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As gas prices are continuing to soar up, many people now prefer motorcycles as their mode of transportation. One of the reasons is that these two-wheeled motor vehicles are among the cheapest and most widespread forms of motorized transport.

But, as the sales of motorcycles increase, the number of motorcycle accidents also escalates.

It is recorded that the rate of motorcycle accidents are higher than automobile accidents. According to the data last 2005 of the United States Department of Transportation from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, there are 75.19 fatal crashes per 100,000 registered vehicles for motorcycles. This is four times higher than passenger cars at 18.62 per 100,000 registered vehicles.

Last 2006 there were 4,810 recorded motorcycle deaths in the United States.

Findings related to the cause and characteristics of motorcycle accidents:

•    Over 80% of fatalities occur off roadway

•    About one-third of motorcycle riders that are fatally injured did not have a proper license

•    Around 60% of motorcycle fatalities happened at night

•    In 2% of the accidents, the cause was roadway defects, such as potholes, pavement ridges, etc.

•    1% of these accidents were caused by animal involvement

•    Less than 3% are accounted because of vehicle failure

•    Approximately, three-fourths of the crashes involved another vehicle

•    More or less, one-fourth of the accidents were single vehicle accidents where the motorcycle collides with the roadway or some fixed object

•    Two-thirds in single vehicle accidents, motorcycle rider error was present as a factor of the accident

•    Weather is a factor in just 2% of motorcycle accidents

•    The most likely place for these kinds of accidents are intersections

•    One of the major cause of motorcycle accidents is the failure of other motorists to recognize motorcycles in traffic

•    Two-thirds of multiple vehicle accidents was caused by the driver of the other vehicle because of violating the right-of-way of the motorcycle

•    Accidents are likely to happen in a short span of time, close to the trip origin

•    96% of the accident-involved motorcycle riders are males

•    The age of most riders who are involved in these accidents are ranging between 16 and 24

•    92% of accident-involved motorcyclist were without formal training

•    Alcohol involvement is shown in almost half of the fatal accidents

•    In motorcycle accidents, the possibility of injury is extremely high with 98% in multiple vehicle collisions and 96% in single vehicle accidents

•    The severity of the injury increases with alcohol involvement, speed, and motorcycle size

•    73% of the riders involved in these accidents used no eye protection

•    The most deadly injuries to the victims were injuries to the head and chest

•    60% of motorcycle riders were not wearing helmets during the accident

•    Only less than 10% of riders involved in these accidents have insurance

•    Involvement in motorcycle accidents are reduced by using motorcycle headlamps and wearing high visibility orange, bright red, or yellow jackets

•    Training in motorcycle riding also reduces accident involvement

There are many factors to consider in determining the cause of motorcycle accidents, but in most cases, it is not the fault of the rider.

These accidents result in grave injuries, even the loss of one’s life. In these situations, one should seek the assistance of Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyers in order to recover costs for damages such as injury, loss of wages, distress, medical expenses, and the like that resulted from motorcycle accidents.

Our Los Angeles law firm has a team of highly competent motorcycle accident lawyers. For free evaluation of your case, just log on to our website.

All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are extremely popular. Though they are used for recreation, they are not toys, and need to be used with caution. But even when a rider is sensible, and takes all possible safety precautions, ATV accidents can still occur. This is especially true when the design of an ATV is defective, as is the case with the Yamaha Rhino ATV, or when the vehicle is not the proper size for the person using it.

According to a report released earlier this year by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), ATVs killed more than 500 people in 2006, and nearly 1 in 5 victims was a child. Accidents involving these vehicles sent 146,600 people to hospital emergency rooms that same year. The CPSC said Pennsylvania has had the highest number of reported ATV deaths since 1982, followed by California, West Virginia, Texas and Kentucky. Every state had at least one death attributed to ATVs.

Many ATVs can go as fast as 55 MPH and can weigh as heavy as a quarter of a ton. Close to 75 percent of all ATV accidents result in serious damage to the head or spinal cord of the accident victim. Head injuries are a major cause of serious life threatening or lifelong physical problems and ailments. Injury to the spinal cord can result in paralysis of the entire body for life.

Often, ATV accident injuries are the result of poorly designed vehicles. For example, poor design has been blamed for the high rate of serious and often fatal accidents involving the Yamaha Rhino ATV. Critics of this dangerous vehicle claim its top-heavy design makes rollover accidents far more likely during sharp turns, even when the Rhino is traveling on a flat surface at a low rate of speed. What’s worse, the Yamaha Rhino provides no protection for a rider’s legs in the event of a rollover accident.

Victims of Yamaha Rhino rollover accidents usually experience broken or crushed legs, ankles or feet. In some cases, victims have been permanently disabled, and have had limbs amputated following a Yamaha Rhino rollover accident. Children are most risk in Rhino rollover accidents, as the weight of the vehicle can crush their small bodies if they become trapped beneath it.

Despite a growing number of accident reports involving the Yamaha Rhino ATV, the company has never issued a recall for the vehicle. In 2006, Yamaha sent a letter to the owners of Rhino ATVs warning that it was prone to tip while going through sharp turns. Riders were advised to use seatbelts, and to keep their hands, arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times. The letter also included information on handling the Rhino if it should start to tip over, as well as a couple of warning labels that owners were instructed to place on the vehicle.

Unfortunately, the letter did nothing to reduce the number of Rhino ATV rollover accidents. In 2007, Yamaha finally offered to modify all Rhino ATVs free of charge. These modifications included new doors and additional passenger handholds for the Rhino. The company also provided more warning labels to be placed on the vehicle, and updated the Rhino’s owners manual.

While the Yamaha Rhino’s problems are well documented, some experts doubt that a child can safely ride any ATV. Currently, a research group at the University of Kentucky is trying to find out if they are right. The group, made up of engineers, surgeons, and trauma prevention experts is conducting a comprehensive multi-year study to measure various physical and behavioral aspects of ATV safety, particularly involving children.

In August, the University of Kentucky researchers released preliminary results from experiments involving current ATV size guidelines. Parents are instructed to use these guidelines to find a properly-sized ATV for their kids. But according to the results from these experiments, while current guidelines do limit engine size, they fall far short of actually determining the correct frame size for young riders.

The group said that current ATV size guidelines do not account for variability in body size and shape among children of the same age group or even of the same age. For example: larger children under age 16 may fit the adult-size vehicle frame better, even though the recommendation would be for a youth- sized frame or engine. Improper frame size can adversely affect a rider’s ability to properly steer, brake, or navigate varying terrain.

The study also found that seven of the eight children age 6-11 tested did not meet recommended existing guidelines for proper fit when mounted on the adult-size ATV. The researchers stressed that regardless of experience or supervision, a child in that age group should never be allowed on an adult-size ATV.

This concurs with the CPSC’s own statistics on ATV accidents. According to its annual report, most ATV deaths and injuries involving children result from youngsters riding adult-size ATVs. Consumer advocates have called on the CPSC to ban the sale of adult-size ATVs for use for children, but the agency has declined to do that. There is only a voluntary agreement in place with major ATV distributors in which they require dealers not to sell adult-size ATVs to people who might allow children to ride them. Consumer groups say few dealers abide by the rule.

It is easy to see why motorcycles are appealing to a large number of people, old and young alike. These vehicles are great for heavy daily commutes because they are small and maneuverable, making it possible to weave in and out of traffic and split lanes to get ahead of the crush of cars that are otherwise stalled. This practice is not only legal, it is encouraged as a method of relieving congestion and getting at least a few motorists off of the roads faster, hopefully cutting down of pollution as well.

Motorcycles are also much more economical than a car, so if you are commuting alone, then you are spending far less gas in addition to being able to spend less time in traffic. Motorcycles are highly customizable, and just about anyone can get a motorcycle that fits their tastes and personality from something great for cruising the roads on a sunny day to a speed machine that is up for anything.

Unfortunately, motorcycles are also incredibly dangerous. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4008 motorcyclists were killed in 2004, and over 76,000 were injured that same year. The NHTSA tells us that about half of all motorcycles involved in deadly accidents collided with another vehicle, and one third of motorcyclists died while speeding. This twice the fatality rate for drivers of passenger vehicles or light trucks.

Many motorcyclists choose not to wear helmets, further increasing the risk of fatality when it comes to a collision, and things like alcohol impairment or improper training can lead to even more crashes and more fatalities. Injuries sustained because of a motorcycle accident are almost always severe in the case of the motorcycle driver, with many injuries resulting in a severe drop in quality of life.

While many motorcycle accidents could have been prevented by adherence to traffic laws on the part of the cyclist, many other accidents are caused by other drivers who were not aware of their surroundings or who were otherwise impaired or negligent in their driving. A motorcycle accident attorney can help you to sort out the details of your collision if you have been involved in a motorcycle accident.

If you do not fight for your rights under the law, the insurance companies involved in the handling of your motorcycle accident may try to get out of paying you what they owe you for your injuries sustained as well as for the damage to your vehicle and personal property during the crash.

A motorcycle accident attorney can help you fight back for yourself, even while you are injured and recovering from the accident. Your motorcycle accident attorney will fight beside you against the insurance companies or other drivers involved in order to make sure that you are treated fairly and given the compensation that you deserve.

An attorney who is experienced in handling motorcycle accident cases will also be able to help you to make your case despite the potential severity of injuries sustained during the accident. An experienced attorney is the key to making sure that your case is handled properly, since laws can be complex and can apply differently based on other factors.

Many people might assume that if you were in a motorcycle accident, that it was your fault. Many attorneys will not even fight for you if you have been involved in a motorcycle accident for this very reason. A motorcycle accident attorney will know the real facts. In many cases, motorcycle accidents are the result of an inattentive driver who does not see the motorcycle or otherwise mistakes the capabilities of the bike and causes an accident.

Your motorcycle accident attorney will evaluate the facts of the case and help you determine if you have a motorcycle injury base before leading you through the filing process and helping you to get the money that you deserve for your injuries and damage sustained. Most motorcycle accident attorneys will even evaluate your case for free to help you determine how best to proceed.

A personal injury attorney can help you to make your case if he or she is willing to work with you, but your chances are best when working with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney at your side.

The experience in the specific field makes all the difference in ensuring that your case is handled in exactly the right manner, and a motorcycle accident attorney will be used to dealing with cyclists like you and injuries like yours. He or she will be able to help you win your case and get on with your life.

A string of ATV-related accidents and injuries linked to the Yamaha Rhino is forcing the Consumer Product Safety Commission to investigate the vehicle that promises to “go anywhere.”

Technically, the Rhinos are classified as a “utility terrain vehicle”, and are not really ATVs. There are differences in the design, like the fact that the Rhino has a steering wheel, while ATVs tend to include handlebars in their design. At the other extreme, Rhinos are not really subject to the safety regulations that govern, say for instance, cars. You don’t have to register your Rhino. However, these vehicles have come under the scanner after a series of accidents that have left drivers, both adults and children, with amputated limbs, and other severe injuries. ATV’s in general, since they have been introduced and caught the public fancy, have been linked to at least 100 deaths in the country. One name that keeps coming up when the talk turns to ATV accidents is Yamaha’s Rhino.

That scrutiny has led to the filing of more than 200 ATV accident lawsuits relating to the Rhino, against Yamaha. Plaintiffs claim that there is a design defect in the Rhino that causes the vehicle to rollover even at low speeds. There have been instances of people driving the Rhino on flat surfaces at very low speeds, and belted in as necessary, and still suffering massive injuries when the vehicle tips over. This machine is 1,100 pounds of steel, and the crushing force on the driver’s limbs is enough to sever them in many cases.

Yamaha on its part has refused to admit that there is any design defect that makes the Rhino extra susceptible to a rollover. Executives at the company point to a number of other factors that cause the vehicles to rollover – failure to wear seat belts, removal of the roll cage. However, they haven’t been able to explain away instances like Texas resident Chris Hewett, who had his leg crushed when his Rhino tipped over and fell on his leg. Hewett says he was driving slowly on a flat surface, and was belted in at the time of the ATV accident.

The only response that Yamaha has made has been to send out safety stickers warning drivers of the dangers that the vehicle poses during “abrupt maneuvers” or “aggressive driving,” which hasn’t really been a path-breaking step.

To make matters worse for the CPSC, the company is now forming an association with its competitors that will reclassify these utility terrain vehicles as a “Recreational Off Highway Vehicle.” CPSC members say the renaming will add to the present confusion about this under regulated segment of the market. As the CPSC begins its investigation, it remains to be seen whether it will take steps to recall the Rhino in its current design, because of the number of ATV accidents it’s involved in.

There is an ATV safety crisis in America today, and it poses a great threat to the health and well being of our nation’s children. All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were first made available in the United States in the early 1970′s, and have become increasingly popular ever since.

At first glance, ATVs may seem harmless; however the number of ATV-related injuries (http://www.accidentinjuryattorneyscalifornia.com/atv_accidents.html) and deaths continues to rise with their popularity.

Over 136,000 Americans suffer ATV-related injuries (http://www.bestattorney.com) and deaths ever year and over one-third of the victims are children under 16 years of age. Despite the increasing epidemic, ATV manufacturers continue to market bigger, faster, and more dangerous ATVs for children.

ATVs have been available in the United States for approximately 40 years. They are three- or four- wheel motorized machines specifically designed for off-road travel.

ATVs are intended for single occupant use and are characterized as an open chassis or frame, which travels on large, low-pressure tires, and uses handlebars for steering. Three-wheel machines have not been manufactured since 1988, however many still remain in use.

ATV engines range from 49cc to 950cc and can travel at speeds well above 70 miles per hour.

By the mid-1980′s, ATV manufacturers were selling as many as 600,000 three- and four-wheel ATVs every year in the United States. As ATV sales continued to rise, dramatic increases in ATV-related accidents followed.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) responded to the safety crisis by negotiating a Consent Decree with ATV manufacturers in which they agreed, among other things, to five major elements (http://www.cpsc.gov/library/atv2005.pdf):

- ATV manufacturers agreed to halt production of three-wheel ATVs.
- ATV manufacturers would offer safety training to all new ATV owners.
- ATV manufacturers would recommend adult-sized ATVs only for those ages 16 and older.
- ATV manufacturers would label all ATVs with warnings, instructing purchasers that children should not ride adult-size ATVs.
- ATV manufacturers would recommend ATV engine sizes according to age: ATVs with an engine greater than 70cc should be used only by children 12 and older, and ATVs with an engine greater than 90cc should be used only by those 16 and older.

The Consent Decree only covered a ten-year period and expired on April 28, 1988. Following the expiration of the Consent Decree, ATV manufacturers agreed to continue most of its elements through voluntary action plans. These agreements embodied many important safety elements, however, unlike the Consent Decree; the voluntary safety plans are not enforceable by the CPSC.

In the late 1980′s the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) began to initiate a series of ATV-related injury and death studies intended for public release.

The first report, titled “All-Terrain Vehicle Exposure, Injury, Death, and Risk Studies”, was released in April of 1988. Some major findings in the 1988 study included (http://www.cpsc.gov/LIBRARY/FOIA/FOIA98/os/3548A4B.pdf):

- Approximately 95 percent of children, between the ages of 12 and 15 years of age, injured in ATV-related accidents were operating adult-size ATVs.
- Approximately 65 percent of children, less than 11 years of age, injured in ATV-related accidents were operating adult-size ATVs.
- Children less than 16 years of age accounted for nearly 50 percent of all ATV-related injuries.

ATV injuries and deaths have continued to increase since the CPSC’s first studies on ATV-related accidents in the 1980′s.

According to the CPSC’s latest estimates, there have been reports of 7,188 deaths and an estimated 1,763,800 emergency-room-treated injuries that have occurred between 1983 and 2005. Over 38 percent of the victims have been, and will continue to be, children under 16 years of age.

The following represents the most currently ATV-related deaths and injuries involving children, according to the CPSC. (http://www.cpsc.gov/library/atv2005.pdf)

- More than 40,000 children are seriously injured each year in ATV-related accidents.
- Between 1983 and 2005, at least 2,178 children under the age of 16 died from ATV-related accidents.
- Between 1983 and 2005, over 630,000 children under the age of 16 went to a hospital emergency room for ATV-related injuries.
- Over 42 percent of the children that die in ATV-related deaths are under 12 years of age.
- It is estimated that over 36 percent of the children that are injured in non-fatal ATV-related accidents are less than 12 years of age.

Despite the increasing ATV-related injuries and deaths, ATVs continue to get bigger, faster and more dangerous than ever.

ATV manufacturers aggressively advertise ATVs based on power and speed, weighing up to 800 pounds and traveling at speeds well above 70 miles per hour.

Regardless of warning labels and size restrictions, 90 percent of children involved in ATV-related accidents in 2005 were operating large, powerful, adult-sized ATVs.

According to the Wall Street Journal, ATV manufacturers are now pushing for a new category of bigger and faster ATVs aimed at image-conscious 14- and 15-year-olds. ATV manufacturers call this new category “transitional” ATVs, claiming they would reduce fatalities by encouraging children to ride ATV models more appropriate to their age. However, many consumer advocates claim “beefing up youth options” would undercut safety messages and put younger riders on bigger, more powerful machines.
(http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117677627556672193-8Uwp189JnDUw1_56wvQpY9v2CEg_20070521.html?mod=editsend)

The occurrence of ATV-related injury and death to children has become so great that pediatricians, orthopedic surgeons, medical researchers, consumer advocates and other professionals have called for a ban on use of ATVs by children under the age of 16.

T.S. Park, M.D., the Shi Hue Huang Professor of Neurological Surgery at the School of Medicine and pediatric neurosurgeon-in-chief at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, contributed to a review published in the Journal of Neurosurgery claiming that ATV-related accidents are “leading to an increasing number of fatalities and devastating injuries with lifelong consequences for children and their parents.”

In the review, Park and his colleagues strongly recommend new legislation to reduce the increasing rates of serious injury and death from ATV-related accidents.

The following are guidelines that Park and his colleagues believe would greatly reduce the number of injuries and deaths to children in ATV-related accidents. (http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/09/atvs_children.html)

- Children younger than 16 years of age should be banned from riding ATVs.
- Mandatory helmet laws should be in order.
- Mandatory instruction and certification programs for all ATV owners and operators should be in order.
- ATVs should be prohibited for all public streets and highways.

Nearly 20 years after the ATV industry agreed to improve safety, ATV-related accidents continue to take an alarming toll on children. Every year hundreds of thousands of children are injured or killed in ATV-related accidents.

Although increases of ATV-related injuries and deaths to children have consistently followed the increases in popularity, sales, size and power of ATVs, state legislatures have failed to enact proper legislation to ensure that safety follows as well.

It is clear that ATVs pose a significant hazard to children and it is time for national safety standards to be implemented.

Article by Richard Craig

Who would have thought that road accident rates would fall when the weather is at its most treacherous?

Well that’s exactly what one police force in the north of England is reporting.

Figures released yesterday by Humberside Police demonstrate that, in the cold snap which paralysed the UK from November to December last year, accident rates plummeted. Is this the result of drivers being more circumspect and taking more care in the treacherous conditions?

Well, up to a point, it is. But it is simply because that circumspection made many drivers not bother to leave the comfort of their armchairs and brave the conditions, for once heeding police warnings not to travel.

If only drivers paid attention to all such warnings in general, then road accident rates, deaths and car crash claims would all plummet. The most dangerous time of year, says the force, remains January to March, when rain and fog are more prevalent.

Inspector Roger Mitchell told the Yorkshire Post: “Statistics for the Humberside area show that most of the serious crashes, where someone is either killed or is seriously injured, occur when it is foggy or wet, because drivers do not adapt to the changing weather conditions.

“Surprisingly, during the early cold weather snap when we had snowy and icy conditions, we saw a reduction in casualties as motorists either stayed at home or slowed down accordingly. However, what we do find is that many motorists drive too fast and too close to vehicles in front of them when it’s foggy or wet.

“It takes a lot longer to stop when breaking in the wet and drivers do not leave themselves a big enough gap to avoid the vehicle in front.”

The problem seems to be that when conditions are blatantly icy or snowy motorists feel that they have no option but to drive carefully and slowly. They can feel the effect that the low grip levels have on the safety and performance of their car, even at non-existent speeds.

In the rain, however, it is easy for cockiness and complacency to creep in. Unless there are gale-force winds and torrential monsoons, weather warnings are not issued, which gives the impression that everything is totally normal. Drivers tend not to adjust their driving as much and, as Insp Mitchell says, fail to allow sufficient braking distance to other vehicles.

The police, in conjunction with some automotive businesses from the local area and Safer Roads Humber, the partnership that aims to decrease fatal car crashes, are launching the campaign tomorrow (Wednesday) with a free vehicle check to ensure vehicles are properly prepared for any more cold weather.

“Motorists can carry out some very simple measures to alleviate many problems associated with winter weather,” says Insp Mitchell.

“Now is the perfect time to remind all motorists not to be complacent and to be extra vigilant in the months to come.”

So these statistics aren’t surprising, when we look at the reasons behind them. It’s just a shame that the vigilance shown by drivers during the cold snap does not extend to the rest of the year.

About the Author

Drive carefully this winter and avoid needing to make a personal injury compensation claim

Vehicle safety and road accidents have been a prime concern in United States. For rollover vehicles the number is close to 280,000 every year. More over approx, 10,000 of these accidents end up in fatal outcomes. Once can also realize the severity of situation from car accident data collected by the US Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). It’s beyond danger level.

Accident toll in Seattle:

Seattle is no exception to these accident fatalities. If you check with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports, it is clear – Every year Seattle experiences trucking accident, Alcohol related motor vehicle accident, Bicycle accident, Motorcycle accidents, and Pedestrian accidents, including rollover accidents. Few of them are most deadly after head-on collisions.

Year 2009: The worst case

If you just consider the year of 2009, around 33,000 people died in motor vehicle accident. IIHS reports give a vivid picture on various types of vehicle accidents in Seattle. These are as follows:

Trucking accident:  As Seattle Trucking Accident Attorney suggests – The common cause is fatigue and exhausted truck drivers. The drivers more often cross the limit of 11 working hours behind the wheel. Though every trucking company has a legal log to maintain for their drivers, the violations are always common. Many a time truck divers have been found under the influence of drug, alcohol. Bad weather, road condition and visibility have also been important factors to consider.

Alcohol driven motor vehicle accidents: More the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC limit) is, higher the probability of accident. Though 0.08% is the legal limit, crossing the mark of 0.05% itself is significant disaster.

Bicycle accidents: The number decreased over 35% since 1975, but 630 cases of bicycle accident can never be satisfactory. Male bicyclists tend to face such accidents more than females.

Motor cycle accidents: Over 4000 motorcyclists died in motor vehicle accidents in the year of 2009. Motor cycle accidents accounts for 13% of all motor vehicle crash deaths. In such cases to get the exact amount of compensation that you deserve, consult a Seattle Motorcycle Accident Attorney, as they are conscious about motorcycle accident related issues throughout the Seattle.

Fixed object accidents: the causalities were close to 7,800. In 20% of the cases, these accidents occur when the driver loses control of the vehicle and hits a fixed object like a tree, traffic barrier or utility pole. Alcohol or drug intake could be a factor in these.

Roll over accidents:  It happens when vehicles in excessive speed turn a corner or travel on a hard curve. Generally SUVS, vans, pickup trucks, buses and heavy trucks have more of a tendency to overturn because of their height and higher ground clearance.    

However, with times and improved road safety regulations, you can expect less accident consequences.