Motorcycle Accident

Charlotte North Carolina Motorcycle Accident Lawyers :: Terrible Charlotte Motorcycle Accident Raises Awareness of Danger

July 31, 2012 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

One of the most important ways to reduce motorcycle accidents is to be more aware of all the traffic surrounding your car. Something so small as paying more careful attention could save a biker’s life. One such tragic accident took place this weekend which left a Charlotte mother and daughter in critical condition after a motorcycle crash on I-485.

The incident occurred this past Saturday afternoon near the Beatties Ford Road exit. According to North Carolina Highway patrol, Karen Borders was driving the bike with her 13-year-old daughter when one of the tires blew. The blowout caused them to lose control, skidding and rolling across a busy stretch of interstate. Both women are reported as having life threatening injuries.

Hearing about accidents like this make riding a motorcycle seem like one of the most dangerous things anyone could do. There are way too many things that can go wrong when riding, and the fact is that it is bikers are prone to more serious injuries, because they are so exposed and lack any real protection.

If you are a motorcyclist who is going to carry a passenger on your bike, consider the following safety tips from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation:

• If you decide to carry a child, make sure the child is mature enough to handle the responsibilities, can reach the footrests, wears a helmet and other protective gear, and holds onto you or the passenger hand-holds.

• Instruct your passenger to limit movement and talking.

• Remember that the extra weight from carrying a passenger can affect braking procedures, starting from a stop, and riding through a corner.

• Exercise caution in quick stops, as a passenger can move forward and bump your helmet with theirs.

• Passing will require more time and space.

• The effects of the wind will be more distinct.

• The passenger should not make any sudden movements or turns.

Number of ATV accidents in North Carolina Increase Over Summer Months

July 17, 2012 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently announced that the number of people who die or are injured using ATVs each year is on the rise. The federal agency is asking that riders stay vigilant and be safe while out on the trails this summer.

The summer is a notoriously dangerous time for ATV riders and statistics show death and injury rates skyrocket as temperatures rise. On average, from 2004 to 2006, the deaths of children younger than 16 rose a shocking 65% from March to April. Adult deaths rose 85% over the same period. The peak of ATV-related injuries occurs in July and the CPSC is trying to put the word out early that drivers must stay aware of their surroundings and practice safe ATV driving habits to avoid a similar rise this summer.

On average, each year from 2004 to 2010, there were nearly 700 ATV-related fatalities. Each year also saw close to 136,000 injuries that required emergency room visits. Though these thankfully did not result in death, many such injuries can be life altering.

This year alone the CPSC says that it has received reports of some 130 adults and 28 children under the age of 16 who have died in ATV-related incidents across the country. The busy summer holiday season sees a huge increase in the number of accidents and this year is off to a bad start with the Memorial Day holiday weekend alone accounting for the deaths of 14 adults and 3 children. The government is urging caution while out on the trails as the July 4th holiday weekend is coming up.

Most of the deaths and injuries occur when an inexperienced driver loses control of an ATV, is thrown from an ATV, overturns the vehicle, or collides with a fixed object. Those drivers with more than on year of experience operating an ATV have dramatically lower risk of injury and death than brand new drivers. Practice really does help in the case of ATV accidents as drivers develop comfort behind the wheel and experience with how to properly operate the device. Off-road driving is very different than cruising down the street and, as such, it requires special training to understand how to best operate an ATV.

Teen dies in Motorcycle Accident Outside of Charlotte, North Carolina

August 6, 2010 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

According to an article from WCNC, an eighteen year old man was killed outside of Charlotte, North Carolina recently when his Honda Gold wing motorcycle crashed by veering off a Gaston County road. The motorcycle crash happened on July 25, 2010 on Crowders Creek Road. The young man was staying in Charlotte, North Carolina during the week while living outside of Charlotte, with family, on the weekends.
The North Carolina State Trooper who is investigating the motorcycle crash went on record as saying that it will be difficult to determine the cause of the motorcycle accident because four days of heat and rain had passed between the wreck and the discovery of the scene. An accident reconstruction team will investigate the matter and should be able to provide an estimate of the speed that the motorcycle was traveling and other details of the wreck. There remain many unanswered questions about the wreck and why no one noticed that the young man was missing.