San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyer - Motorcycle Accidents - Most Popular

Motorcycle Accidents and Helmet Laws

Beth Janicek — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:21:24 GMT

Just this morning while looking through the news, I found three articles relating to motorcycle accident deaths in central Texas. The first was a U.S. Army soldier, Luke D. Yustin, 25, from Killeen, Texas who died on Friday in a motorcycle crash in Gillespie County. In the second accident, Errin Johnson, 34, was killed, and her husband, Gerald Johnson, 36, a Bandera County deputy, was seriously injured when their motorcycle was struck from behind by a truck over the weekend. The third motorcycle accident resulting in a fatality this weekend occurred in San Antonio, when Jeffrey McCarty, 47, crashed his motorcycle into an ambulance.

These accidents were extremely unfortunate events that regrettably took the lives of three people. Reading these articles made me wonder whether or not these people were wearing helmets, and what the statistics are regarding motorcycle accidents and the use of helmets.

While researching motorcycle accidents and helmet laws I found that the federal government estimates that per mile traveled, the number of deaths on motorcycles in 2006 was about 35 times the number in cars. In fact, the number of motorcyclist deaths has been rising in recent years, and in 2007, there were more deaths in motorcycle accidents than in any year since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began collecting fatal crash data.

Helmets can decrease the severity of head injuries, the likelihood of death, and the overall cost of medical care. NHTSA has estimated that helmets can reduce the likelihood of a fatal crash by 37%. It is important to know what the helmet laws are in your state if you are considering riding a motorcycle. If your state has a universal helmet law, than a helmet is required for all riders. Partial helmet laws usually only require people under the age of 18 to wear a helmet. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has provided an interactive map detailing each state’s helmet laws.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Beth Janicek

Motorcycle Deaths Increase

Beth Janicek — Tue, 27 May 2008 10:05:34 GMT

Already this year the deaths from motorcycle accidents have almost doubled the amount from last year in San Antonio. Police have tallied 13 deaths this year compared to 8 for entire year of 2007. Although statewide statistics are not immediately available, Texas Department of Public Safety's Motorcycle Safety coordinator John Young reports that he has heard of an increase throughout the state.

Preliminary statistics show about 400 people died as a result of motorcycle crashes in Texas last year, up from 346 in 2006, Young said. He added that 63 percent of them were not wearing helmets, which Texas does not require.

There has been an increase in people obtaining a drivers license for a motorcycle. With gas prices continuing to rise, more people are expected to buy motorcycles to save money.

Young encourages various safety measures, including the wearing of protective gear; defensive riding; and avoiding risk-taking behavior such as speeding, weaving in traffic and riding while intoxicated. A recent news release from DPS reports nearly half of all motorcycle fatalities involved alcohol use by riders or the driver of another vehicle.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Beth Janicek

Texas Helmet Laws

Beth Janicek — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:33:39 GMT

I recently blogged on motorcycle accidents and helmet laws and I wanted to go a little more in detail about how the laws apply in Texas.

Research has shown that states that either reinstate or enact universal motorcycle helmet laws showed an increase in helmet use and a decrease in motorcyclist deaths and injuries. States that repealed or weakened their universal helmet laws saw a decline in helmet use and a rise in motorcyclist deaths and injuries.

For example, Texas had a universal helmet law from 1968 to 1977 that was estimated to have saved 650 lives. The law was amended in 1977 to a partial law that only applied to riders younger than 18, resulting in a 35 percent increase in motorcyclist fatalities. Then in September 1989, Texas reinstated its helmet law for all motorcyclists. With that change, the helmet usage rate went from 41 percent to 90 percent during the first month, and had risen to 98 percent by June 1990. Serious injury crashes per registered motorcycle also decreased 11 percent. However, again in September 1997, Texas weakened its helmet law, requiring helmets only for riders younger than 21. By May 1998, helmet use dropped to 66 percent, and operator fatalities increased 31 percent in the first full year following the repeal.

In addition to the partial helmet law, Texas also had a law requiring a person to be covered with a minimum of $10,000 in health insurance to cover any injuries incurred in a motorcycle accident to be eligible for an exemption for the offense of operating or riding a motorcycle without a helmet. However, on September 1, 2009, Senate Bill 1967 became effective that repealed the helmet exemption sticker program. The new law removes the minimum amount required in health insurance and requires the Texas Department of Insurance to prescribe a standard proof of health insurance for issuance to persons who are at least 21 years of age and covered by an applicable health insurance plan.

I think that it is interesting that Texas is constantly changing their regulations in regards to helmet laws even when there is an obvious trend linking the increase of fatalities with reduced helmet laws. I believe that the universal helmet law would provide the most safety and would greatly reduce the amount of motorcycle fatalities in Texas.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Beth Janicek

Feds to Conduct an Intensive Study on Motorcycle Deaths

Beth Janicek — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:46:26 GMT

The Federal Highway Administration and Oklahoma State University will conduct an intensive study into the cause of the growing number of motorcycle crashes and deaths on America’s roads. The study will be the first of its kind in nearly 30 years, and was required by a 2005 federal law, the “Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act.”

Researchers will evaluate data to help identify common factors for motorcycle crashes, including road configurations, environmental conditions, and rider experience. The main focus of the study is on countermeasures that could reduce motorcycle crashes or lessen their harm.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted a pilot study in order to develop the protocols for the full-scale causation research. In July, the NHTSA said that it was considering requiring new safety features on motorcycles, such as anti-lock brakes. A study done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showed that the rate of fatal crashes was 28 percent lower for motorcycles equipped with optional anti-lock brakes.

According to the Transportation Department’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, between 1997 and 2008, motorcycle fatalities jumped from 2,116 to 5,290, which is a 150 percent increase. Hopefully, this new study on motorcycle deaths will identify which factors most influence motorcycle accidents, and figure out what can be done to prevent them.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Beth Janicek

Head On Crash Involves Two Motorcycles

Beth Janicek — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:02:58 GMT

On April 6, 2008, two men died when their motorcycles crashed head-on on FM 471.

"Department of Public Safety Trooper David Pinedo said Brigman, who was traveling southbound on a 2006 Kawasaki, failed to negotiate a curve and drifted into the lane of oncoming traffic where it hit the northbound 2007 Suzuki driven by Saldivar. He said both men were wearing helmets."

The crash is still under investigation.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Beth Janicek