Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

November 8, 2011 - According to reports a motorcycle deputy was injured in a high speed chase. According to authorities the motorcycle officer was involved in a crash while pursuing a two motorcyclists that had exceeded speeds over 100 mph, when he crashed into the back of a vehicle. According to California Highway Patrol Officer Gabe Montoya, the accident occurred at approximately 11:44 a.m. when the motorcycle deputy began pursuing the motorcycle riders in the southbound lanes of the I-5 Freeway. The motorcycle deputy became involved in the chase after the patrol cars could not keep up with one of the two motorcyclists that reached 130 mph. The chase continued onto the surface streets and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department joined. The motorcycle deputy was involved in a crash on the surface roads, while attempting to pull the motorcyclists over, in the vicinity of Alicia Parkway and Charlinda Drive, according to sheriff’s spokesman Jim Amormino. According to Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Marc Stone, the motorcycle officer suffered leg injuries and was transported to Mission Hospital for treatment. A woman in the vehicle the sheriff’s deputy struck was also injured and transported to Saddleback Hospital, Cpt. Stone said. Deputies later found the motorcycle abandoned in the area near Del Cerro Elementary School located on Regina Street in Mission Viejo. The school was placed on lockdown while deputies searched for the person on the motorcycle involved in the motorcycle accident . One man was arrested, according to Amormino.

Motorcycle accident injuries aren’t something that the average motorcyclist thinks of when he is driving down the road. However, they are a serious result of motorcycle accidents everywhere , including in cities such as Reseda, Claremont, and El Segundo. Knowing the types of accidents that happen can help the motorcyclist keep their mind on safety before accidents, and understand what is happening if one unfortunately occurs. Motorcyclists are much more vulnerable to injury than people who travel in cars because of the relative size and lack of protective structure. Due to their smaller size, motorcycles are also harder to see and slip more easily into drivers’ blind spots. When a motorcyclist is unnoticed, the car driver is not only more likely to hit the motorcycle, but also can cause the motorcycle to have to overreact to avoid being hit. Many motorcycle accident injuries happen when a motorcyclist over-steers or over-breaks to avoid a negligent car driver. At other times, the car will actually strike the motorcyclist. Of course, the motorcyclist being thrown from the bike also causes severe injuries. The most common area of the body to be injured involves the lower extremities, the legs and feet. This area of the body is injured 47 percent of motorcycle accidents, with the upper extremities (arms and hands) following closely at 40 percent. The motorcycle accident lawyers at Ehline Law Firm PC confirm that the chest area is injured in 35 percent of motorcycle accidents, with abdomen injuries following at 15 percent. While upper and lower extremity injuries are the most common, they are not usually they most severe. Injuries to the abdomen, chest, and head including the brain are more severe with head and brain injuries generally being the most severe of all. Of course, all of these injuries can be devastating and impact the remainder of a motorcyclist’s life. The arms and hands are necessary for many actions in life, including work. The legs and feet are necessary for walking. Injury to either extremity can affect a person’s ability to live independently. Of course, if the person is paralyzed and unable to use either, they are dependent upon others for the rest of their lives. If you or your loved one is injured in a motorcycle accident due to another’s negligence and are facing medical bills, other losses, or a possible change in quality of life, a qualified motorcycle accident attorney can help protect your rights to care and recompense.

Visibility to the eye, is more important than loud pipes. This motorcycle accident avoidance visibility primer should help refresh you. Motorcycle crashes are an unfortunate fact of life for motorcycle drivers. While a motorcyclist may do everything they can to prevent one, the fact is that three-fourths of motorcycle accidents are caused by another driver, usually that of a larger automobile. With these statistics in mind, the savvy motorcyclist should keep the causes of accidents and what to do following one in mind to help reduce his chances of accidents, or at least problems if the accident is unavoidable. Increasing visibility can help increase motorcycle safety. Visibility is a major contributing factor in motorcycle accidents as the majority of accidents that are caused by another party occur because the other party was unable to see the motorcycle accident, unaware that they were there. The motorcyclist can help increase their visibility to the other drivers through the use of strategic positioning as well as equipment. A motorcyclist should keep the automobile’s blind spots in mind and avoid driving in a position in which other drivers are unable to see him. The motorcyclist should also realize that his smaller vehicle is less easily seen once it is behind some structures on the road or around corners. Many accidents occur when cars change lanes, not seeing a motorcyclist or turn a corner not realizing a motorcyclist is there. Special equipment can increase motorcyclist visibility. Equipment can be worn in addition to the required helmet to enhance the visibility of the motorcyclist. Jackets are available in bright, fluorescent colors that allow the motorcyclist to be more easily seen. Many of these motorcycle jackets have reflective and glowing strips that light up with simple ambient light, or direct automobile light for nighttime driving and visibility. Special attention should be paid to signaling clearly. Sometimes the automobile driver is unaware of what moves a motorcyclist is going to make. The motorcycle driver should make a point to always be very clear in their signals and make sure their signaling equipment is always working. This allows other drivers to know what actions the motorcyclist will take and plan accordingly. The motorcyclist should stay aware at all times. Furthermore, the motorcyclist should keep in mind that despite all efforts the other vehicles’ drivers may still not see him. The biker should therefore always drive defensively, keeping the positions of the other drivers in mind. The motorcyclist should keep a proper cushion of space between him and other vehicles, allowing everyone a longer period of time in which to react to unexpected moves or road conditions. Obviously, the motorcyclists should never using judgment and reaction-time impairing substances before driving, such as alcohol or drugs, even prescription drugs. Of course, brushing up on safety and safe driving is always a good idea. Motorcycle safety courses are available for all levels of drivers. If an accident still occurs, the motorcyclist has recourse. If an accident occurred that was unavoidable and not the fault of the motorcyclist, the victim has the right to hire a personal injury attorney that specializes in motorcycle accidents to help protect his rights, thwart motorcycle bias in the course, and pursue a settlement to repay him for his medical and other losses due to the accident. The attorney that handles the case should have a great deal of experience specifically with motorcycle accidents as they are different than other vehicle accidents. Help for the motorcycle accident victim is available. If you or your loved one is the victim of an accident due to another’s negligence, Michael Ehline, of the Los Angeles personal injury attorneys of Ehline Law Firm PC at 633 West Fifth Street, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071, 213.596.9642, is available to help. Michael Ehline has the drive and ethics gained from his experience as a Marine. He also has the personal knowledge and passion for protecting a motorcyclist that this type of case requires from being an avid motorcycle enthusiast and biker. Ehline Law Firm, PC, has offices conveniently located throughout California, including San Diego, Los Angeles, and Sacramento for the ease of the victim. Michael Ehline has peerless experience and success with motorcycle accidents and is available to answer your questions about a possible case. If you enjoyed this motorcycle accident avoidance visibility primer, call for more information at 1-888-400-9721.  S

October 6, 2011-According to reports a Los Angeles Police Department officer was injured in a motorcycle collision. According to Los Angeles Police Department Officer Diana Figueroa the collision occurred at approximately 6:30 a.m. at Roscoe Boulevard and Willis Avenue in Panorama City. The officer was heading eastbound on his motorcycle on Roscoe Avenue, when the driver of a vehicle made an unsafe turn in front of the motorcyclist, determined in the preliminary investigation, according to LAPD spokesman Richard French. The driver of the car was uninjured in the collision and the LAPD officer was transported to an area hospital with facial injuries. French said that Roscoe Boulevard was closed due to the motorcycle crash between Van Nuys and Sepulveda boulevards. The alternate route vehicles were using was included Parthenia Street and Sherman Way.

October 3, 2011 - According to reports a motorcyclist was injured in a collision on the 22 Freeway. According to motorcycle lawyers , California Highway Patrol Officer D. Kondo the motorcycle collision occurred in the vicinity of the eastbound lanes of the 22 Freeway at Fairview Street in Orange. The driver of a Mercury Mariner merged out of the HOV lane into the path of the motorcyclist. This caused the motorcycle rider to swerve into the right lane to avoid a collision with the merging SUV and hit the back of a Chevrolet Silverado pickup that was stopped in the lane the rider moved into. According to Orange City Fire Department paramedics the motorcyclist was lying on the ground in the lanes after the collision and was treated at the scene and then transported to an area hospital. A SigAlert was issued, since the middle lanes were blocked with emergency vehicles.

September 29, 2011-According to reports a motorcycle rider was killed in East Palo Alto in a collision with another vehicle. According to East Palo Alto police the deadly motorcycle accident occurred on University Avenue at the Bay Road intersection, at approximately dawn. The motorcycle rider was reportedly riding to work when he was hit. The fatally injured motorcyclist has been identified as Danny Lee Dixon age 50 of East Palo Alto and was struck by an SUV. The driver was identified as Eric Banford age 46 of East Palo Alto and according to authorities he was evading police and arrested. According to East Palo Alto Police Chief Ronald Davis it is believed the driver of the SUV has a long criminal history. Banford was evading police less than a minute according to authorites when he collided with the motorcycle. The motorcycle accident lawyers at Ehline Law Firm PC handle just these type of cases, and will be monitoring the issues of liability and damages as more info is released on the defendant and victims.

A safe motorcyclist will do all that they can to prevent accidents on the road. This can include equipping a helmet, carefully obeying traffic laws, and making sure to not drive while intoxicated. Despite their best efforts, motorcyclists are too-often victimized by the inattentiveness of other drivers. The majority of motorcycle collisions are caused by an automobile driver who did not see the motorcyclist including in California cities like San Francisco, Sacramento, and Beverly Hills. When these accidents occur, they can be damaging not only to the health of the biker, but to their finances. Injuries from motorcycles can be quite serious considering the motorcycle is relatively unprotected compared to other vehicles. While equipment is available for the motorcyclist, no amount of gear can protect a motorcyclist from the metal and size of a car. While serious injuries will more obviously necessitate an immediate hospital visit, less serious injuries might also. Unfortunately, many victims may not take their seemingly mild injuries seriously. Walking away from an accident with mild injuries may result in a victim who, later, finds themselves at home with seriously increasing problems. This is particularly true with head injuries which may not be seen unless the skull is fractured. Muscle strains and pains, particularly injury to the back and neck, often result in debilitating pain hours or even days after the accident. No matter the severity of the injuries, a motorcyclist should immediately have evaluation done in a hospital setting. Unfortunately, many victims are either overwhelmed or intimidated by the thought of visiting a hospital. Costs of testing and treatment are known to be high. Alternately, there is no guarantee that the negligent party will pay for the treatment. However, the victim of a motorcycle accident has the right to call a motorcycle accident attorney immediately after the accident, even before leaving the scene. A motorcycle accident lawyer can help guide the accident victim during the first confusing and hectic hours after an accident. They can even help facilitate proper and thorough medical testing and treatment. Without an attorney, the victim might find themselves at the mercy of the other party’s insurance agency who undoubtedly will be unwilling to pay all that the victim needs, if any. Many victims believe their own insurance will handle their needs fully only to find later that they will not. With a motorcycle accident attorney on your side, the victim can instead concentrate on healing.

During the month of May, 2010, the Marine Corps in North Carolina, along with the Department of Transportation, officiated over the third annual Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. This is not isolated, since other camps, bases and forts have also become serious about motorcycle safety like Camp Pendleton in California, where many Marines rotate too. The Marine Corps has made it a goal to reduce the amount of motorcycle fatalities, by training and education courses, not only for the new rider, but also for the advanced riders. This gives riders the chance to learn to ride properly or to hone their skills, to ensure a safer riding experience. The Marine Corps has been successful in decreasing fatal motorcycle crashes with their programs for riders, including the mandatory mentorship program that brings riders together with experienced leaders. The success of the Marine Corps programs are seen in the decrease of motorcycle rider fatalities. During 2008 the there was a record high of Marine motorcycle riders involved in fatal motorcycle accidents , with 25 fatalities. The amount of motorcycle fatalities put the Marine Corps into action to provide training and other requirements for military personnel to bring this number down. Their efforts have shown a considerable decrease in motorcycle fatalities; to date in 2011 there have been only 6 Marine motorcycle fatalities. Motorcycle safety awareness is not limited to Marine motorcycle riders, since the statistics show that in 2001, military personnel motorcycle rider fatalities were 35 and increased to over 100 deaths between 2007 and 2008 with the highest number of military personnel involved in fatal motorcycle accidents totaling 105. The changes in the U.S. Armed Forces include Marines that want to register a motorcycle or sport bike being required to complete the Basic Rider Course, with the option to continue with more advanced courses and a special course for sport bikes. The army also requires a safety course to be taken and both military branches require military personnel to wear an approved helmet, long trousers, proper footwear, long sleeved shirts or jackets, protective eye wear and reflective clothing for night riding. When a Motorcycle Accident Does Happen When you or a loved one has been involved in a military motorcycle accident , it is important to have the representation of an experienced motorcycle accident injury attorney. The motorcycle accident injury attorney has a complete knowledge of the laws that protect the rights of the motorcycle rider and have experience in this type of litigation. Ehline Law Firm PC is your San Diego injury attorney at 4445 Eastgate Mall, #200 San Diego, CA 92121 USA +619.312.6050.

Motorcycles are a popular way for Californians to get back and forth from work, home, school, and shopping in Los Angeles and the surrounding cities of Glendale, Culver City, and Gardena. In fact, California often has more motorcycles registered than any other state. Unfortunately the high number of annual motorcycle accidents underscores the necessity for more attention to safety for and by motorcyclists. In 2005, California reported 9,061 motorcycle accidents, 411 of which were fatal. There are as many as 700 motorcycle accidents per year with nearly 30 fatalities in just the Los Angeles area alone. Most motorcycle accidents are caused by an automobile driver who neglects to see the motorcyclists or, having seen them, doesn’t react in time to prevent an accident. Motorcycles are much lower visibility than automobiles with their smaller size. Unfortunately, motorcycles are also much more vulnerable in an accident as the bike provides little protection for its driver or passenger. Mandated helmet usage has caused a reduction in injuries and fatalities in Los Angeles. Helmets are approximately 30 percent effective at reducing the chances of fatality, brain trauma, or other brain injuries. Unfortunately, they do no prevent injuries completely. There are still numerous head injuries, as well as neck, back, and extremity damage. The costs for injuries are high and treatments are often required long term. Testing for most injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents require expensive imaging in a hospital setting and specialist care. Unfortunately, just over half of motorcycle crash victims have their own health insurance coverage. Additionally, even if the accident is the fault of another there isn’t a realistic expectation that the negligent party will start paying the medical costs when the victim needs treatment. If a victim has to wait for the other party to pay, they may be waiting forever. Even if the other party is clearly at fault their insurance company and personal injury attorneys Los Angeles County , will make a point to minimize that party’s responsibility. If you or your loved one is the victim of a motorcycle accident due to another’s negligence, you have the right to recompense for losses caused by the accident as well as medical treatment when you need it. A motorcycle accident lawyer in the Los Angeles County , or surrounding areas can help the victim not only with immediate testing and treatment, but also recovery of long term costs and other financial losses due to the accident.

September 12, 2011 - According to reports a motorcyclist was fatally injured in a collision with an SUV in Aliso Viejo. According to Orange County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Roland Chacon the collision occurred Friday night shortly after 10:00 p.m. between a motorcyclist and an SUV. The collision happened on City Lights Drive, in the vicinity north of Pacific Park Drive in the Aliso Viejo motorcycle personal injury accident . The motorcyclist was transported to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, where he was pronounced dead at 1:08 a.m. Saturday, said Lt. Chacon. The Coroner’s Office identified the motorcycle rider as Ryan Macomber, age 23 of Aliso Viejo. The cause of the collision remains under investigation, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, by investigators from the major motorcyle accident reconstruction team.