San Diego Lawyer for Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle Accidents and Bodily Injuries

  • Motorcycle Accidents
    Motorcycle accidents are a very common type of accident in California. Often, the other driver fails to see the motorcycle, violates the motorcyclist right of way, and causes a collision. Poorly set rear view mirrors, a vehicle blind spot, and simple carelessness are other common causes of accidents involving motorcycles. I can help with the many issues you may be facing, including investigating the facts of the accident, dealing with the insurance company, getting needed medical treatment, motorcycle repair and/or replacement, loss of income, and getting a fair and just settlement for you and your family.
  • Motorcycle Accident Injuries
    A motorcycle accident usually involves more serious bodily injuries that an auto accident due to the lack of protection a motorcyclist has. If you have been hit while riding your motorcycle, please give me a call to discuss your remedies and legal representation. As a motorcycle accident lawyer, I can help you recover money expenses related to the motorcycle accident such as past and future medical expenses and physical therapy, lost wages (both past and future), pain and suffering, property damage such as motorcycle repair or replacement, loss of motorcycle use, and other accident expenses.


State traffic fatalities steady, but motorcycle deaths up
Although roughly the same number of people have been dying on Iowa's roads over the past five years, a sharp rise in the number of motorcyclist deaths has state officials worried. As of Christmas Day, 423 people had died in traffic accidents this year, according to Iowa Department of Transportation statistics. Fewer December fatalities could mean this year's numbers will be lower than the past two years — 439 in 2006 and 450 in 2005, but it's more likely to be in the same general range, said Scott Falb, DOT driver safety specialist. Of those fatalities, 151 people were not wearing seat belts — what DOT calls the "life toll." Another 68 people were saved because they were wearing seat belts, Falb said. By DOT's reckoning, seat belt usage has saved 5,861 lives since Iowa enacted its mandatory seat belt law on July 1, 1986. Falb said the number of people killed in motorcycle accidents has been steadily rising, and is at 66 so far this year, the most deaths in 25 years. The increase is likely a result of the baby boomer generation getting back on their bikes, Falb said. The fastest-growing group of motorcycle license holders has been 45- to 54-year-olds, he said, and the second-fastest is 55- to 64-year-olds. People age 45 and older made up more than 45 percent of those who were killed this year. "It is a cause for concern," he said. "There are a number of reasons these deaths are happening. Their senses are deteriorating, they're not as steady as they once were, their skill levels are down, and bikes now are bigger than they were when they first learned how to ride." It's also more likely that a mistake made while operating a motorcycle will be fatal as opposed to one that happens in an enclosed vehicle, Falb said. That's why it's imperative that anyone, especially older riders, take a short refresher course on motorcycle driving and become comfortable with their bikes before taking them out on the highway, he said. "They just want to hop on and ride into the sunset," Falb said. "The inevitable is happening. They are getting hurt at a higher rate and more severely than young people." Also, 10 of 2007's fatalities were caused by motorcycle wrecks involving deer — the highest number ever in a year's time. Statistics on alcohol-related traffic fatalities are only complete through the end of October, but the rate of those deaths appears to be below last year. Normally, Falb said, fatal alcohol-related crashes make up about 24 percent of all fatal crashes statewide. So far this year, the rate is 18 percent. Alcohol-related traffic deaths fell for two years after Iowa lowered the legal blood alcohol limit to 0.08 in 2003 but seem to be slowly returning to previous levels, Falb said. "Whenever there's a debate on a legislative measure, there's media coverage and an early enforcement period that changes behavior in the short term," he said. "When the issues are no longer front and center, things tend to go back to normal."

Five ’Crest accidents in two hours
Five accidents occurred on Angeles Crest Highway Sunday, all within two hours of each other and in the same area, near mile marker 46, a California Highway Patrol spokesperson said. “One was a vehicle and four of the accidents involved motorcycles,” said Officer Todd Workman. According to Workman, no injuries were reported in any of the five accidents on Sunday. The first accident occurred at 10:10 a.m. and involved a vehicle driven by a 52-year-old man from Tustin who lost control of his Nissan. The second was at 11 a.m. when a motorcycle driven by a 54-year-old Van Nuys man crashed. The third accident occurred at 12 p.m. when another motorcyclist, a Long Beach man, 23, lost control. One minute later a 35-year-old Rancho Palos Verdes man also lost control of his motorcycle. At 12:02 p.m. the fifth accident occurred when a Long Beach man, 27, lost control of his motorcycle.

Deadly crashes may set record
A sharp increase in fatal motorcycle crashes appears certain to put Virginia's highway death toll at more than 1,000 for the first time since 1990. According to the state police, the toll stood at 997 yesterday, with the always-dangerous New Year's holiday still ahead. Over the last five years, an average of 11 persons have died on the state's highways during holiday weekend. Last year, 961 persons died in Virginia traffic accidents. Since the Department of Motor Vehicles began keeping computerized records in 1971, the high mark for fatalities was 1,100 in 1972. Through October of this year, 116 motorcyclists had died on the state's highways, up from 62 at the same time last year. That difference of 54 deaths accounts for all of this year's overall increase — and then some. "We have baby boomers starting to get to that age where they have a little money and they can start riding more," said Sammy Carr, spokesman for Drive Smart Virginia. "We have others riding motorcycles because of the gas crunch. It's a cheap, high-performance vehicle." State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said the spike in motorcycle fatalities is a result of "too much bike, too much power for too little experience." "We're really seeing that time and time again: They're males in the 40s and 50s on leisure and touring bikes." Mr. Carr, a former state trooper, said Drive Smart might support legislation in the 2008 General Assembly to require more training for motorcyclists.

Angola: Road Accidents Claim Four Lives
The National Police registered, in the past 24 hours, here, four deaths and six injured people, as a result of seven road accidents. The information officer of the Operative Road Traffic Unit of Luanda, sergeant Sérgio Sachikuata told ANGOP this Tuesday that two injured people were considered as very serious, stressing that there were material damages estimated at 360,000 Angolan Kwanzas. There is also highlight to the collision of two vehicles that victimised one person and injured four. The rest of the victims are a consequence of run over and head on collisions between vehicle, collision against fixed objects and against motorcycle. Drunken driving and non-obedience of traffic regulations are some of the main causes of the afore-mentioned accidents.

Fatal Motorcycle Crashes Rise Dramatically in VA
"The people that aren't afraid, when you lose respect for it, that's when you're gonna have an accident, says Gail Dabney. She works for the Motorcyle Safety Center of Virginia. The numbers are staggering: as of Thursday 997 have died on Virginia roads this year. 116 of them were on motorcycles. Last year it was 62. At least two Richmond Police officers have died in motorcycle accidents while off-duty outside the City. MSCV helps train people to get certified for their motorcycle drivers license by stressing the basics like rider readiness, bike readiness, and gear. After 4 decades on the road, Gail opts for a red jacket so other drivers can see her better, and a big helmet just in case. But she says a one-time class which the law requires isn't enough. "No, I don't think so, I think probably every couple of years you need to take the basic rider course over gain, or we have an intermediate class or experienced rider class."

Road fatalities
This was a deadly year on Cullman County roads and highways. As of Friday, there were 39 deaths in the county, and two Cullman residents died following accidents just outside of the county. In October, there were seven deaths including an accident in West Point that took three lives. By mid-November, Coroner Gary Murphree was asking drivers to slow down. He said at the time there have been double the traffic fatalities in the county than in surrounding counties in the last few weeks. The following is a list of the fatal accidents that have occurred so far in 2007: On Jan. 5, Edmund Matthews,75, died on U.S. Highway 31, five miles south of Cullman in a two-car accident. On Jan. 31, John Michael Cunningham lost control of the 1998 GMC pickup truck he was driving on Alabama Highway 91 in Hanceville. The truck reportedly left the roadway, traveled down a steep embankment and struck a tree killing Cunningham. On March 9, Betty Cadd, 70, died in a two vehicle accident, on Alabama 69 two miles northeast of Cullman. Domingo Jose, 34, and passenger Pascual Jose, 16, died in a two-vehicle accident on March 10 on I-65 seven miles south of Cullman. On April 2, Larry Mayfield, 60, died in a three-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 31 in Garden City. On April 12, a Lanett teenager, Justin Dale Hubbard, 18, and a woman from Valley, Evelyn Farrow, 64, were killed when their vehicle collided with an 18-wheeler near mile marker 304 on I-65, 1/4 mile north of Good Hope. Faye Cobb Dean, 71, on April 21, died following a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Alabama Highways 157 and 69. The other driver, Raymond Fischer, 65, was not injured. On May 6, Raymond Hill, 20, died in a one-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 278 two miles west of Holly Pond. On May 12, Lilly Brown, 23, died in a one-vehicle accident on County Road 109, 10 miles south of Cullman. J.T. Campbell, 85, died on May 12 in a one-vehicle accident five miles west of Cullman on U.S. Highway 278. Also on May 12, Steven Linscott, 45, died on I-65 two miles north of Dodge City following an accident on his motorcycle. Linscott was wearing a helmet. A May 18 accident involving two vehicles claimed the life of Martha Miller Hagedon, 40, of Cullman. Hagedon’s husband, James Hagedon, was driving a small SUV south on I-65 north of Kimberly at the time of the accident. He and his daughter, Victoria Hegadon, 12, were taken to UAB Medical Center. Cullman Middle School students rallied around Victoria, replacing her laptop and sending her positive e-mails throughout her hospital stay. Hagedon’s death was not a Cullman County fatality. William Copeland, 85, died May 20, in a two-vehicle accident four miles north of Cullman on U.S. Highway 157. On June 3, Vanessa LeighAnn Wood, 19, died at Huntsville Hospital after she lost control of the 1998 Chevrolet she was driving on County Road 703 three miles east of Cullman. Anthony Pichelmayer, 38, died June 30 on U.S. Highway 278 about 1/4 mile west of Cullman. John Ballard, 52, died following a one-vehicle accident on July 2 on U.S. Highway 31, in Garden City. Gary Davis, 22, died in a one-vehicle accident on County Road 1742 two miles east of Holly Pond. Late July 8, Deserie Renee Roberts, 20, and Gary Davis, 22, both of Cullman died in a one-vehicle accident on County Road 1742, about two miles east of Holly Pond, according to Murphree. Roberts, a 2005 graduate of Holly Pond High School, had finished two years at the University of Alabama, where she was studying marketing. She was taking a summer algebra course at Wallace State Community College and planned to enter law school, according to her algebra teacher Dr. Jenny Gurley. Gurley said Roberts returned home for the summer to spend time with her father who had cancer. Davis was a self-employed farrier. On July 18, a young mother, Ginger Nabors, 29, was killed late Wednesday morning in a three-vehicle accident on I-65 a half mile north of Warrior. Nabors left behind two children, ages 1 and 6. Neither child was injured in the accident. Nabors’ death was not counted in the Cullman fatalities. A 71-year-old grandfather, Truman Edward Gates, died July 26, in a one-vehicle accident on North I-65 near the Hanceville exit. His grandson, Michael Edward Gates, 20, was driving a 2004 Nissan Frontier pickup and lost control, according to Murphree. Janice Wright, 53, from Fairview died following a motorcycle accident on Saturday, July 28. Her husband, Warren Bruce Wright, 53, was driving a 2006 Kawasaki motorcycle that collided with another vehicle. A Decatur man originally from Cullman, Kevin J. Burtis, 29, was killed early Thursday, Aug. 2, when the GMC sport utility vehicle in which he was a passenger struck the back of a parked tractor trailer on an Interstate 65 ramp. The fatality was not part of the county total. On Aug. 3, Malcolm Baty, 66, died in a two-vehicle accident 15 miles southwest of Cullman on County Road 35. Another mother, Kathy Swann Williams, lost her life on Aug. 25 following an accident at the intersection of Alabama Highways 91 and 69 in Bug Tussle leaving behind a young son. On Aug. 26, William Ray Young, 21, died in a motorcycle accident on County Road 831 10 miles west of Cullman. Ronald Tucker, 49, died on Friday, Sept. 21 after his vehicle left the road and flipped over on County Road 813. Murphree said Tucker died on impact. Jonathan Craig Smith, 47, died in a two-vehicle head-on collision on County Road 109 six miles west of Dodge City on Sept. 24. Jessica Walker, 21, of Huntsville was airlifted to UAB Hospital after she wrecked on County Road 565, two miles north of Hanceville, on Wednesday, Oct. 10, but died later that night. Hanceville resident William Shaw, 62, died Oct. 12, after being airlifted to a Huntsville hospital following a collision with another vehicle on U.S. Highway 278 in front of the Holly Pond Fire Department. Three people died following a wreck in West Point on Friday, Oct. 19. Steve Faulkner, 50, of Vinemont, Scherry Clark, 18, of Hartselle and Matthew Moore, 30, of Vinemont died after the car they were in crashed. An 18-year-old Blountsville man died in a single-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 278 one mile east of Holly Pond on Oct. 28. Murphree said Jared Frederick Denny lost control of his vehicle, a 2006 Ford. Charlotte Murphree Noles, 59, died after she ran off the road and hit a tree on October 29. The accident occurred on a County Road five miles south of Baileyton. On Nov. 13, Christopher Coats, 21, of Hanceville died of head injuries after his 2000 Ford left the road and struck a utility pole on County Road 587 north of Hanceville. On Nov. 17, Joshua Derrel Calvert, 22, died in a motorcycle accident on County Road 829 eight miles west of Cullman. Christopher Steve Brakefield, 27, died on Nov. 26, when he hit a tree and was ejected on County Road 35 20 miles southwest of Cullman. Dental records were needed to identify the body of Tina Marie Guthery Lee, 33, of Arab after a fiery crash burned her beyond recognition following a Dec. 1 wreck. Lee was driving a Toyota SUV that slammed into a tree along U.S. Highway 278 a few miles west of Holly Pond at 4:40 a.m. Lee’s was the 36th road fatality of the year, said Murphree. On Dec. 3, Jerald Crumbley, 73, was driving a 1989 Ford when he collided with another driver on U.S. Highway 278 five miles east of Cullman. Crumbley died in a Huntsville hospital. La’ Keisha Love Cruz Walker, 25, from Blountsville died on Dec. 13 when the 2002 Volkswagon she was driving crashed on County Road 542 two miles south of Hancville. Walker, who was born in Cullman County in 1982, was the 39th person to die as a result of road accidents in the county, according to State Troopers.