Motorcycle Accidents

Published on: May 27, 2011

Survey Finds Americans Want More Traffic Safety Laws to Prevent Car Accidents

A new survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety indicates that Americans would rather have more government interference in matters of traffic safety to prevent auto accidents, truck accidents and motorcycle accidents. Of course, these accidents often result in serious personal injuries and wrongful deaths. According to the survey, 62% of Americans want more traffic safety laws to reduce poor driving behaviors and minimize accident risks.What’s more, 57% of respondents wanted their individual states to get more involved in making the roads safer.This is an indication to Atlanta car accident attorneys that there is plenty of support for recent moves in Georgia to enact mandatory seatbelt laws for all, and ban texting while driving for all motorists.

According to the survey, 70% of Americans feel that traffic safety laws should be strictly enforced.There’s a lesson here for Atlanta and throughout Georgia which has recently banned texting while driving – laws can be meaningless unless these are enforced and violators penalized sufficiently.

Additionally, the survey also indicates that there is plenty of support for tough teen driver licensing standards.86% of the respondents believe that new drivers should be required to complete a driver’s education course before they are allowed a driver’s license.American motorists also want to see automakers invest in technologies that will help prevent accidents and keep motorists safe.60% of the respondents wanted automakers to do more to make their vehicles safer.

Published on: May 26, 2011

New Georgia Law Designed to reduce the number of Bicycle Accidents and Motorcycle Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

With increasing gas prices and unrelenting traffic congestion plaguing the state, many Georgians are finding it’s more economically savvy (and healthy, besides) to travel by bicycle or motorcycle in lieu of automobile. Unfortunately, this trend towards cycling is also resulting in an increased number of accidents involving cyclists and their impatient motorist counterparts. In fact, according to the Georgia Office of Highway Safety, in 2008, 12 percent of the people killed in motor vehicle crashes in Georgia were motorcycle drivers — the highest motorcycle fatality count within 15 years. As an Atlanta injury lawyer, I know that this number is only the tip of the iceberg since a significant number of serious injuries result from motorcycle accidents every year.

This is a growing problem in Georgia, where in 2008 motorcycle driver deaths has increased by 59 percent since 2004. As a remedy, Governor Nathan Deal signed into law last week a bill aimed to protect them, while simultaneously granting respite to sympathetic drivers who nevertheless feel a modicum of nervousness when inching by a motorcycle or bicycle.

House Bill 101 requires drivers to give cyclists at least 3 feet of space. Before last week, motorists had only to maintain an arguably ambiguous “safe distance” when passing. Now, those same motorists will have to actually cross the yellow line to comply with the law.

Published on: April 23, 2011

14% Decline in Georgia Motorcycle Accident Deaths in 2010

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The Governors’ Highway Safety Association is predicting a 2% decline in motorcycle accident deaths for 2010, based on a slight decline in fatalities during the first nine months of the year.In Georgia, Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers found slightly better news.The predicted decline in motorcycle accident fatalities in Georgia is a little more substantial than the national average.As an Atlanta injury lawyer, I welcome any decrease in the number of motorcycle accident deaths and hope this also indicates a reduction in the number of accidents involving serious personal injuries.

During the first nine months of 2009, there had been 112 motorcycle accident deaths in Georgia, and those numbers had decreased to 98 deaths during the same period in 2010.That was a decline of 14, and while it is not a bad performance, Georgia is way behind our neighbor Louisiana with a decline of 37, Oklahoma with a decline of 25 and Wisconsin with a decline of 24 fatalities. Georgia could do much better with saving motorcyclists lives every year, if it invested more in educating motorists about the specific dangers facing motorcyclists.

According to the report by the GHSA, motorcycle accident fatalities across the country decreased by approximately 2.4% during the first nine months of the year.The GHSA is predicting the total number of motorcycle accident fatalities for 2010 to be around 4, 376 or fewer.However, the agency is warning against any enthusiasm over this decline in motorcycle accident deaths.

Published on: April 15, 2011

Car Accidents, Truck Accidents and Motorcycle Accidents at All-Time Low

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Federal transportation safety agencies recorded a 3% drop in auto accident, truck accident, and motorcycle accident wrongful deaths in 2010.Southern states including Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and Florida also recorded a 3% drop in accident deaths last year.Last year’s figures are the lowest accident death rates on record since 1949. As an Atlanta Injury lawyer, I welcome the latest report of the decline in these numbers.

The Georgia/South Carolina/Alabama/Tennessee/Florida region recorded 6,375 car accident deaths in 2010, a drop of 3% from 2009, when there were 6,573 accident deaths.Overall, nationwide, there were 32, 788 auto accident, truck accident and motorcycle accident deaths in 2010, a decline of 3% from 33,808 fatalities in 2009.Moreover, the decline in car accident deaths was the lowest on record since 1949.Last year accident deaths also marked a 25% drop since 2005.

The statistics also seem to put to rest the theory that the decline in car accident fatalities has had a lot to do with the recession.Last year, Americans traveled more vehicle miles, but fewer Americans died in accidents.There are other reasons that have contribute to this decline that have been evident for the past few years.Higher seat belt usage rate is typically one of those factors.More drivers in Georgia now buckle up than ever before and this has meant fewer fatalities in accidents.

Published on: April 8, 2011

Motorcyclists in Atlanta and throughout Georgia at Risk from Car Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Most motorcycle accidents occur in the daytime and at intersections, and can usually be linked to motorist failure to see the motorcyclist in time.As an Atlanta injury lawyer, I find that some of the most serious and debilitating injuries arise out of motorcycle accidents. A motorcyclist is far more likely to be injured in an auto accident than a passenger in a car. As the year’s biking season kicks off, Georgia motorcycle accident attorneys would advise motorists to exercise extra caution.

Georgia’s motorcyclists will enjoy the warm spring weather, after what has been at times, a horribly cruel winter.The weather being as pleasant as it is, motorists can expect not just local Georgia motorcyclists, but also motorcyclists from neighboring states on their way to southern destinations.However, with the increase in motorcyclists, comes an increased risk of accidents.Biking season is the right time to remind drivers that most motorcycle accidents are caused by motorists and drivers of other vehicles, and not motorcyclists.

In Georgia at least, we have noticed a trend of blaming motorcyclists every time there’s an accident involving these riders.Most people are quick to assume that it’s motorcyclists who disobey traffic laws, ride too fast, and try stunts on the motorcycle.Nothing could be further from the truth.Most motorcyclists are aware that any foolish behavior can have devastating consequences for them, and not so much for the occupants of the other vehicle involved in the crash.

Published on: March 28, 2011

New Safety Initiatives commenced in effort to prevent Motorcycle Accidents in Atlanta and throughout Georgia

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The Georgia Department of Public Safety has begun implementing motorcycle safety checkpoints, as part of a program in an effort to prevent motorcycle accidents. Some of the most serious injuries and deaths often result from motorcycle accidents. Although motorcycles certainly need to be well maintained, these accidents are more often caused by drivers of cars who are not watching out for motorcycles. It would probably be more effective use of resources if the Department used their limited resources to commence a campaign to educate drivers to watch out for motorcycles and bicycles.

As part of the campaign that is being launched, the Georgia Department of Public Safety will conduct a total of six motorcycle checkpoints between 1 March 2011 and December 31, 2012.The first checkpoint of 2011 was held earlier this month along Interstate 75 and along Interstate 95.Motorcyclists traveling along any of the highways that have been marked for checkpoints will find signs that require them to exit at an inspection station.

The campaign is being funded by a $70,000 grant by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.Officers will be specifically looking to see if motorcycle drivers have licenses, and if they’re wearing helmets.They will also be checking to see that motorcycles are in good operating condition, and will specifically be looking out for bad tires, broken or malfunctioning headlights and tail lights.According to the Department of Public Safety, the checkpoints won’t be a major hindrance, and the average motorcyclist who is riding with a proper license, and is helmeted, will find that the delay lasts just about a minute.

Published on: February 18, 2011

Motorcycle Helmets May Reduce Risk of Cervical Spine Injuries from Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers strongly recommend wearing a helmet to reduce your risks of suffering serious or fatal injury in a motorcycle accident. It’s common knowledge that wearing helmets reduces your risk of suffering a brain injury. A new study however shows that wearing a motorcycle helmet may have even more tangible benefits for persons involved in a motorcycle accident. The results of this study prove that wearing a helmet not only reduces the risk of brain injury, but also cervical spine injury.

Researchers at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine analyzed motorcycle accident collisions between 2002 and 2006. The data came from the National Trauma Data Bank. The researchers found that there was a substantially lowered risk of cervical spine injury among motorcyclists who wore helmets. The risk was as much as 22% lower compared to persons not wearing a helmet during a crash.

According to the researchers, this puts to rest a long-held misconception that wearing motorcycle helmets increases your risk of suffering a cervical spine injury. Critics of motorcycle helmet laws have long held that wearing helmets increases the risk of suffering a neck injury, and they often cite 25-year-old studies to support their arguments. The fact is that modern helmets are not just lighter and more sophisticated, but also come with added strength and complete protection.

Published on: November 24, 2010

Motorcyclist Killed in Cobb County Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Cobb County police are on the lookout for a pickup truck driver whom they believe was responsible for a fatal motorcycle accident this week. According to police, the 60-year-old victim was riding his motorcycle, when he was cut off by the driver of a Ford F-150 truck. In order to avoid the accident, the victim was forced to go over the curb and across the sidewalk. The motorcycle struck a pillar on the sidewalk, and the victim sustained serious injuries. He was taken to the hospital, but succumbed to his injuries later.

Cobb County Police are on the lookout for the driver of the pickup truck. They say it is either a gray or black colored truck.

Unfortunately, most motorcycle crashes that Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers come across seem to follow similar patterns. These accidents are caused not because motorcycles were speeding or driving rashly, but because the motorcyclists were not yielded to or were cutoff.

Published on: November 22, 2010

Motorcycle Helmets Mandated

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

NTSB Recommends All States Mandate Motorcycle Helmets

The National Transportation Safety Board has called on all states to mandate motorcycle helmets to reduce the numbers of deaths in motorcycle accidents every year. The federal agency made the recommendation as part of its annual “Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety.” The list outlines a series of recommendations that the federal agency directs to states across the country. This year, the board seems to have focused on motorcycle helmet recommendations in place of recreational boating safety.

The NTSB list identifies those states that have made great progress in protecting the motorcycling public. It also names those states that still have more work to do to keep motorcyclists and other motorists safer. Georgia has mandatory motorcycle helmet laws for all motorcyclists.

Published on: October 28, 2010

Motorcyclist Seriously Injured in Henry County Motorcycle Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The family of a motorcyclist, who was critically injured in a motorcyle accident in Henry County over the weekend, has issued a plea for help in finding the hit-and-run driver responsible for the accident.

34-year-old Justin Hayes was riding his motorcycle on Saturday evening, when he was struck by a Toyota Highlander.The accident resulted in Hayes being thrown off his motorcycle, which resulted in critical injuries.He is currently being treated in the intensive care unit at Grady Memorial Hospital.He suffered multiple fractures, as well as internal injuries in the motorcycle accident.

His wife, Cheryl has issued a plea for help to anyone who can provide information that can lead to the hit-and-run motorist here.The Highlander was apparently being driven by a black female, between 20 and 30 years of age.According to police, the woman simply drove off after the vehicle struck Hayes.Anyone who may have witnessed the motorcycle accident, or may have some information about the crash, including repair shop workers or mechanics, are being encouraged to inform Henry County police.