Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

It seems like Pennsylvania made a mistake when it repealed their helmet law five years ago. It might be common sense to state that as the number of motorcycle riders has gone up, so has the number of head injuries resulting in death in a state without a helmet law. Of course, some might say that it's common sense to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle even if no law is in place.

According to Dr. Kristen Mertz, the lead author of one study, after Pennsylvania repealed the helmet law, helmet use went down and the death rate rose nearly 32 percent. The number of riders hospitalized due to head injuries rose 42 percent. Dr. Mertz also mentions that the average cost of hospital bills, which doesn't include doctors' charges or post-hospital care, is around $88,000 to treat a head injury.

While Dr. Mertz admits that helmets are not perfect, they reduce the risks of serious head injury or death by 37 percent. Non-head injuries will still occur, and some head injuries may occur even if the rider is wearing a helmet, but one out of every three riders who die could have been saved by wearing a helmet.

Look for more deaths in states like Pennsylvania due to the absence of any kind of helmet law, especially since more people are switching to motorcycles due to high fuel prices.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact the Motorcycle Accident Lawyer site to find an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

Rolling Thunder, the one-mile motorcycle ride from the Pentagon to the National Mall, has been going on for the last 21 years. It is done every Memorial Day to publicize again and again those American service members who are listed as missing in action, as well as those believed to still be prisoners of war. It is called Rolling Thunder due to the sound made when thousands of motorcycles cross the Memorial Bridge into the District of Columbia.

Two new things occurred on the Memorial Day ride this year. The first is the use of the Patriot Chopper, which was ridden by Maj. Gen. James Nuttall, deputy director of the Army National Guard. The Patriot Chopper lead the Rolling Thunder Ride. The Patriot Chopper is usually used for marketing and recruiting potential National Guard soldiers. The second new thing is that using the Patriot Chopper was ridden, according to Nuttall, that, "you can ride a cool motorcycle and still be safe."

The reason safety is being highlighted more this year is that the National Guard has seen 15 soldiers killed this year as a result of motorcycle accidents. They lost 13 in motorcycle accidents in all of 2006. Also noted is that sports bikes are the "number one killer" among Army National Guard soldiers who are 26-years-old or younger.

Due to the relatively high number of soldiers of all branches killed on motorcycles in recent years after returning home from duty, getting the message out about motorcycle safety has been paramount. Military protocol states that motorcycle riders must wear a Department of Transportation certified helmet, gloves that cover the wrists, safety eyewear, long-sleeved shirt, ankle-high boots, and a reflective belt or vest. This protocol also states that these items must be worn regardless of the laws of which state they are riding in.

Consider how military protocol and state laws are similar in what needs to be worn to be safe while riding a motorcycle. Even if you aren't enlisted, the numbers of those killed should make you take note since statistics seem to be on the rise.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact the Motorcycle Accident Lawyer site to find an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.