Posts tagged "motorcycle accidents"

The month of May is designated as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. The NHTSA wants to use the month of May to get across the message that safer motorcycle riding and sharing the roads properly with motorcycles will prevent motorcycle accidents all year round. 

Even though people can ride motorcycles year round usually in California, the use of motorcycles around the country goes up in the spring months when people are excited to get their motorcycles back out on the open road.

The fact that motorcyclists are exposed to the open air is one of the draws of riding a motorcycle -- the feel of freedom. This fact, however, also means that a motorcyclist is exposed to more dangers than a motorist who is protected by the metal of a car and its many safety features, such as air bags. A motorcyclist has nothing to defend him or herself besides the gear they wear and their riding skills.

A world class ballroom dancer, who was described as a rising star in the international ballroom dancing world, died Sunday after suffering head trauma in a motorcycle accident. In addition to dancing and competing in international dance competitions, the 30-year-old woman also taught at some of the most respected ballroom instruction schools around the Bay.

The accident happened at just after four in the afternoon on a wooded road in San Mateo County. The motorcycle collided with a Honda Civic travelling in the other direction. The accident remains under investigation to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the crash.

Flocks of California motorcyclists are starting to sell their bikes due to the terrible road conditions in California. Even motorcyclists who have been riding most of their lives are turning in their keys.

At the same time, a report by Progressive Insurance has rated California as the 42nd worst state for motorcyclists. Despite the almost constant sunny weather and countless scenic routes, California was ranked close to the bottom in the survey. Progressive reports that in addition to with the low percentage of smoother riding roadways, California also has higher motorcycle accident frequency, a higher population density, and the gas prices are higher than they are in other states.

Whenever a motorcycle collides with another vehicle, the potential for serious personal injuries is very high. Unlike drivers who are surrounded by a vehicle and are protected by a multitude of safety features, riders have very little personal protection in the event of a motorcycle accident.

Motorcycle accidents often result in brain injuries, injuries to the spinal cord and back, broken bones, and painful road rash injuries. These injuries often require serious medical attention and surgery. In addition, recovery from these injuries often means a loss in income during the time that the injured motorcyclist is unable to work.

The Hawthorne California Police Department suffered its first-ever loss of an officer on duty recently. The officer was killed in a motorcycle accident the Thursday before Memorial Day.

According to the police report, the officer was riding his motorcycle in the funeral procession of a Manhattan Beach police officer who had recently died of cancer. During the procession, he collided with another motorcycle officer from the El Segundo Police Department. Witnesses at the scene stated that both officers appeared to be traveling fast.

May means that summer is just around the corner in San Jose and that means more motorcyclists will be sharing the road with drivers. As always, it is important that drivers take the time to be respectful of motorcyclists and remember that motorcycles are motor vehicles with equal rights to the road.

May is also Motorcycle Awareness Month and both car drivers and motorcycle riders are encouraged to be safe while traveling on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 80 percent of all motorcycle accidents end in death or serious injury, compared to only 20 percent of all car accidents.

A motorcycle fatalities report released by the Governor's Highway Safety Association shows that deaths caused by motorcycle accidents were down in 2010. Motorcycle deaths dropped 2 percent across the country in 2010, but a disturbing change indicated that motorcycle fatalities were back on the increase by the year's third quarter. An encouraging 25 percent drop in motorcycle accident-related deaths between January and March reversed to a 3 percent increase by mid-year. Safety officials are concerned that the up-tick may mean that earlier declines were only temporary.

Since the 1990s, deaths in motorcycle accidents doubled to a high of more than 5,300 deaths by 2008. During 2009, motorcycle fatalities dropped 16 percent. Some safety officials believe the drop was due to a recession-affected decrease in recreational riding. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation disagrees. The riders' group feels more riders are using motorcycles as a cheaper form of transportation.

Whenever a passenger vehicle collides with a motorcycle, there is always the potential for serious injuries. Last week, several portions of the San Mateo Bridge in the Bay Area were closed during rush hour after a motorcyclist was hit by the driver of a passenger vehicle. The bridge closings were implemented in order to allow emergency workers to reach and rescue the injured motorcyclist.

According to a California Highway Patrol officer, the motorcyclist sustained major injuries, including a serious back injury and a broken arm, as a result of the crash. The motorcyclist's back was reportedly broken upon impact with the passenger vehicle.

In the past, California law allowed teenagers 15 and a half years of age and older to legally ride a motorcycle on a learner's permit that required nothing more than passing a written examination at the DMV. However, a 2007 accident has lead to a change in the law and young riders will now need more training before they can be allowed to ride a motorcycle on the streets.

In 2007, 18-year-old Jarrad Cole passed the written exam at the DMV and received his motorcycle learner's permit. His father, an experienced rider, bought him a Suzuki RS. His father drove the motorcycle home and set up a practice course with orange cones for his son to practice upon. Jarrad began to practice, and his father went inside to get more cones when he heard the sound of an accident.

A group of motorcyclists known as the Saddletramps was traveling on a remote desert road near Ocotillo, California when tragedy struck. As the riders traveled in a line on two-lane Route 98 about 80 miles to the east of San Diego, an unidentified driver of a gold Honda Civic attempted to pass the group.

Witnesses believe the driver of the Civic was traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour when passing the group as a white Dodge Avenger approached in the oncoming lane. The driver of the Avenger veered onto the right shoulder of the road to avoid the Civic, but overcorrected, lost control and slammed into the middle of the Saddletramps. After the accident, the speedometer on the Avenger was found locked at 60 miles per hour, 5 miles per hour below the speed limit.

We have a sad update to a story we discussed last week. Last week, we discussed the Watsonville man who sustained serious injuries from a collision between his motorcycle and a Jeep Grand Cherokee. A very well liked man, the community rallied to his support and raised over $4,000 to help him and his family. Sadly, he has succumbed to his injuries and died Thursday.

Since our last post, the authorities have released more information on the accident. The fatal accident occurred about 5:20 p.m. on November 1, the day before his 51st birthday. According to the Watsonville Police, the man was driving south on Harkins Slough Road, when a 39-year-old Watsonville woman driving the Jeep Grand Cherokee made an illegal U-turn to head north. The Jeep had just backed out of a parking lot before driving south on Harkins Slough Road and making the U-turn.

Daniel Garcia, a father of five and well liked custodian in the Scotts Valley school district, remains in a medically induced coma at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. He was injured in a collision between a Jeep Grand Cherokee and his motorcycle on November 1.

Authorities are still investigating the motorcycle accident, but they state that Garcia and the driver of the Jeep were both heading south on Harkins Slough when the Jeep made a turning movement into the Garcia's lane. The Jeep apparently had just turned out of a parking lot.