Tag Archives: crash

Motorcycle News, News

Common Causes Of Motorcycle Accidents

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(Sponsored article for our North American readers)

Motorcycle accidents are among the most statistically common types of traffic collisions. The thrill of speeding down an open road with the wind in your hair may be addictive, but it can also be deadly. If you are a motorcycle enthusiast or if you are just considering joining their ranks, you should know what pitfalls to avoid when you are riding a bike.

Left Turn Collisions

In the US, left-turn collisions (right turns in countries where they drive on the left) are one of the most common types of accidents. It is easy to misjudge the distance of an oncoming car when you are making a left turn. Most left-turn accidents involving motorcycles occur when drivers who are turning left cannot see an oncoming bike.

Speeding

It is not a good idea to ride faster than the general speed of traffic. The higher the speed, the greater the impact in a crash. Any abrupt stop in traffic can cause rear-end collisions which can result in serious injury or death.

Lane Splitting

Motorcycles offer a deceptive amount of freedom. A motorcycle can weave in and out of traffic and it can drive in between lanes which is known as lane splitting (riding between lanes at speed as opposed to lane filtering which is riding slowly through slow-moving or stationary traffic). This can be dangerous because drivers may not be able to see you. If a car changes lanes when you are straddling lanes, it can cause a serious accident.

Car Doors

Not all serious accidents happen on the highway, especially if you are on a motorcycle. It is difficult to see a motorcycle approaching you if you are in the driver’s seat of a car. Motorcycles are often hit by opening car doors.

If a car runs into an open door, it is likely to be the end of the door. If a bicycle runs into an open door, the bicyclist may well be injured. If a motorcycle traveling 30 or 40 miles an hour hits an open car door, the rider may be seriously injured.

Uneven Roads

Potholes, road construction, and dilapidated asphalt can cause a motorcycle driver to lose control of their bike.

Crashing on a motorcycle can cause head injuries, internal bleeding, and broken limbs. Injuries to the lower extremities are the most common.

You should always wear a helmet and protective clothing when you ride a bike. You should also take a motorcycle safety class.

California witnessed 550 motorcycle accidents in 2016, according to the latest Government Highway Safety Association study. Insurance companies are well aware of the dangers of motorcycles and they will charge you more for insurance if you are a biker. They may try to get out of paying you what you are really owed.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you will need a trained personal injury attorney to get you the money you deserve. Attorney Kenneth King has years of experience in negotiating with insurance companies. He will seek a fair settlement, so you can get on with your life.

Authoritative Sources: https://www.ghsa.org/sites/default/files/2018-05/ghsa_motorcyclists18.pdf

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Jail for driver who hit bike and fled

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A Sydney woman is serving an 18-month jail term after she fled the scene of a crash in which her car hit a motorcycle head-on in April last year.

Molly Cahill, 23, of Sans Souci, was found guilty in Sutherland Local Court in May 2020 and sentenced on 2 July on dangerous driving charges.

Police told court Cahill was driving her Peugeot hatchback on the wrong side of Forest Road in Peakhurst about 1.20am on 8 April 2019 when she hit a motorcycle head-on.

Rider Tony Nissirios, 38, and his female partner Sam, 26, were thrown from their bike and suffered multiple fractures.

Molly Cahill hit run crash Sydney committed
The Sydney hit-run crash scene (All images: Channel 7 Sydney)

Driver fled

Cahill fled the scene, abandoned her car nearby and texted “I think I’ve hit someone”.

She was later arrested at her Sans Souci home and taken to Kogarah Police Station.

Since her first court appearance she has also been found guilty of drug and assault charges and was placed on an 18-month community order, ending in September 2021.

(Apologies for this late article due to my clerical error that listed the sentencing date as 20 July.)

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Pillion dies in three-vehicle crash

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A female pillion rider in her 40s has died in a three-vehicle crash in Sydney’s south west today (19 July 2020) and the ride has been rushed to hospital.

Police say the accident about 10am on Moorebank Avenue, near Church Road, Moorebank, involved two cars and a motorcycle.

The motorcycle rider, a man believed to be aged in his 30s, was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Liverpool Hospital in a critical condition.

The pillion, a woman believed to be aged in her 40s, died at the scene.

The driver of a Lexus, a 36-year-old man, and the driver of a Mazda, a 43-year-old man, were both uninjured and taken to hospital for mandatory testing.

Specialist officers from the Metropolitan Crash Investigation Unit attended and examined the scene.

Investigators are appealing to motorists who witnessed the crash or who may have dash cam vision to come forward.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the woman killed in the crash and our best wishes to the rider for a full and speedy recovery.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Rider dies after hitting guide post

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A 39-year-old man has died after his motorcycle hit a guide post near Tamworth about 4pm yesterday (17 July 2020).

The accident happened on Mooni Gap Road, near Upper Moore Creek Road, Moore Creek, about 20km north of Tamworth.

Police were told the rider was thrown from the motorcycle after it struck the reflector guide post.

The rider was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics, before being taken to Tamworth Base Hospital where he died a short time later.

Our sincere condolences to the riders family and friends.

Officers from Oxley Police District established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Roadside hazards

The incident highlights the dangers of roadside hazards to motorcyclists.

A 2017 United Nations road safety report recommended roadside hazards be removed as they are a proven cause of serious motorcycle crash injuries and deaths.

The 108-page World Health Organisation “Powered two- and three-wheeler safety” report says a motorcycle crash with a fixed roadside hazard is 15 times more likely to be fatal than a crash on the ground with no physical contact with a fixed hazard.

They also increase the severity of injuries in such crashes, it says.

Read about the report here.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Irish riders win on wire rope barriers

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While wire rope barriers continue to be rolled out in Australia despite growing anger from riders, Irish authorities have admitted they are potentially dangerous to riders.

UK riders rights The Motorcycle Action Group held a meeting earlier this month with the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure who accepted that wire rope crash barriers were effective for larger vehicles, but posed a hazard to motorcyclists’ safety.

This follows a recent Victorian Auditor General’s report that slammed claims about the safety and cost effectiveness of wire rope barriers.

The auditor’s report found there was no evidence to support the claimed safety benefits for motorcyclists and scooter riders.

It also found Victoria’s WRB rollout was almost $100m over budget, over time and under-maintained.

Irish win

MAG Northern Ireland rep Martyn Boyd says there is “much work still to be done, but this is a good step forward”.

Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure officers told him that regulatory issues and difficulties with alternative systems made it difficult for an immediate unilateral cessation of their use.

WRB Martyn Boyd Irish
Martyn Boyd: “a good step forward”

“Nevertheless, they understood and accepted our perspective,” he says.

At the end of the meeting, the officers:

  • Accepted that wire rope and steel post type crash barriers are hazardous to motorcyclists’ safety in a collision;
  • Agreed to actively promote, through Northern Ireland road restraint systems standards, the wider use of much safer motorcycle protection system barrier installations at high-risk locations which are or could be particularly hazardous to motorcyclists; and
  • Agreed to work with the local universities on any research projects, with the goal of developing a crash barrier system that is much less harmful to motorcyclists but still effective against twin-track vehicles.

These official Irish and Australian acceptances of the dangers of WRBs represent a significant step in the move to have them banned.

Meanwhile, the potentially lethal barriers continue to be rolled out across the nation.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Helmet safety scanner funding at halfway

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A helmet scanner service that checks for hidden fractures in your helmet has reached the halfway point in investment funding.

The Helmet Doctors who developed the helmet laser scanner say it would give riders peace of mind that their helmet is safe to use after a drop or crash, or whether it needs to be replaced.

Helmet Doctors CFO Scott Robinson, who founded the venture with his son, Brayden, says they have raised half of the maximum amount of investment capital required to match a $1 million Federal Government grant.

“This means we are only looking for the remaining $500,000 to create a $2 million start towards a commercialisation rollout.

“A lot of potential investors are somewhat more cautious about start-up opportunities and as you know a lot of the sporting industries have been significantly impacted (FIA & FIM) in their day-to-day operations due to COVID 19.

“We have had an explosion of interest on who we are and what we do with an overwhelming amount of support for our services.”

Scanner support

Last year, the Sunshine Coast family business asked Motorbike Writer to publish a link to a survey about their service and received more than 430 respondents.

More than 70% of respondents supported a $40 helmet scanning service to check for hidden fractures in your helmet.

The survey was important in Helmet Doctors seeking government funding as they needed to know it would be well received by riders, racers and the motorcycle industry.

AusIndustry commercialisation advisors told the company that if we received 100 responses it would be good, 200 would be convincing and 300 would be conclusive.

Scott says they are “flat out like a lizard drinking” and now have staff trained and accredited in NDT laser techniques.

“We have had recent business presentations and talks with one of the major OEM companies about being a value-add service in their chain of stores,” Scott says.

“We will be talking in more detail of this potential partnership once COVID-19 restrictions are further relaxed and the business community can get back to some sort of normality.

Crash starts study

helmet doctors scanning
Brayden is taken away in the ambulance

Scott and Brayden began researching a helmet scanning system after Brayden was hospitalised with a fractured skull from a motocross crash.

They developed their device with the help of a Belgian company and the Composites Research Group in the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering at The University of Queensland.

“We found this laser scanning technique can categorically guarantee that, if there is any damage to the helmet’s outer shell, our technique will identify it. It’s ground-breaking, proven science,” Scott says.

Need for scanning

Helmet Doctors laser scanning helmets
Helmet scanner

Scott says very few riders know exactly when to replace their helmet.

Manufacturing safety standards say a composite helmet has a lifespan of five years and, if used frequently, about three years.

But what if you drop it or have a crash?

“We have all heard how if you drop your helmet once you should replace it. But very few do this,” Scott says.

“No one knows how much impact a composite helmet can tolerate before the shell is critically weakened.

“Composite materials have many layers and tiny fibres that can be damaged in a fall.

“The impact energy is dispersed among the fibres and away from the brain which it is designed to do.

“This is why a dropped helmet may still look ok.

“However, the impact could have led to a small crack or splintering which you can’t see with the naked eye.

“Our device can view, read and record the helmet 100,000 times better than the naked eye and find if there are any cracks, splintering or deformations which would make the helmet defective and unable to withstand another impact.”

Helmet scanning scheme

Helmet Doctors laser scan helmets scanning
Helmet scan identifies a flaw

The Helmet Doctors plan to test their service first in South East Queensland.

Riders would take their helmet to a participating motorcycle dealer where they would leave it and pick it up a few days later.

The helmet would be sent to the nearest scanner depot where it would be scanned, assessed and returned.

“As you could imagine this experimental laser camera is very expensive, but our goal is to make this service accessible and cheap enough for everyone to use it,” Scott says.

If the project is successful, they hope to extend the service to other states and overseas.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Hit-run driver sentenced on scooter crash

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A 55-year-old Toyota Hi-Lux driver who hit and injured a woman, 34, riding a Vespa scooter last August before driving off has been sentenced in a Sydney court today.

Paul Andrew Brown was found guilty in May at a hearing in Burwood Local Court on charges of failing to stop and render aid, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, and not exchanging particulars.

He was sentenced to undertake a 12-month intensive correction order, an 18-month community correction order, both supervised by Burwood Community Corrections.

His licence has also been disqualified for 18 months and he was ordered to pay a $600 fine for not exchanging particulars.

The collision occurred at the intersection of Wellbank and Spring streets, in Concord, about 7.45pm on 14 August 2019.

Police told the court the driver of the utility failed to stop to render assistance to the rider and continued to drive north on Spring Street.

The scooter rider, a 34-year-old woman, suffered serious injuries and was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Crash Investigation Unit officers found the ute parked in North Strathfield about 2.30pm the next day.

After a short foot pursuit, police arrested Brown and took him to Burwood Police Station were he was charged.

Spate of hit-and-run crashes

The incident follows a worrying spate of hit-and-run crashes leaving riders injured and dead.

In NSW, the requirement for those involved in a crash to remain at the scene until police arrive was dropped in 2014, even if a tow truck is required.

However, the motorists must report the incident to police and remain at the scene if anyone is injured.

If they don’t, police can charge a motorist with failing to stop at the scene of an accident which is considered a serious offence.

Depending on whether someone is injured or killed in the crash, the motorist responsible could face serious charges with up to 10 years in jail.

Police say motorists leaving an accident scene where someone is injured decrease a victim’s chance of survival.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

What Kind of Injuries Can be Sustained in a Motorcycle Accident?

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(By David Martin*)

Motorcycle accidents are something everyone wants to avoid. Unfortunately, accidents do happen, and any number of injuries can take place when this occurs.

In addition, riders are much more exposed than vehicle drivers and passengers, which can lead to more severe injuries and even some that are unique to motorcyclists. It is important to understand the risks and also know what measures to take to protect the most vulnerable body parts in case an accident takes place.

Head Injuries

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) are one of the most severe injuries that can be suffered by a human being. The head is especially exposed when riding a motorcycle, which is why wearing a helmet is so important.

Despite this, in 15% of accidents in which a rider wearing a helmet is involved, there is a TBI. This shows that not even a helmet is a failsafe protection. Therefore, it’s important to have an updated health insurance policy in case an accident takes place.

There are three different degrees of severity of TBI, which are mild (also known as a concussion), moderate, and severe. In any case, the person involved will need to go to the hospital, where costly procedures might be necessary.

Depending on the severity, the person involved might only need an examination but there is also the potential of needing surgery and rehabilitation. These and other expenses can be attenuated if a good motorcycle accident attorney is hired if the person wants to present a case against who they think was responsible for the accident.

Neck Injuries

Neck injuries are also very common given  how exposed the neck is during a collision. It has been estimated that this type of injury takes place in 22% of motorcycle accidents. One of the most common neck injuries is whiplash, which happens to both riders and car drivers.

Whiplash is caused by a quick and strong stretching of the neck, which results in a stretching of the cervical spine. These injuries often happen when the bike is hit from behind.

Symptoms associated with whiplash can include dizziness, sore neck, headaches, and poor balance.

Facial Injuries

These injuries usually happen when the person is not wearing a helmet or when the helmet is oversized, causing it to hurt the face during the crash. Half helmets and three-quarter helmets can also lead to face injuries as they do not protect the face entirely.

While these helmets might look cooler, a full-sized helmet is always the smartest way to go to protect your face. After all, it has been estimated that facial injuries take place in about 10% of motorcycle accidents.

This means that it’s much better to invest a little extra on a nice full helmet than to go for a riskier option that could lead to lifelong disfigurement and severe injury.

Spinal Injury

Spinal injuries are one of the worst types of injuries a person could suffer. They can have lifelong consequences, which go from mild discomfort to paralysis and death.

It is important to contact a motorcycle accident attorney in case of a spinal injury as the consequences can be quite debilitating. When someone else is at fault or even if the health insurance company is not providing the aid it should be, these cases can be taken to court.

Keep in mind that the brain communicates with the rest of the body through the spine. If this communication is cut due to a traumatic accident, the rest of the body will be severely affected.

In some cases, the injury can be improved and even entirely reversed with surgery or rehabilitation. Rehab will be focused on restoring flexibility, strength and, eventually, mobility, which can be a long and painful process.

Emotional Trauma

The mind can be injured as well, even if no physical damage can be observed. This is often ignored, but in reality, people involved in a motorcycle accident are likely to develop PTSD, which can be very detrimental to mental health.

Furthermore, people who suffer a serious injury can end up falling into a deep depression, which might require therapy for its correct management. It’s important to evaluate the presence of any signs or symptoms of emotional trauma and look for medical health if these are observed.

* About the author

David Martin is a marketing executive and paralegal assistant for Motorcyclelawyerla.com. He has established himself as a prominent author in personal injury matters. In his free time, you can find him playing golf in the public courses.

David Martin crash expert
David Martin

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Smart helmet calls for help after crash

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Emergency call systems are coming to motorcycles and helmets with a French company the latest to release a helmet that calls for help if you crash.

The Kosmos Smart Helmet has sensors which detect a crash and then uses your paired phone and a proprietary app to contact emergency services.

However, just in case you’ve only had a small fall or dropped your helmet, the system first contacts the rider to check.

If the rider doesn’t respond to cancel within a certain time, the emergency call is placed and provides details on the riders location as well as relevant health information.

It’s not the first helmet with this technology.

Help helmets

Several other helmets that call for help after a crash are also being developed.

They include the Encephalon (Brain) from Nand Logic in the USA, the Indian-made Quin and even a Thai Helpmet. And in December, US college student Ty Uehara won $US2000 to develop his ConTekt helmet that will call emergency (911) if you have been in a crash.

Call bikes

These emergency call systems have been available in cars for some time and are now mandated throughout Europe with motorcycles and possibly helmets expected to be included in the future.

It also may not be long before it is mandated in Australia after an Austroads report last year found that motorcycles should be fitted with the automatic crash call technology to reduce emergency response times which are more lethal in our rural and remote areas.

It points out that motorcyclist deaths have remained stable in major cities over the past decade, but increased in regional and remote Australia by up to almost 50% in recent years.

BMW Motorrad was the first motorcycle company to offer an SOS button in Europe.

BMW's SOS button
BMW’s SOS button

It is not yet available in Australia because of an eCall hardware update and the lack of a nationwide rollout. Telstra also does not yet have the right hardware.

Germany tech company Bosch is the latest to join the hi-tech safety revolution.

The Bosch system uses an “intelligent crash algorithm installed in the vehicle’s inertial sensor unit” to identify a crash via the various sensors such as an accelerometer and lean sensor.

It pairs with their Help Connect phone app to send your location to a Bosch Service Centre.

All of these systems have similar failsafe

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Motorcycle cop rammed by ute

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A ute driver has been charged after a Queensland road policing officer’s motorcycle was rammed by a ute in Brisbane overnight (5 July 2020).

Police say the incident occurred about 8.30pm when the officer was conducting traffic enforcement on the northbound lanes of the Gateway Motorway near Mount Gravatt Capalaba Road.

The bike cop detected a ute “allegedly travelling at speed” towards the Old Cleveland Road exit and intercepted it near the Old Cleveland Road off-ramp.

“As the officer approached the ute it will be alleged the driver reversed at speed for a distance, colliding with the front of the police motorcycle causing it to fall onto its side and sustain minor damage,” a police statement says.

“The officer suffered minor injuries only.”

The ute was later found in Parkridge Avenue at Caboolture where the alleged driver, a 60-year-old man, was arrested without incident.

He has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and serious assault of a police officer and is expected to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on September 30. 

Investigations continue.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.

You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.

Quote this reference number: QP2001397121 within the online suspicious activity form.

Riders dies in Bruxner crash

In northern NSW, a 59-year-old male rider died in a crash yesterday on the Bruxner Highway, about 40km east of Tenterfield.

NSW Police have been told the man was travelling west on the highway in a convoy with other motorcycles, when he became separated from the group and crashed.

New England Police District is investigating the crash and calling for information or dashcam footage.

Contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the rider.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com