Sacramento Injury Attorney Blog

A recent motorcycle crash case raised several interesting questions of liability. In Wilson v. Harley-Davidson, Judy Wilson suffered a severe brain injury after her husband, Jack, slammed on the brakes of his motorcycle and she was thrown off the 2008 Harley-Davidson Road Glide touring bike. The motorcycle was not equipped with an anti-lock breaking system (ABS), despite an ABS icon on the motorcycle tachometer. The family of the victim filed a personal injury lawsuit asserting that the lack of or a defective anti-lock braking system caused Wilson's injuries.

If you have been injured in a Sacramento motorcycle accident, it is important to speak to an experienced Sacramento personal injury attorney to determine your next steps and answer your motorcycle accident questions.

Whenever any accident occurs several factors may be to blame. In some situations, driver error may be at fault. For example, speeding, distracted driving and failing to obey road signs or signals are all common causes of accidents. Further, negligent roadway design or maintenance can lead to a serious accident. Negligent roadway design includes such road issues as the failure to have adequate signs, too steep of curves, the lack of shoulder protection and other dangerous roadway elements. Other times, an accident may be caused by a design defect, defective parts, or other manufacturing issue.

Here, Jack Wilson asserted that when he put on the breaks at 65 mph after the traffic slowed down, his rear wheel locked and tossed his wife 35 feet forward onto the pavement. She suffered severe head injuries requiring a prosthetic skull and permanent brain softening. Representatives of Wilson posit that although Jack Wilson may be partly to blame, the lack of an ABS system was the main cause of her injury. The Wilsons believed that the bike had the ABS system based both on the existence of the ABS icon as well as a representation by a Harley salesman. Here, the case ultimately went to a jury to determine fault.

Continue reading "Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Raises Issues Of Liability" »

Calaveras news reports that a Valley Springs man was died in a Sacramento area motorcycle accident. The man was killed when a Jeep that crossed the double yellow lines collided with his motorcycle. Richard Arnold Crosse was driving his Harley-Davidson eastbound when the accident occurred. Reports indicate that the woman driving the Jeep lost control of her car after taking her eyes off the road by looking down at the speedometer. Crosse's passenger, Adelle Cross, sustained serious personal injuries and was treated at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Sacramento.

Riding a motorcycle can be dangerous - the potential for injury if you are in a motorcycle accident is great. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident or lost a loved one in a motorcycle crash, it is important to contact an experienced Sacramento injury attorney to protect your rights and discuss your next steps. Where another person is responsible for negligently causing your injuries, you may be able to recovery damages for the harm caused.

According to statistics, more than 100,000 motorcycle accidents occur each year. Further, more than two-thirds of deaths from motorcycle accidents involve motorcycle collisions with another car on the road - often because the car doesn't see the motorcycle at all or is unable to avoid the crash once they do see the motorcyclist.

Continue reading "Valley Springs Man Dies In Motorcycle Accident " »

A 50-year-old woman who was riding as a passenger was killed in a Sacramento motorcycle accident this past Saturday night. According to Sacramento news, the woman and her driver were thrown from the motorcycle after being hit by a car that was heading north. The driver of the car was uninjured, but the driver of the motorcycle sustained serious injuries.

If you have been injured in a car accident or motorcycle accident, it is important to contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer to evaluate your case and help you obtain compensation.

The potential for an injury from a motorcycle accident is great. Because of the lack of any shell protecting the rider from the full force of a crash, falls from motorcycles may result in serious, even fatal injuries. In an effort to increase safety and awareness, NHTSA has created safety initiatives combining outreach, legislation and enforcement to minimize the risk of injury when a crash occurs.

For example wearing a helmet can significantly decrease the risk of a head or brain injury. In order to promote safety, NHTSA as designated May as "Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month."

Continue reading "Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Leaves One Dead, Another Critically Injured" »

According to the SanFrancisco Examiner, a major-injury motorcycle accident earlier this week disrupted traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge during morning rush hour.

A southbound motorcyclist rear-ended a Toyota 4Runner just north of the toll-plaza.

Further, according to Nevada Highway Patrol reports, last night a 49-year-old Landers, California woman died after being struck by a car traveling in the wrong direction.

When motorcycles and cars collide, the potential for injury to the motorcyclist is great. Unlike cars, motorcycles have no shell protecting the rider from the full force of an impact when an accident occurs. As a result, crashes often lead to serious, even fatal, injuries.

Although motorcycle fatalities are down, these accidents serve as a reminder of rider and motorist safety. These safety tips include the following:

• Wear a helmet and other safety gear
• Don't drink and ride
• Pay attention to speed and roadway conditions
• Try to avoid motorists blind spots
• Assume people in cars can't, or don't, see you.

Recently, the California Highway Patrol has launched several campaigns to raise public awareness about motorcycle safety.

Continue reading "Serious California Motorcycle Accidents Underscore Need For Rider Safety" »

According to the Contra Costa Times, a Vacaville man has died as the result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident over the weekend.

The specific reasons that caused the man to lose control of the motorcycle and leave the roadway are unknown. He suffered serious injuries as the result of the crash and died shortly thereafter.

Too often, motorcycle crashes end in serious injuries and death. Little protection separates the driver from the road. Whether the man in this tragic accident was wearing a helmet in this instance has not been reported. However, helmets remain one of the top safety precautions a motorcyclist can take to prevent serious head and brain trauma and other life threatening injuries.

Other motorcycle safety tips include:

• Avoid distracted driving
• Be aware of changing road conditions
• Pay attention to your body position on the motorcycle
• Maintain your motorcycle's condition

Continue reading "Vacaville Motorcycle Accident Ends Tragically" »

According to KTVU San Francisco, two people were killed in a hit and run accident on the Highway 4 Bypass when a pick-up truck swerved into the lane of another car. The car then crossed the median and hit a motorcycle head on. Both the driver and passenger were thrown from the motorcycle and died shortly thereafter. The pick-up driver fled the scene and the driver of the car sustained serious injuries to her leg.

The motorcycle crash is still under investigation.

Unfortunately, the potential for serious injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents is great. Motorcycle drivers have little protection from the impact of a crash, and as a result, falls from motorcycles often end in serious, even fatal, injuries. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 5,000 motorcycle deaths occur each year in the United States.

Continue reading "Fatal Antioch Motorcycle Accident Kills 2" »

May marks the beginning of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's ("NHTSA") "Motorcycle Safety Awareness" month, a national effort to increase motorcycle safety and awareness.

The good news is that in Sacramento and throughout California, motorcycle fatalities are way down. In fact, deaths from motorcycle accidents are projected to be down by as much as 29%. Experts cite factors such as improved safety by all motorcycle riders and fewer new riders due to reduced disposable income.

A few safety tips motorcyclists should remember include:

• Wear a helmet. Wearing a helmet can lessen the impact of an accident and protect against brain injuries.
• Take a class to learn how to ride the motorcycle properly - this includes learning about proper breaking, understanding hazards and riding in bad weather.
• Wear protective and visible clothing - Being visible to other vehicles can lessen the chance of collisions.

Drivers should also try to become more aware of motorcyclists on the road.

Some tips for drivers include:

• Allow motorcyclists a full lane of travel.
• Anticipate motorcyclist's actions and allow them enough room to maneuver.
• Understand that roadways contain more hazards for motorcycles than cars.

Continue reading "Prevent Serious Motorcycle Accidents With Proper Safety" »