Archive for the ‘Motorcycle Accidents’ Category

Young Motorcycle Rider Dies in New Haven Accident

According to the New Haven Independent, a 25-year-old motorcycle rider lost his life recently as a result of an auto accident. The motorcycle and a car collided on Dixwell Avenue near the intersection of Dixwell and Pond Street. When police responded to the scene, the motorcycle rider was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

Our New Haven motorcycle accident lawyers know that motorcyclists are significantly more likely to die in collisions than drivers or passengers in other types of vehicles. Unfortunately, this accident was yet another situation where a young life was cut short as a result of a tragic crash.

Fatalities Occur when Bikers are Thrown from Motorcycles

According to the New Haven Independent, the recent fatal motorcycle accident involved a Chevrolet Camaro and a motorcycle. The Camaro was traveling north on Dixwell Avenue while the motorcycle rider was headed south. The car made a left turn onto Pond Street at the intersection and a collision occurred with the motorcycle rider.

As a result of the collision, the motorcycle rider was ejected from his bicycle. The bike traveled for a long distance and the motorcycle rider hit the car and was killed. The cause of the accident has not yet been determined and police are uncertain as to who was to blame for the crash. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation reports failure to yield and turning left in front of an oncoming motorcycle is the leading cause of motorcycle accidents in the United States.

Accidents frequently happen at intersections where motorcycle riders and drivers meet and are especially common when a driver is turning left. A driver making a left turn might cut off a motorcycle rider and fail to yield the right-of-way; may underestimate the speed at which the motorcycle rider is approaching the intersection or may not even see the motorcycle rider at all.

All of this can lead to disaster for a motorcycle rider because of the fact that a bike provides almost no protection for a rider. It is entirely too common for motorcycle riders to be thrown from their bikes when an accident happens. In a best-case scenario, being thrown from a bike usually causes at least some minor injuries including bruises and road burn. In a worst case scenario, through, the biker flying through the air and striking the road or other vehicles will sustain serious injury to the head, spine, back or neck. These serious injuries can result in death.

The limited protection provided by the bike and the fact that motorcyclists are so often ejected from their vehicles contributes to the high injury and fatality rate. The NHTSA, for example, estimates that motorcycle riders are thirty-times as likely to die in a crash as those in passenger cars and are five-times as likely to be injured when compared with drivers or passengers in other types of vehicles.

Because of the serious risk to motorcycle riders, drivers need to be careful to avoid causing a deadly wreck. This is especially true at intersections and when drivers are changing lanes, as a drivers failure to look or failure to yield are among the top causes of deadly motorcycle accidents.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli, by calling  1-800-WIN-WIN-1.

Connecticut Motorcycle Helmet Use Reduces Costs as Well as Biker Accident Injuries

You can always count on the Center for Disease Control to shed a bright light on issues and statistics that are important but that many of us rarely consider. Take motor vehicle accidents, for instance. The average person naturally considers them solely in personal terms—how they affect us and our families, accident injury recovery, accident medical expenses.  But the CDC has done a study on motorcycle accidents that looks at the big picture, entirely in terms of dollars. From 2008 to 2010 they examined biker accidents across the nation in order to establish how much each state saves when motorcycle riders and passengers wear helmets. The numbers are staggering.

According to the study, over $3 billion was saved in 2010 alone, with total costs saved due to helmet use ranging from $2.6 million in New Mexico to $394 million in California. Economic costs saved from helmet use per registered motorcycle ranged from $48 in New Mexico to $1,627 in North Carolina, with a median of $286. In Connecticut, the savings was approximately $300 per registered motorcycle. Since motorcycle accident liability is typically attributed to reckless driving or inattentive driving by those operating cars and trucks, it makes sense for Connecticut bikers to wear helmets, even though Connecticut law only requires them for bikers under 18 year old.

Connecticut personal injury attorneys Salomone & Morelli know that the most important message in the CDC study is that lives are saved and motorcycle accident injuries are reduced thanks to helmet use. Even bikers with helmets do not have a guarantee of motorcycle safety, however. “Unfortunately, even when bikers have protective gear,” the firms attests, “they risk serious injury or death each time they get on their motorcycles. Helmets and heavy-duty clothing are supposed to protect riders and passengers from getting hurt, but often these precautions do not go far enough.”

Nationally, says the CDC, helmets lowered deaths by 37 percent for motorcycle drivers and 41 percent for passengers, and that meant 1,544 fewer motorcyclist fatalities in 2010. Over 40 percent of motorcyclists killed in accidents between 2008 and 2010 were not wearing a helmet, says the CDC report. In states where helmets are not required, 79 percent of the motorcyclists killed were not wearing one, compared to 12 percent in states where helmets are the law.

The key point to take from this study is that helmets are good not just for motorcyclists but for the entire community. They keep bikers and bike passengers safer and, because of the lives they save each year, they funnel more funds into our state’s economy by reducing hospital, medical and municipal costs related to motorcycle accidents.

At the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli, we can help if you or a loved one suffered motorcycle accident injuries of any kind, with or without a helmet. Call a personal injury lawyer in the Hartford and New Haven Connecticut area today. Call us at 1-800-WIN-WIN-1 or complete our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.

Salomone & Morelli

100 Farmington Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105

Motorcycle accidents on the rise in Connecticut. Are you street smart?

What would you do if you were injured in a motorcycle accident? Sound far fetched? Sadly, motorcycle accidents are far too common. In the last decade, the number of fatal motorcycle accidents has more than doubled. In 1998, motorcycle accidents killed 2,294 people and injured more than 49,000 nationwide. In 2008, 5,290 died and more than 96,000 people were injured in motorcycle accidents.

Why the increase in motorcycle accidents? Experts have cited the recent rise in the number of motorcycles on the road. In 1998, there were 3.8 million motorcycles on the road. By 2008, that number had skyrocketed to 7.7 million motorcycles. But there may be another reason for this increase. During the same time period, many states relaxed their motorcycle helmet laws.

Helmets drastically reduce the likelihood of dying in a motorcycle accident. Riders wearing helmets are 37 percent less likely to die in a crash than riders without helmets, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That’s why many states still require motorcyclists to wear helmets. In Connecticut, motorcyclists 17 years old and younger are required by law to wear helmets.

Unfortunately, accidents happen. In Connecticut, a total of 50 motorcyclists died in accidents in 2008.  Just recently, a 25-year-old Milford, Connecticut motorcyclist was killed in an accident in North Haven, Connecticut.

What would you do if you were injured in a motorcycle accident? Who would you trust? You need someone in your corner that will fight for your rights. You need someone who will work tirelessly to make sure you’re fully compensated for your injuries. You need the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli.

The Law Offices of Salomone & Morelli have years of experience defending the rights of motorcycle accident victims in Connecticut. We understand the law and know how to get results. We also realize insurance companies often blame motorcyclists for causing the accident, even if it wasn’t their fault.

Don’t leave your future to chance. Take action. Contact Salomone & Morelli today. We’re on your side.

Connecticut motorcycle laws may change. Will you be affected?

Hitting the open road on a motorcycle has long been a dream for many Americans. The freedom to do so safely may soon be easier too in Connecticut.

This month, the state House of Representatives passed a bill that would require new motorcyclists to take a novice training course to obtain their license to operate a motorcycle. The House overwhelmingly passed the bill, which must be signed by the Governor to become law starting in 2011. The proposed law would not apply to current license holders.

The proposed training class will cost $200. That might seem like a steep price to pay to get a license. But making the roads safer for motorcyclists makes sense for everyone, especially since more motorcyclists than ever are on our roads.

The number of registered motorcycles – and motorcycle accidents – has increased steadily nationwide in recent years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 1998, there were 3.8 million motorcycles on the roads, 2,294 fatal motorcycle accidents and 49,000 motorcycle injury accidents nationwide. In 2007, there were more than 7.1 million registered motorcycles, 5,174 fatal crashes and 103,000 injuries nationwide. In 2008, fatal motorcycle crashes rose again to 5,290 fatalities. The number of motorcycle injuries dropped for the first time in 10 years to 96,000 in 2008. Statistics on the number of motorcycles registered in 2008 were not available.

Motorcycle accidents can change people’s lives forever in an instant. Knowing what to do afterwards can be difficult. We can help. Contact the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone and Morelli today. When you chose us, you get experienced, motorcycle injury lawyers who know how to fight effectively and aggressively to get your family the justice and compensation you deserve.

Don’t let a motorcycle accident ruin your family’s lives. Take action now.