Jul 12, 2012 | Car Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Uncategorized
Summer weather means it is time to dust off the motorcycle and ride! Riding a motorcycle can by more dangerous than driving a car, but by following a few simple safety tips, you can help ensure you get to your destination safely.
1) Wear Proper Gear– Even though the summer is hot, make sure you are wearing head, eye, and skin protection. By investing in a DOT approved helmet with a visor and a mesh jacket with built in armor, you can be cool and safe on your bike.
2) Check Before You Ride- Before you hop on your hog, make sure you do a thorough pre-ride inspection. Check to make sure you have enough gas in the tank, check your lights, your horn, your brake lines, and your chassis. This way, you won’t have any surprises on the road.
3) Use a Safe Following Distance- Never tailgate when riding your bike. Using a safe following distance ensures not only that you will have adequate stopping distance in the event of a sudden stop, but it will also help you to be seen by the driver in front of you.
4) Never Ride Next to a Truck– Trucks and 18-wheelers have large blind spots. Never ride next to a truck because, if they can’t see you, they may try to change lanes and run your off the road.
5) Use Caution When Carrying a Passenger– Carrying a passenger makes maneuvering and stopping your bike more difficult. Before hitting the highway, take a lap around the block to get used to the extra weight on the bike. Also, remind your passenger to stay still, keep their feet on the foot pegs, and keep their hands on your waist.
6) Never Drink and Ride- A majority of motorcycle accidents happen when the rider has had something to drink. Alcohol impairs you ability to judge and react, and also illegal!
7) You Are Responsible for Your Safety– Never assume that any car, truck, or pedestrian sees you and will follow the rules of the road. Your safety is your responsibility, so be vigilant and and smart when riding you motorcycle.
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Jun 21, 2012 | Motorcycle Accidents, Uncategorized
Weird statistic coming up: Between October 2007 and October 2008, 24 active-duty Marines were among the 4,810 annual motorcycle fatalities. So while active duty Marines only make up 0.064% of the US population, they accounted for 0.5% of the motorcycle deaths. That means that Marines accounted for more than 10 times the motorcycle casualties than you would expect.
Also, these Marines apparently like their sport bikes over Harleys. 78 percent of motorcycle mishaps in the Marines occurred on a sport bike, compared to 38 percent nationally.
When you’ve been hurt; Call us
If you have been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, get medical treatment and then contact us. Browse our website. Compare our credentials to those of attorneys at any other firm. Then, call us toll-free at 877-374-5999 or contact us on this form. We are ready to fight for you.
Jun 19, 2012 | Motorcycle Accidents, Uncategorized
According to WBTV reporting, Dave Lyle Boulevard in Rock Hill was shut down for more than three hours on the night of Saturday, June 3rd, after Vonvorie Barnett, 31, said South Carolina Highway Patrol. Unfortunately, Mr. Barnett was not wearing a helmet and collided with a car turning left from the I-77 ramp onto Dave Lyle Boulevard.
Mr. Barnett was thrown. Paramedics flew him to the hospital.
The driver of the car was not seriously injured.
If you have been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, get medical treatment and then contact us. Browse our website. Compare our credentials to those of attorneys at any other firm. Then, call us toll-free at 877-374-5999 or contact us on this form. We are ready to fight for you.
Jun 19, 2012 | Motorcycle Accidents, Uncategorized
While all motor vehicle collisions are dangerous, motorcycles by their design are more so. Almost all motorcycle accidents result in some injury, and about half result in serious injury. Some of the causes are:
- Collision with roadside obstacles, like roadside barriers, lamps, sign posts, buildings, fire hydrants, etc. (When a biker falls off their bike, they lose the ability to steer around obstacles.)
- Concussion and brain damage. Apparently, helmets reduce the risk of death in event of a bike wreck by 37 percent.
- Breakage of joints (elbows, shoulders, hips, knees and wrists), fingers, spine and neck. The most common breakages are the shoulder and the pelvis.
- Soft tissue (skin and muscle) damage as the body slides across the surface. This can be prevented entirely by wearing the right motorcycle apparel.
- Biker’s arm, where the nerves in the upper arm are damaged during the fall, causing a permanent paralysis of arm movement.
- Facial disfigurement, if in the absence of a full-face helmet, the unprotected face slides across the ground or smashes into an object.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in a motorcycle accident, please browse our website to learn more about your options and our South Carolina and North Carolina lawyers. For a private consultation with any of our attorneys, please call us directly at 877-374-5999 toll free. Our practice is state wide. We will come to you. Try not to worry. We are here to help. This is what we do. Call today.
Jun 9, 2012 | Brain Injury/Head Trauma, Car Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
I was on the way to work yesterday morning. The sun was out. It was going to be a light day at the office. Everything just seems better on Friday. Traffic was typically congested for that time in the morning. As I was about to change lanes, I observed, thankfully, a motorcyclist speeding and weaving through cars. Frankly, I almost pulled out in front of him. As a motorcycle accident attorney, I know full well what can happen when a car abruptly pulls out in front of someone riding on a motorcycle. Motorcycle accidents frequently result in serious personal injury, brain or closed head injury, and even death. I know. This is what I do. But here, in this case, the motorcyclist seemed to have no care or concern for his own safety. He was wearing all black clothing which seems to make him disappear in my rear view mirror. At least, he was wearing a helmet, but again, it was all black. He was not watching out for cars. Instead, he was darting in and out of lanes and coming dangerously close to moving traffic. He was also wearing a heavy book bag which can easily shift and cause a loss of control. Fortunately, he made it to his exit and left the interstate. I can only hope he made it to wherever he was going so fast.
Even though I represent injured and killed motorcyclists for a living, I would happily do anything else if only people would be safe on the road. Motorcyclists and their passengers are particularly susceptible to injury as they have no benefit of safety belts or airbags. Instead, in serious accidents, their bodies simply fly through the air until they land in the road or strike an object. And, they are propelled unprotected at whatever speed their motorcycle was traveling at the time of accident. Serious bodily injury and death are often the result. When I was an ICU Registered Nurse (RN), the motorcycle accident victims that I treated almost always broke bones or lost a body part.
Motorcyclists know they are never totally safe when on the road. However, to be as safe as possible, always wear bright colors with reflective strips for night driving. Always wear a DOT approved helmet with reflective strips. Always watch for traffic changes. And always anticipate bad driving by other drivers. Have an escape plan at all times. Know where you will go if someone pulls out in front of you or changes lanes without seeing you. Assume you are invisible to other drivers and never dart in and out of lanes. It is always safer, and frankly, more fun to ride alone. But, if you must have a passenger, instruct them before you head out how to ride with you and not against you. Keeping these basic safety tips in mind throughout your travel will help keep you alive and get you home safely. That’s all anyone wants. Ride to live. But live to ride again.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in a motorcycle accident, please visit our website at www.rjrlaw.com to learn more about your options and our lawyers’ credentials. For a private consultation with any of our attorneys, please call us directly at 877-374-5999 toll free. Our practice is state wide. We will come to you. Try not to worry. We are here to help. This is what we do. Call today.
