By Motorcycle Accident Lawyer on November 16, 2011 -
As Phoenix motorcycle accident attorneys, we want to make sure motorists watch out for motorcyclists who are doing their part to help the hungry this holiday season. The Modified Motorcycle Association of Arizona is sponsoring a “Birds on Bikes” drive, calling for members, as well as other bikers, to strap a frozen turkey to their bikes and deliver it to St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix on November 20, 2011 after 11:30 a.m.
How Arizona Motorcycle Groups Can Help
Bikers are meeting at locations across the valley, including at Charley’s Place in Glendale, Chuy’s in Glendale, El Dorado Bar and Grill in Scottsdale, and Quick Trip in Casa Grande. They’ll ride with the frozen birds strapped to their motorcycles as they make their way to St. Vincent de Paul’s. The association is also asking for monetary donations made out to St. Vincent de Paul and sent to St. Vincent de Paul, 420 W. Watkins, Phoenix.
How Arizona Motorists Can Help
As Arizona motorcycle lawyers, all too often we see motorists who don’t yield to motorcycles. Please drive with care and watch for motorcycles, especially on November 20 as this group makes its rounds to assist the hungry. In 2010 in Arizona, there were 83 people killed on motorcycles and 2,198 injured. 1,390 of these accidents involved collisions with motor vehicles, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). Of those, 42 were fatal motorcycle accidents and 1,039 resulted in injuries. Be safe and check your mirrors often for motorcycles that may be passing you. If you are following a motorcyclist, leave plenty of room in front of you.
Contact a Phoenix Motorcycle Attorney
If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, contact the Phoenix motorcycle attorneys at Breyer Law Offices, P.C. The Husband and Wife Law Team has years of experience advocating for injured motorcyclists. They obtain large settlements for their clients to help cover the costs of medical bills, lost wages, damages, and more. They are skilled at investigating motorcycle accident scenes to gather the evidence and use it in court against at-fault drivers. Contact them today at (602) 457-6222.
Allstate Insurance is installing warning signs in Phoenix and 24 other U.S. cities to remind drivers to be on the lookout for motorcycles. Rusty Creed, an Arizona Allstate agency owner, says that approximately 39 percent of all motorcycle fatalities occur at intersections. Allstate hopes that installing these signs – which are diamond-shaped and have the word “look” above a motorcycle graphic – will remind drivers to look both ways at stop signs. Allstate will be installing the signs at the 20 most dangerous Phoenix intersections.
Experience is one factor that affects the number of motorcycle crashes in Arizona. Ride Arizona Motorcycle Training Center says that 20 percent of all motorcycle accidents happen to those who have less than six months of riding experience. Thirty percent of all motorcycle accidents happen to people who have less than one year of riding experience. The amount of formal training a motorcyclist has can also affect crash statistics. Ninety percent of people involved in motorcycle accidents did not go through any formal training or motorcycle safety courses before starting to ride, according to Ride Arizona.
Motorists should pay careful attention at intersections as the small size of motorcycles makes it easy for them to get lost in your blind spots. Always look both ways at stop signs, and check your mirrors carefully when making lane changes or turns.
Because some motorcyclists lack formal training and riding experience, they put you at risk every time they take to the roads. If you were injured in an accident caused by the negligent actions of another motorcyclist, the Phoenix motorcycle accident attorneys of The Breyer Law Offices, P.C. can help. We will fight on your behalf to get the justice you deserve. Contact us at (602) 457-6222 to discuss your case in confidence.
By Motorcycle Accident Lawyer on September 19, 2011 -
The Motorcycle Foundation (MSF) is proud to announce that it has graduated its six millionth RiderCourse SM student. In a press release dated September 12, the MSF has attained its recent achievement via its approximately 10,000 RiderCoaches at more than 2,000 training sites across the globe. Vice president for Motorcycle Safety Foundation, Robert Gladden says “we have RiderCourses across the nation and around the globe, often during weekdays, and virtually every weekend of the year.” These courses are being offered in an effort to decrease cases of motorcycle accidents.
According to the MSF, participants are in for lifelong learning opportunities and the foundation utilizes the latest educational methods to guarantee effective learning. RiderCourses are composed of different programs which target every skill level and cover different types of motorcycles as well.
It is a fact that motorcycles are more susceptible to fatal accidents compared to automobiles. The fatal accident rate for every 100,000 registered units for motorcycles is more than 5 times greater to that of cars. This is likely because motorcyclists are more fragile in the event of a crash compared to car drivers. A moderate impact for instance could send a rider off his or her motorcycle which provides the rider with little protection.
With sufficient knowledge and training, the MSF aims to arm motorcyclists with better decision making skills on the road in the fight against road accidents.
If you have been in a motorcycle accident in the Arizona area that was caused by the negligence of another driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Contact the skilled motorcycle accident lawyers in Mesa at the Breyer Law Offices, P.C., today for a free consultation at 480-389-2463.
As Phoenix motorcycle attorneys, we like to keep up on the trials against drivers who have caused fatal motorcycle accidents. This week Michael Jakscht was on trial for killing four people and injuring many others when the dump truck he was driving ran into the motorcycle riders. By all accounts, even police officers on the scene, this was one of the most horrific motorcycle accidents in Arizona. It is very sad no matter what the truth or falsity of the accusations against Mr. Jakscht. The fact remains we have innocent people whose lives were cut short and others who were seriously injured because of an accident that could have been avoided. Accidents such as these are very traumatic for everyone involved. In a split second, the lives of innocent people can change forever. The lives of loved ones are changed and friends, families and co-workers.
The prosecutor brought charges against Michael Jakscht alleging that he had drugs in his system and that he had driven over hours. The jury trial took place in Arizona and they jury ultimately could not agree on the verdict. The consensus was a 9-3 vote for acquittal. With this determination from the jury, the Defendant is found to not be guilty or innocent. Therefore, it is up to the prosecutor as to what happens next. In this type of a case, the prosecutor is likely to retry Michael Jakscht because of the evidence that points to him having substances in his system.
Michael Jakscht has said that he was taking diet pills. Some people say that he fell asleep at the wheel because he was driving for too many hours. It seems from what has been reported at trial that he is saying that he simply was not paying attention and looked away and by the time he looked back he had already run into the motorcycle riders. By all accounts, there were motorcycles that were under his truck and some that burst into flames. We cannot imagine the devastation of the families and loved ones who were at the scene of this fatal Arizona motorcycle accident or whose loved ones were killed or seriously injured in this accident.
The motorcycle world in Arizona is up in arms about this trial and it makes perfect sense why they are not happy that Michael Jakscht’s trial did not end in a guilty verdict.
A new trial date has not been set yet for the Defendant.
Our thoughts go out to those motorcycle riders and the family and loved ones of those who were killed in this accident or whose family members were seriously injured. Going through this type of a traumatic accident is a life changing event. The Husband and Wife Law Team has authored the Arizona Motorcycle Accident Book as a public service to those who ride motorcycles. If you would like a free copy visit ArizonaMotorcycleBook.com and order your complimentary copy while supplies last. We hope to educate the motorcycle community in Arizona about the lies about the helmet law and others areas of law that are important for all Arizona motorcycle riders to know about when riding in Arizona. You can also order your free copy of have a free consultation with the Arizona Motorcycle Lawyers of the Husband and Wife Law Team by calling 602-267-1280.
On August 25, 2011 the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) announced the start of its year-long Motorcycling Naturalistic Study. The first of the 100 motorcyclists who will be participating in the study rode off last week with a fully instrumented, data-logging bike courtesy of Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI).
The study aims to collect information on realistic riding behavior which will eventually be used to help reduce motorcycle accidents throughout the country. Some of the instruments that are used in collecting information are unobtrusive cameras and recording devices.
The MSF 100 Motorcyclists Naturalistic Study is sponsored by MSF and administered by VTTI and is similar to NHTSA’s and VTTI’s 100 Car Naturalistic Study. Data will be coming from 100 participant-owned motorcycles for one year and approximately 500,000 total miles and will be administered in three different locations: Blacksburg, Virginia, Irvine, California, and Orlando, Florida, chosen for variety of riding conditions and traffic densities that these locations had to offer.
With more than 25,000 motorcyclists killed in fatal accidents in since 2005, any information that will be gathered in the MSF 100 Motorcyclists Naturalistic Study is essential in decreasing motorcycle deaths. You can help in the fight against motorcycle accidents by simply practicing basic riding safety tips: use the right protective gear; follow traffic laws; avoid alcohol and speeding; and always check your motorcycle’s condition before riding.
