accidents. The segment also give other helpful tips and airs dramatic videos.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Patterson

New Virginia Program Adopted to Help Motorcycle Accident Victims

Kevin Duffan — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:20:56 GMT

Earlier this month, Virginia (VA) launched a new program to help ensure that motorcyclists who are involved in an accident will receive proper medical treatment. The program is a collaborative effort between the Richmond Ambulance Authority, Bon Secours Virginia Health System and Motorcycle Virginia, Inc. Through the program, riders will be offered identification cards that can be placed inside a rider’s helmet. In addition, the rider will also be provided with a sticker to place on the outer shell of the helmet indicating that the biker has the rider alert card. The card itself is aimed at ensuring that first responders have some basic information, such as emergency contacts and important medical information, when arriving on an accident scene.

While this new program will hopefully assist first responders in providing treatment at the scene of an accident, it is also a reminder of what motorcyclists can do to prevent accidents from happening in the first place, and some basic principles of motorcycle safety:

Never ride without a certified motorcycle helmet. A certified helmet will carry a “DOT” label on it, which ensures that the helmet meets Federal standards.
Always wear appropriate eye protection. Eye protection -- even for motorcycles that have windshields -- prevents your vision from being affected by bugs, dirt, rocks, and even the wind.
Wear appropriate shoes, gloves, and clothing. Your clothing should be durable, with long sleeves and pants, to protect the body in the event of an accident. Durable gloves ensure a firm grip on controls, and proper footwear, such as leather boots, help protect the lower part of the leg.
Drive defensively. This is even more important for motorcyclists than for cars, since motorcycles are less visible to other vehicles on the road.
Be particularly alert at intersections. Nearly 50% of motorcycle-vehicle collisions occur at intersections.
Always check rearview mirrors before changing lanes or stopping.
Watch the road surface and traffic ahead to anticipate problems and hazards. Minor irritations -- such as potholes, oil slicks, puddles, and debris -- can be particularly troublesome for motorcyclists.
Assume that you are invisible to other motorists and take steps to make sure that other vehicles can see you. Wear brightly colored clothing, use headlights day and night, and avoid driving in a vehicle’s blindspot.

The bottom line of motorcycle safety is that riding a motorcycle presents unique challenges that drivers of other automobiles do not confront. Less stability, less structural protection, and greater susceptibility to road hazards all present safety issues that motorcyclists need to be aware of and address when riding.

About the Editors: The Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm, which has offices in Virginia (VA) and North Carolina (NC), edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as pro bono services.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Kevin Duffan

Sheridan Township Motorcycle Accident Kills Man

Shannon Weidemann — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:50:56 GMT

A motorcycle driver was killed in a collison with a car in Sheridan Township. The motorcycle accident happened last Monday evening.

The victim

was on his motorcycle traveling northbound on Maple Island Road just south of 48th St. when he was hit.
The driver of the other vehicle sustained minor injuries in the crash. The name of the driver is being withheld pending further investigation.

He was taken to a hospital in Grand Rapids where he died from his injuries. The 29-year-old man was an employee for the Muskegon County Health Department. Toxicology tests are being done on both drivers.

If you would like to read more about motorcycle accidents, please visit InjuryBoard's Car & Motorcycle Accident information page.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

Motorcycle Hazard Alert: Cell Phone Intoxicated Drivers

Kevin Ryan — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:40:55 GMT

You can ride around all day in a car with the windows down and the sunroof open on the best roads with the best scenery and it still doesn’t compare, doesn’t even come close, to being out there on a bike, in the wind, feeling the curves, throttle in hand. I’ve been reading articles on motorcycle safety saying to get a bike with anti-lock brakes and never speed but I like my bike as it is and when conditions are right and traffic is light or non-existent, I don’t always keep strictly to the speed limit. But I watch for road hazards and the world has changed, not because of improved equipment or riding techniques but by the nature of the hazards. The main hazards used to be left-turning drivers, sand, and gravel on the road, deer, and drivers coming out of side streets and driveways. Now we’ve got a whole new breed of road hazard — the 4-wheel drivers on cell phones.

Nearly every week you can read a new report, study, or article that says a driver talking on a cell-phone is as distracted or impaired as a driver who is legally intoxicated. In Virginia, it is now illegal to text while driving, but the driving and cell phone talking goes on. At some point legislators may take action when there are enough car drivers, car passengers, and pedestrians who die or suffer brain injury or paralysis due to cell-phone impaired drivers. Until that day comes, the hazard of cell-phone impaired drivers is upon us. On a motorcycle, you need to have mental radar to spot these drivers. It would be nice if they had a light mounted on the top of their cars that flashed when they were talking on their phones, but that’s not happening.

With these drivers you can set your spacing between cars, take the most visible position in your lane, wear brightly colored gear, have a headlight that flickers, weave a bit, and still be invisible. The reason we have this failure to communicate is because a cell phone conversation takes the driver’s mind someplace other than the road in front, to the sides, and behind them. With these drivers, our job is evasion and survival. We are back to looking for the clues that tipped us off to drivers intoxicated by alcohol who drove under the threat of being ticketed and locked up. Now your mental radar needs to be alert for the car that is slow to take off when a light changes from red to green, the van driving slower than everyone else, the SUV that drifts onto the lines between lanes or changes lanes slowly with no signal, the van driving at you on your side of the road, or the car that speeds up and zooms ahead only to slow back down and drop back to a slower speed. Spot a car with open road ahead and six to ten vehicles bunched up behind and you probably have a winner. Any sign of erratic driving and an alarm should go off in your head to put space between you and that car or van.

I know my bike, my gear, and my limits and I ride accordingly but when it comes to being safe out there, we are up against drivers who are driving to distraction, impaired by their cell phones. Cell phones have such an appeal that the number of impaired drivers on the road these days is far beyond what it was in the days when alcohol was the intoxicant of choice. When you are fastening the strap on your helmet, remember to turn on your mental radar. And have an alert summer.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Kevin Ryan

Hamilton Virginia Bike Crash Safety Tips

Doug Landau — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 20:10:43 GMT

After finishing today's bicycle ride through Hamilton, Purcellville and Lovettesville, Loudoun County bike accident lawyer Doug Landau was reminded of late Fall cycle safety tips.

Keep the extremities warm - if you can't feel your fingers, you cannot safely brake in time to avoid an accident.
Because of the sun low in the sky during daylight hours, good anti-glare sunglasses can help prevent momentary blindness and crashes. Good sports eyeglasses can also serve as eye protection from sticks, leaves and other debris that can be thrown up into a cyclist's face.
Having easy to see, bright colored clothing can help cars, trucks and motorcycles see you and give you plenty of room when passing.
Leave the ear buds, telephone earpiece and other audio equipment at home, in the car or at home. If you cannot hear, see or otherwise sense oncoming or passing traffic, you are dangerous - to yourself, to others on the roads, trails and bike paths.
If you are going out near sunrise or sunset, reflectors, lights in front AND behind and reflective clothing can save a cyclist from a fatal bike accident or "near miss."

Know that it may take longer to brake and come to a safe stop when fall leaves are on the road surface. While today's leaves were dry during Landau's 40 mile bike ride from the Loudoun County High School in Leesburg, when there is morning dew or frost under fallen autumn leaves, or there has been recent rain, bicycle tire traction may be compromised. Test your brakes, make sure they are in good working order, and add more time and space for coming to a full and complete stop. Also turning may require slower speeds and avoiding leaf piles that may cover wet spots or hidden frost.

Autumn can be a wonderful time to ride your bike in Virginia. The smell of the leaves, the fall foliage, colors and cool air can all be part of an enjoyable athletic experience. The improvements to the W&OD Trail near the Loudoun 4-H Center heading West make for a smooth ride. However, falling leaves, sticks and frost require extra cycling safety precaution. The leaves are lovely, but they can mask dangers underneath.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Doug Landau

New Efforts to Reduce Motorcycle Accident deaths

Rob McKinney — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:54:37 GMT

The U.S.Department Of Transportation announced new safety measures to improve motorcycle safety.The motorcycle safety measures include new national safety and training standards for new bike riders , an effort to curb counterfeit helmet labeling , place new focus on motorcycle-specific road improvements , and provide more training to police on how to spot unsafe drivers. It turns out the U.S Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters is herself a biker. She suffered a motorcycle accident in 2005 where she broke her collar bone. At least we have somebody in Washington that has some real life experience in fixing a problem.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rob McKinney

Balboa Avenue Crash Seriously Injures Motorcyclist

Randy Walton — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 05:15:18 GMT

The driver of a motorcycle was seriously injured in a collision that has closed westbound lanes of Balboa Avenue from Mount Culebra Avenue to Mount Everest Boulevard in Clairemont.

San Diego police said a woman was driving east in a car on Balboa, started turning left onto Mount Culebra and was broadsided by the motorcyclist about 6:20 p.m.
The motorcyclist was believed to have suffered a major head injury and was taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital. The car driver was unhurt, but her 10-year-old daughter, a passenger in the back seat, was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.

According to reports, the road is likely to be closed for about two hours for an investigation.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Randy Walton

CHP motorcycle officer injured by car in Petaluma motorcycle crash

Claude Wyle — Fri, 14 May 2010 05:27:00 GMT

As a California motorcycle attorney and a motorcycle rider myself, I am always disturbed when I have to report a motorcycle accident of any kind, but I am even more upset when the accident involves someone injured in the line of duty. SF Gate is reporting that a California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer suffered major injuries Wednesday when he collided with a car in Petaluma while responding to a call.

Unfortunately, this type of accident can happen even to the most experienced riders who are riding as safely as possible for the conditions. The officer injured in this crash, whose name has not been released, was a 20-year veteran. He had his lights and siren on when a car pulled in front of him on Lakeville Highway between Frates Road and Browns Lane at 12:03 p.m., according to CHP Sgt. Trent Cross.

The injured officer, who works out of the CHP's Marin County office, was thrown from his motorcycle and suffered major injuries. As is often the case in car vs. motorcycle crashes, the car's driver was unharmed.

The officer was taken by helicopter to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and was later transferred to Stanford Medical Center, Cross said. The officer's condition was not immediately known.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons described in this article and their family members.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Claude Wyle