Motorcycle Accident

North Carolina Legislature Considers Repealing Mandatory Helmet Law :: Workers’ Compensation Law Firm in Charlotte, NC

April 16, 2013 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney Matthew R. Arnold answering the question: “What should I do if I have been injured by another party but I can’t afford a lawyer?”

Adult motorcyclists in North Carolina would be allowed to ride around the state without a helmet under legislation that was recently approved by a North Carolina House committee. The measure would repeal the state’s mandatory safety helmet law for the vast majority of motorcyclists, something that has safety experts calling for legislators to vote no before it is too late.

The new law would require that motorcycle helmets only be worn if the motorist is younger than 21 or if the motorcyclist is recently licensed. In the case of recently licensed drivers, those with a motorcycle license for less than 12 months would also be required to don helmets. The measure also states that riders without a helmet would have to carry enough insurance coverage to pay for the first $10,000 of any medical bills that result from a possible crash.

Across the country, 31 states allow motorcyclists to choose for themselves whether to wear helmets. The closely divided vote by the House Transportation Committee moves North Carolina one step closer to joining that group of states. While one member of the committee cheered the results, saying that each person should decide for themselves whether to wear a helmet, another member said that he was worried about the cost that long-term brain injuries might have on the public at large. Representative Rick Catlin said that his life had been saved by wearing a helmet and it worried him that the mandatory safety helmet law was now under attack.

Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Charlotte; Mecklenburg County; NC :: North Carolina Motorcyclist Seriously Injured After Being Hit By Bus

October 30, 2012 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

According to Fox Charlotte, a CATS bus in Charlotte, NC and a motorcycle were involved in a crash on the 1500 block on N. Tryon Street at 10:25 one night earlier this week.

The bus was making a left turn from N. Tryon Street onto Dalton Avenue. The 1999 Yamaha Motorcycle was traveling south on N. Tryon Street when the bus turned in front of it. According to police, the motorcyclist was transported to the Carolinas Medical Center by MEDIC with life-threatening injuries.

The bus had 12 passengers on board at the time of the crash. One passenger was transported to the Carolinas Medical Center by MEDIC with minor injuries. The crash is being investigated by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Departments Major Crash Investigations Unit and no charges have yet been filed.

According to statistics published by the CDC, if a motorcycle rider is involved in an accident, the likelihood of injury or death is incredibly high: a whopping 98% of accidents involving another motor vehicle resulted in serious injury to motorcyclists. Of that stunningly large group, 45% escaped with only a minor injury meaning the majority weren’t so lucky and suffered serious, likely life-altering injuries.

The most common injuries inflicted on motorcyclists include concussions and brain damage. The dangers associated with such head traumas can be greatly reduced by wearing a helmet; in fact, numbers show that wearing a helmet can reduce a rider’s risk of death by 37%.

Other common injuries include the breakage of joints in elbows, shoulders, hips, knees and wrists. Soft tissue damage or “road rash” is also common because of how the body slides across the surface of the road following a crash. This kind of injury can be avoided by wearing the proper riding apparel such as a riding jacket and sturdy pants.

The best way to avoid injury is to not be involved in an accident in the first place. This is best achieved by being wary of other drivers, not taking unnecessary risks, and obeying the rules of the road at all times.

As North Carolina personal injury attorneys we have represented many personal injury claimants. Injuries sustained by motorcyclists can be very painful and require significant time and medical attention to recover from. Given the vulnerability of motorcyclists, all drivers should be extra vigilant in watching for and yielding to motorcycles when out on the state’s roadways.

Charlotte North Carolina Car Accident Attorneys :: During Hectic Summer Months Watch for the Danger of Passenger Vans in North Carolina

August 2, 2012 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Passenger vans are common sights on roadways across North Carolina during busy summer months. College groups, church youth groups, camps and others keep the vehicles full crisscrossing the state’s highways. The National Highway Traffic Safety Agency recently urged the users of such 15-passenger vans to take certain steps to keep drivers and passengers safe as the vehicles hold a special danger if not operated properly.

These larger passenger vans handle very differently from smaller passenger vehicles because they are typically longer, higher, wider, and heavier. They require trained drivers who are comfortable and experienced with the unique driving challenges associated with larger vehicles. Some of these differences include a greater reliance on side mirrors and the difficult job of changing lanes and longer braking distances. Passenger vans also have a higher risk of crashes and rollovers if they are not properly operated.

These vans are especially sensitive to improper loading which is why the NHTSA warns that drivers should never overload the vans. Users should make sure that the tires are inflated and have been inspected before every trip.

The NHTSA provided the following list of tips if you’re planning a trip using such a passenger van in the near future:

• Owners should make sure that drivers are properly licensed, well trained, and experienced in operating passenger vans.

• Drivers should be well rested. Fatigue can affect driving and response times.

• Vehicle weight should never exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

• Drivers should inspect the vehicle before every trip. Tires should be properly inflated and should not show signs of wear or damage.

• Passengers should be warned not to stand up or move about the vehicle while the van is in motion.

Charlotte North Carolina Motorcycle Accident Lawyers :: Terrible Charlotte Motorcycle Accident Raises Awareness of Danger

July 31, 2012 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

One of the most important ways to reduce motorcycle accidents is to be more aware of all the traffic surrounding your car. Something so small as paying more careful attention could save a biker’s life. One such tragic accident took place this weekend which left a Charlotte mother and daughter in critical condition after a motorcycle crash on I-485.

The incident occurred this past Saturday afternoon near the Beatties Ford Road exit. According to North Carolina Highway patrol, Karen Borders was driving the bike with her 13-year-old daughter when one of the tires blew. The blowout caused them to lose control, skidding and rolling across a busy stretch of interstate. Both women are reported as having life threatening injuries.

Hearing about accidents like this make riding a motorcycle seem like one of the most dangerous things anyone could do. There are way too many things that can go wrong when riding, and the fact is that it is bikers are prone to more serious injuries, because they are so exposed and lack any real protection.

If you are a motorcyclist who is going to carry a passenger on your bike, consider the following safety tips from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation:

• If you decide to carry a child, make sure the child is mature enough to handle the responsibilities, can reach the footrests, wears a helmet and other protective gear, and holds onto you or the passenger hand-holds.

• Instruct your passenger to limit movement and talking.

• Remember that the extra weight from carrying a passenger can affect braking procedures, starting from a stop, and riding through a corner.

• Exercise caution in quick stops, as a passenger can move forward and bump your helmet with theirs.

• Passing will require more time and space.

• The effects of the wind will be more distinct.

• The passenger should not make any sudden movements or turns.

Number of ATV accidents in North Carolina Increase Over Summer Months

July 17, 2012 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently announced that the number of people who die or are injured using ATVs each year is on the rise. The federal agency is asking that riders stay vigilant and be safe while out on the trails this summer.

The summer is a notoriously dangerous time for ATV riders and statistics show death and injury rates skyrocket as temperatures rise. On average, from 2004 to 2006, the deaths of children younger than 16 rose a shocking 65% from March to April. Adult deaths rose 85% over the same period. The peak of ATV-related injuries occurs in July and the CPSC is trying to put the word out early that drivers must stay aware of their surroundings and practice safe ATV driving habits to avoid a similar rise this summer.

On average, each year from 2004 to 2010, there were nearly 700 ATV-related fatalities. Each year also saw close to 136,000 injuries that required emergency room visits. Though these thankfully did not result in death, many such injuries can be life altering.

This year alone the CPSC says that it has received reports of some 130 adults and 28 children under the age of 16 who have died in ATV-related incidents across the country. The busy summer holiday season sees a huge increase in the number of accidents and this year is off to a bad start with the Memorial Day holiday weekend alone accounting for the deaths of 14 adults and 3 children. The government is urging caution while out on the trails as the July 4th holiday weekend is coming up.

Most of the deaths and injuries occur when an inexperienced driver loses control of an ATV, is thrown from an ATV, overturns the vehicle, or collides with a fixed object. Those drivers with more than on year of experience operating an ATV have dramatically lower risk of injury and death than brand new drivers. Practice really does help in the case of ATV accidents as drivers develop comfort behind the wheel and experience with how to properly operate the device. Off-road driving is very different than cruising down the street and, as such, it requires special training to understand how to best operate an ATV.

Teen dies in Motorcycle Accident Outside of Charlotte, North Carolina

August 6, 2010 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

According to an article from WCNC, an eighteen year old man was killed outside of Charlotte, North Carolina recently when his Honda Gold wing motorcycle crashed by veering off a Gaston County road. The motorcycle crash happened on July 25, 2010 on Crowders Creek Road. The young man was staying in Charlotte, North Carolina during the week while living outside of Charlotte, with family, on the weekends.
The North Carolina State Trooper who is investigating the motorcycle crash went on record as saying that it will be difficult to determine the cause of the motorcycle accident because four days of heat and rain had passed between the wreck and the discovery of the scene. An accident reconstruction team will investigate the matter and should be able to provide an estimate of the speed that the motorcycle was traveling and other details of the wreck. There remain many unanswered questions about the wreck and why no one noticed that the young man was missing.