Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer - Motorcycle Accidents - Most Commented

10 ways to stop the cyclist killings

Jessica Grigsby — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:23:45 GMT

While bicycle safety on our roadways is the responsibility of everyone—cyclists and motorists alike—unfortunately, the burden of ensuring safety usually f

While bicycle safety on our roadways is the responsibility of everyone—cyclists and motorists alike—unfortunately, the burden of ensuring safety usually falls on the shoulders of the cyclist. Here are ten important things that cyclists can do to keep themselves safe on the road:

Always wear a helmet. In California, bicycle riders under the age of 18 are legally required to wear a bicycle helmet when riding on a public road. But wearing a helmet isn’t just the law: it makes sense. Brain injury is the primary cause of death in cycling crashes, and helmets are 85-88% effective in preventing these injuries.
Maintain your bicycle. Make sure that your bicycle is a good fit for your body size, is properly adjusted and is in good working condition.
Handle your bike with skill. Being a skilled bicyclist increases your control on the road and your ability to avoid hazards. Make sure you can start, stop and turn your bike, ride in a straight line, stay balanced even at slow speeds, and look over your shoulder without swerving.
Obey all traffic signs and signals. This means stopping at stop signs and red lights.
Be visible. Even though motorists have an obligation to share the road with you, and even when you are obeying all traffic laws, bicyclists need to take extra precautions to make themselves seen on the road. Wear brightly colored clothing, install mirrors on your bicycle, and use reflectors and headlamps. Watch traffic closely and be prepared to react.
Be alert to hazards—from other motorists or from the road itself. Watch for warning signs of possible collisions, such as a motorist turning right in front of you or a parked car opens a door into your path. Also look out for potholes, poor road conditions, broken glass, and other hazards. Be prepared to take quick action.
Ride with traffic. Riding with the traffic makes bikers more visible to other drivers on the road.
Know where to ride on the road. If there is a bike lane or path available, use it. If not, then ride to the right of the lane you are in. If there is no shoulder or bike lane and the traffic lane is too narrow, then ride closer to the center of the lane.
Ride to the right, but not too far to the right. Do not ride so close to the right side of the road that you risk hitting the curb or running into parked cars or other road hazards. Also avoid the far right when the lane of traffic is too narrow to ride beside a car, when making a left turn, or to avoid conflicts with right-turning vehicles.
Make left turns with caution. The safest two ways to turn left are to use the traffic lanes themselves or to use the crosswalk and cross the intersection like a pedestrian. If using the traffic lanes, always be sure to check behind you before moving to the left of your lane or moving over a lane. Position yourself so that vehicles cannot pass you on your left while you are turning.

alls on the shoulders of the cyclist. Here are ten important things that cyclists can do to keep themselves safe on the road:

Always wear a helmet. In California, bicycle riders under the age of 18 are legally required to wear a bicycle helmet when riding on a public road. But wearing a helmet isn’t just the law: it makes sense. Brain injury is the primary cause of death in cycling crashes, and helmets are 85-88% effective in preventing these injuries.
Maintain your bicycle. Make sure that your bicycle is a good fit for your body size, is properly adjusted and is in good working condition.
Handle your bike with skill. Being a skilled bicyclist increases your control on the road and your ability to avoid hazards. Make sure you can start, stop and turn your bike, ride in a straight line, stay balanced even at slow speeds, and look over your shoulder without swerving.
Obey all traffic signs and signals. This means stopping at stop signs and red lights.
Be visible. Even though motorists have an obligation to share the road with you, and even when you are obeying all traffic laws, bicyclists need to take extra precautions to make themselves seen on the road. Wear brightly colored clothing, install mirrors on your bicycle, and use reflectors and headlamps. Watch traffic closely and be prepared to react.
Be alert to hazards—from other motorists or from the road itself. Watch for warning signs of possible collisions, such as a motorist turning right in front of you or a parked car opens a door into your path. Also look out for potholes, poor road conditions, broken glass, and other hazards. Be prepared to take quick action.
Ride with traffic. Riding with the traffic makes bikers more visible to other drivers on the road.
Know where to ride on the road. If there is a bike lane or path available, use it. If not, then ride to the right of the lane you are in. If there is no shoulder or bike lane and the traffic lane is too narrow, then ride closer to the center of the lane.
Ride to the right, but not too far to the right. Do not ride so close to the right side of the road that you risk hitting the curb or running into parked cars or other road hazards. Also avoid the far right when the lane of traffic is too narrow to ride beside a car, when making a left turn, or to avoid conflicts with right-turning vehicles.
Make left turns with caution. The safest two ways to turn left are to use the traffic lanes themselves or to use the crosswalk and cross the intersection like a pedestrian. If using the traffic lanes, always be sure to check behind you before moving to the left of your lane or moving over a lane. Position yourself so that vehicles cannot pass you on your left while you are turning.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Grigsby

Motorcycle accidents in California

John Demas — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 02:05:27 GMT

Motorcycles have a reputation for being dangerous vehicles, and there is certainly some truth behind that reputation. In 2006, almost 5,000 people were killed while riding motorcycles, and most died in accidents that involved passenger vehicles.

In order to try and determine the causes or contributing factors of motorcycle crashes, the University of Southern California did a study on behalf of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Some of the results of the study were quite surprising.

For one, the study busted the myth of the dangerously speeding motorcyclist causing accidents; "the median pre-crash speed was 29.8 mph, and the median crash speed was 21.5 mph". The study also suggested that crash bars were not helpful for the motorcyclist, since the reduction in injury to the ankle or foot was countered by an increase in injury to the legs.

Other results were less surprising. The study supported the commonly-held notion that the actions of the driver of the other vehicle are the predominating causes of motorcycle crashes. It also supported the idea that motorcycle helmets help save lives, and don't make it any harder to see the road. The study also concluded that young motorcyclists are highly overrepresented in motorcycle crashes, as are motorcyclists who have consumed alcohol, which suggests that the motorcycle driver may play a large role in the accident as well.

Some other results of the study include:

9. Intersections are the most likely place for the motorcycle accident, with the other vehicle violating the motorcycle right-of-way, and often violating traffic controls.

10. Weather is not a factor in 98% of motorcycle accidents.

11. Most motorcycle accidents involve a short trip associated with shopping, errands, friends, entertainment or recreation, and the accident is likely to happen in a very short time close to the trip origin.

12. The view of the motorcycle or the other vehicle involved in the accident is limited by glare or obstructed by other vehicles in almost half of the multiple vehicle accidents.

13. Conspicuity of the motorcycle is a critical factor in the multiple vehicle accidents, and accident involvement is significantly reduced by the use of motorcycle headlamps (on in daylight) and the wearing of high visibility yellow, orange or bright red jackets.

14. Fuel system leaks and spills were present in 62% of the motorcycle accidents in the post-crash phase. This represents an undue hazard for fire.

If you are a motorcyclist, it is important that you take every precaution while on the road. Never consume alcohol before getting on your bike; make sure you are as conspicuous as possible; and drive cautiously, even if you are only making a short trip, since it is always possible that a car might not see you in time to avoid an accident. Also, make sure you have insurance; less 10% of the motorcylists surveyed in the study had enough insurance to pay for any sort of damage to their vehicle, and you don't want to be part of that statistic.

If you drive a passenger vehicle, it is important to always pay attention to your surroundings. Motorcycles are often harder to spot than other cars or trucks, but if you aren't careful about watching out for them then the consequences could be disastrous. Driving safely and cautiously will save more lives than those of the people in your own vehicle.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by John Demas

What Should You Do If Injured By a Defective Product?

Jessica Grigsby — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 16:28:10 GMT

On a daily basis, we all engage in activities that involve the use of countless consumer products. Toys, recreational equipment, appliances, tools, gadgets, and all other sorts of products are an integral part of our daily lives. Of course, when we are purchasing and using these products, we expect that they are safe for their intended use. Unfortunately, many products fail to meet our basic expectations of safety and the consumer ends up injured.

In its 2010 annual report, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which monitors consumer products in the market and issues recalls, documented over 3,000 annual deaths that involved a consumer product and another 15 millions injuries related to product use. In total, the CPSC oversaw 427 product recalls in 2010. Of course not all of these deaths and injuries were the result of unsafe products. But, what exactly happens when you are injured as a result of using a consumer product? And more importantly, what should YOU as the consumer do?

The actions that you take following a product-related injury are important because as a consumer, you may have legal recourse against the manufacturer if the product was defective.

First, you should evaluate your injury, whether a product was involved, and if the injury was more serious than would be reasonably expected. The injured person might have been the one actually using the product, or someone who was merely watching or standing by. If someone did sustain an injury, you need to determine if a product was actually involved in the injury. Finally, in evaluating the injury, you want to ask yourself if it is the type of injury you might expect from using the product. Different products present different levels of risk--the types of injuries one expects from riding a bicycle, for example, are very different than the injuries you might expect from using a lawn mower. You need to consider whether your injury could have been foreseen given what you knew about the product beforehand and your own expectations of safety when using the product.

Second, after sustaining an injury, you should do your best to document everything that happened. At this point, if you still have the product involved, you should hold on to it in case it needs to be examined at a later date. Keeping the product is crucial to any legal claim you might have. It is also helpful to take photographs of the scene and product or at least write some notes down about what happened. What were you doing with the product when the injury occurred? What did the product do? What type of injury do you have? Hold on to any documentation you might have of the injury, for example medical records. Likewise, if you still have instructions and warning information that came with the product, you should hold on to those documents.

At the end of the day, if you have been the victim of a defective product, then you will need to speak to an attorney about your options. Proving that a manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer of a product is to blame is a complex legal situation.

Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients for almost twenty years. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes great pride in obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Grigsby

Wear a helmet--save your life

John Demas — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:49:57 GMT

We see a number of different collisions that occur on California Highways including a lot of motorcycle crashes. Unfortunately, the injuries are usually much more severe with bike riders than people in cars. Broken bones and other serious orthopedic injuries are common. Motorcyclists often sustain head injuries but the severity of the head injury is frequently determined by whether the rider was wearing a DOT approved helmet.

The consequences of not wearing a DOT helmet were seen recently in Sacramento when a motorcyclist was killed in a low-speed collision after sustaining a head injury.

Riders--be smart, be safe and wear a DOT approved helmet!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by John Demas

California Traffic Deaths Hit Record Low in 2007

John Demas — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:57:04 GMT

The statistics for motor vehicle accident fatalities in California were recently released and showed a small drop in fatalities. Unfortunately there were still nearly 4000 deaths on California Highways last year.

Although traffic deaths hit a record low in 2007, motorcycle accidents and deaths increased nearly 25%. This is consistent with what we are seeing here in Sacramento County as well surrounding counties. Not only are we representing more families who have lost loved ones in motorcycle accidents, we are also seeing more motorcycle accidents and severe injuries from motorcycle accidents.

This could be attributed to a number of factors including the fact that more people are driving motorcycles because of high gas prices but unfortunately appear to be driving without proper training. If you are under 21, you must complete mandatory training to obtain your drivers license. If you are over 21, there is no mandatory training. However we urge everyone who is considering purchasing a motorcycle to obtain the proper training --even if you think you know how to ride. There are number of training facilities in the Sacramento area.

A nice website put out by the California DMV regarding motorcycle safety and training includes a section to find a rider course near you.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by John Demas

Accident on U.S. 50! Wow, what a week...

Amber Wheat — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:59:12 GMT

Friday afternoon, on my way home from work, I witnessed a car vs. motorcycle collision. It happened right in front of me. I am so thankful that I didn’t freak out or hit anybody. At first I was shocked. The motorcyclist spun out. He separated from his bike really quickly, then his bike skidded across three lanes of traffic while the rider rolled and rolled on the ground. For a moment I thought I may have actually witnessed someone dying right in front of me.

I was so scared. All four lanes on the freeway were stopped. Two people got out of their cars and helped the motorcyclist get himself and his bike out of the road. He was very lucky. He only broke his arm. The people in the car made their way over to the shoulder and I made my way over as well. Many times in collisions it is one driver’s word against the other driver’s. If you ever witness an accident and know you saw something important for the CHP or the police to know, please stop. An uninterested third party can help them paint an accurate portrait of what happened.

I am kind of proud of myself. After the CHP officer escorted me to my car, I got back on the freeway and even though I wanted to freak out a couple of times, I took some deep breaths and made myself calm down. Once I got home I told my mother what had happened and by that time it was less shocking and I didn’t even need to freak out. My mom was happy too, it calmed her fears that I wouldn’t be able to handle situations like that.

I stopped and gave a statement to the CHP because I knew it would be hard for them to write the report without it. Motorcyclist are much smaller than vehicles and often go unnoticed. I am absolutely sure the car that hit him did not know where he was. I also saw things just before the collision, so I could set up the scene. When something happens behind you, in your blind spot, there is nothing you can really tell the officers other than “I didn’t see anything.” You really have to rely on good citizens who saw what happened behind you to come forward and tell what they know.

Witnesses are important. Have you ever witnessed an accident? Did you stop? How did you react?

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Amber Wheat

Motorists more likely to be at fault in motorcycle accidents

Ed Smith — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 15:44:36 GMT

A recent study by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety revealed that in two vehicle collisions involving motorcycles, the motorist was more likely to be at fault. Failure to yield was the greatest cause of motorcycle- car
accidents.

90% of all fatalities were men and 64% were over the age of 35. A motorcyclist's greatest safety device is a clear mind. "You've got to be a defensive driver and almost predict what's going to happen, like a sixth sense"....

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ed Smith

Motorcycle crash, Carmichael man dies

Ed Smith — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 15:39:21 GMT

A 19 year old ran a stop sign Wednesday, October 11th, and his motorcycle broadsided a van. The accident happened at the intersection of at Vernon Street and Dawnridge Road, in Roseville.

A really good site that talks about motorcycle safety is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_safety

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ed Smith