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Motorcycle News, News

Watch: Police hoverbike crashes

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We may very well take to the skies on a hoverbike one day, but it could be a while yet if this crash video of a Dubai Police Scorpion hoverbike is an indication.

Thankfully the rider was not hurt in the 30m fall, but you would have to worry about those spinning rotors!

The Scorpion hoverbike is the product of Russian startup Hoversurf and costs $US150,000 (about $A212,500), which is nearly twice the price of the MV Agusta limited-edition Claudio F4.

The first buyers were the cashed-up Dubai police force. Yes, pigs do fly!

Pilot’s licence

The US Federal Aviation Administration has classified them as an ultralight which does not require a pilot’s licence, the Scorpion is available to the general public.

However, don’t get too excited because in some countries ultralights (or microlights) require a special pilot’s licence or at least registration.

It would depend on how the Scorpion is classified based on their weight: ultralight, microlight, helicopter, etc.

The original Hoversurf Scorpion could fly with a rider/pilot for up to 25 minutes, move up to 70km/h (43mph) and carry up to 300kg of weight. Without a pilot it could cover up to 6km.Pigs really do fly over Dubai hoverbikes

It has been stripped down to 114kg for a maximum speed of 96km/h. But it can only fly for 15 minutes at a time with a pilot and 40 without.

Hoversurf says their Scorpion hoverbikes will be delivered between 2-6 months after an order is placed.

Hoverbikes

“Hoverbikes” have been around for a few years now from various tech companies as well as BMW Motorrad whose Hover Ride is currently a toy, but may be considered for future production.

While BMW says their Hover Ride is a futuristic concept, the appearance of the Scorpion on the market may compel BMW and other motorcycle manufacturers to consider to fly rather than ride.

BMW Lego hover ride fly hoverbikesBMW Lego Hover Ride

BMW Motorrad Vehicle Design boss Alexander Buckan says the Hover Ride, made in collaboration with lego, is “full of emotion and creative energy though not laying claim to technological plausibility”.

“Our concept not only incorporates the BMW Motorrad design DNA with typical elements such as the boxer engine and the characteristic GS silhouette, it also draws on the LEGO Technic stylistic idiom.”

Meanwhile, French motorcycle designer Ludovic Lazareth has produced the LM496 or “La Moto Volante” (the Flying Motorcycle).

Their jet-powered motorcycle failed to take off at the launch party in January 2019.

A few months later the company released a video in which the LM496 hovered about a metre above a platform.

It’s not really flying and the bike is tethered on each corner to prevent an accident.

Only five are be built and if you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it.

More importantly, what happens when power fails?

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Trial set for red light bike crash

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Almost a year to the day after allegedly running a red light, and hitting and injuring a 63-year-old male motorcyclist, the driver of a Nissan utility will face a trial in the Parramatta Local Court.

Driver Daniel Marjoribanks was charged after the crash at the intersection of Schofields and Windsor roads, Rouse Hill, on 12 September 2019.

Last week he appeared for the eighth time in Parramatta Local Court where the matter was re-listed for a hearing on 11 September 2020.

Police say the Nissan utility was travelling south on Windsor Road, Rouse Hill, about 9.30pm when it approached the intersection of Schofields Road and was faced with a red right turn arrow.

“The driver allegedly turned right against the red arrow and struck a motorcycle which was being ridden north through the intersection,” police will allege.

The rider suffered multiple compound fractures to his right leg and fractured ribs.

Marjoribanks was charged with:

  • Dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm;
  • Negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm;
  • Fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing grievous bodily harm;
  • Fail to stop and assist after impact cause injury;
  • Drive when visiting privileges withdrawn – first offence; and
  • Not give particulars to injured person.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Is a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Different From a Car Accident Lawyer?

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(Contributed post for our North American readers)

After being hurt in a motorcycle accident, you have a lot on your plate—especially in the first days and weeks after the accident. Most importantly, you need to focus on your physical and emotional health while you come to terms with your injuries and start to look towards recovery. At the same time, you need to hire a lawyer so that you can have the best chances of getting a fair and comprehensive settlement from the responsible driver’s insurance company, because the reality is that no insurance company will pay you everything you deserve without a fight.

Trying to find a lawyer who is available to take your case, and more importantly QUALIFIED to take on your specific type of case, can be complicated and overwhelming while you are trying to manage your personal life in the early days after your accident. Fortunately, there are ways that you can connect with an attorney who is ready to take your case without needing to do the legwork on your own, which you can read more about here.

Choosing a lawyer can be complicated, but understanding why you need to work with an attorney who focuses on your particular type of accident is important. Read more about this below.

Can a Lawyer Represent Car Accidents and Motorcycle Accidents?

A personal injury attorney focuses most of their energy and expertise on recovering damages for their client after an accident, and the reality is that there is a significant overlap in many types of personal injury cases. At their core, personal injury cases seek to establish fault, then establish liability, and then move forward to calculating damages that the victim is entitled to. From this perspective, there is no major benefit to working with a motorcycle accident attorney after a motorcycle accident instead of just working with a car accident lawyer. But is that the end of the story?

Motorcycle Attorneys Know Motorcycle Law

The reality of hiring an attorney for a personal injury is that they need to have extensive understanding in two areas: tort law, and the laws and regulations around the activity you were involved in when you were injured. This means that working with a motorcycle accident attorney gives you access to a clear understanding of tort law that they practice daily, and a specific understanding of the risks, laws, biases, and other details that make a motorcycle accident unique.

From the perspective of an attorney who is unfamiliar with motorcycle accidents, it may be easy to take certain issues at face value when the insurance company pushes back on them, such as the reduced visibility of a motorcycle on the road as opposed to a car that an insurance company may use to lower their client’s degree of fault.

Support and Experience

When you are working with an attorney who understands the specifics of your situation and your accident, you can get the compassion that you deserve throughout this difficult and painful process. Working with someone who understands what you are going through and can represent that experience to the insurance company during your settlement negotiations goes a long way to stay confident and motivated to fight for what you deserve.

The final answer? You may get great legal support from an attorney who does not specifically focus on motorcycle accidents, but if you want to work with someone that you trust has your best interests and can see the nuances of your specific motorcycle crash, hire an attorney who has a history of successfully representing motorcycle accidents.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Determining fault in a motorcycle accident case

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(Contributed post for our North American readers)

When someone has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, they must determine liability if they want to pursue legal claims. Determining liability means figuring out which parties are responsible for causing the accident and the injuries. If another person or entity is responsible for causing your accident and injuries, you may be entitled to recover compensation for all of the losses that you have suffered as a result.

What are the most common causes of motorcycle accidents?

Motorcycle accidents can be caused by many different problems. Most accidents are caused by the negligent actions of motorists. However, some accidents can also be caused by the negligent actions of companies or other entities. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents include the following:

  • Motorists turning left onto a highway without seeing an oncoming motorcyclist
  • Failing to yield
  • Changing lanes in front of a motorcyclist without giving the cyclist enough room
  • Failing to check blind spots
  • Speeding
  • Drunk or drugged driving
  • Driving too fast for weather conditions
  • Opening a door in the path of a motorcyclist when exiting cars parked along the road
  • Making sudden stops
  • Motorists failing to slow down in time to avoid rear-ending a motorcyclist
  • Objects or debris in the road
  • Poorly maintained roadways
  • Defective parts
  • Inadequate maintenance and repairs

Figuring out the causes of motorcycle accidents is important for determining who might be liable for causing them. In some cases, both the motorcyclist and the other driver will share fault. In others, either the motorist or the motorcyclist will be wholly to blame for the accident. Some cases might also involve several liable parties who contributed to the accident’s cause.

An experienced injury lawyer may work with an accident reconstruction expert to identify all of the causes and the responsible parties. Accident reconstruction experts take measurements at the accident scenes to recreate what happened in the moments leading up to the crash. They also get information from the vehicles that were involved and the damage caused to each of them. An attorney may also have investigators talk to people who witnessed the accidents to gain a better understanding of what happened.

Determining the responsible parties after a motorcycle accident

To pursue compensation in a motorcycle accident claim, you must first identify the parties holding legal liability for your accident. An experienced personal injury lawyer can conduct an in-depth investigation to help you to determine fault.

Some of the parties that can be responsible for causing a motorcycle accident include the following:

  • The driver of the vehicle that was involved
  • For motorcycle passengers, the motorcyclist
  • The motorcycle’s manufacturer
  • The manufacturer of a defective part
  • The entity that is responsible for maintaining the roadway
  • Motorcycle repair shop that negligently repaired the motorcycle

To hold a responsible party liable, the injured victim or the family of people who are killed in motorcycle accidents will need to prove that the defendants were negligent. In some cases, several parties may be at fault.Crash accident police wreck america

Proving negligence in a motorcycle accident

To prevail in a motorcycle accident claim, you must be able to prove that the defendant was negligent. The plaintiff has the burden to prove each of the elements of negligence by a preponderance of the evidence, including the following:

  • The defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff.
  • The defendant breached the duty of care.
  • The defendant’s breach caused the accident and injuries.
  • The plaintiff suffered harm.

All motorists owe a duty of care to people who are traveling on the roads around them to operate their vehicles with the same degree of safety that a reasonable person would under similar circumstances. For example, a motorist is expected to avoid driving while distracted or drunk and to follow the posted speed limits. Breaching a duty of care occurs when a person’s conduct falls below the standard expected of him or her for the situation. The plaintiff will still need to show that the plaintiff’s breach of the standard of care was the direct or proximate cause of the motorcycle accident and that the plaintiff was harmed because of it.

In some cases, the driver and the motorcyclist will share fault. California allows plaintiffs to recover damages even when they are partially to blame under a legal principle called comparative fault. In this type of situation, the jury will the degree of fault that is held by each party. The plaintiff’s damages will be reduced by his or her percentage of fault.

For example, if you are determined to have been 25% at fault for your accident and are awarded a gross verdict of $250,000, your damages will be reduced by 25% or $62,500 for a net award of $187,500.

If several parties contributed to the accident, the jury will determine the percentage of fault held by each party. The liable parties will be responsible for paying the percentages of damages that are attributed to them. For example, if one defendant is found to be 20% at fault while another defendant is found to be 80% at fault, the defendant that is 20% at fault will have to pay 20% of the total verdict award while the defendant who is 80% at fault will be responsible for paying 80% of the total.

Some American states have modified comparative fault rules. In those states, people who are found to be more at fault than the defendants will not be able to recover damages. For example, in a state with a modified comparative fault rule, a plaintiff will not be able to recover damages if the jury finds that he or she is 51% at fault or more. California has a pure comparative fault rule, however. This means that people who are injured in California can recover damages even if they have a greater degree of liability for their accidents than the defendants. For example, if you are 99% at fault for causing an accident, you could still technically file a personal injury lawsuit. However, any damages would be reduced by 99%.

Motorcycle accidents can be devastating for the victims and their families. Fortunately, the law provides families and victims with the ability to recover damages from the parties that caused their accidents and losses. Getting help from experienced personal injury lawyers might help motorcycle accident victims to determine the legal options that may be available to them. By determining liability, the attorneys might help their clients to maximize the compensation that they might be able to recover.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Bosch makes emergency call for riders

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Soon your motorcycle, helmet and/or phone could contact emergency services if you crash with Bosch 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.

The automatic function can be overridden by the rider if, for example, they have just accidentally dropped the bake-off its stand!

So far the Bosch Help Connect system only works in Germany, but it will be rolled out across Europe and possibly around the world.Bosch Help Connect emergency call system crash test

We are not yet sure whether it can be retrofitted, but it would only work with a modern bike with an inertial sensor unit.

Like most Bosch technology, it is more likely to be included when bikes are built.

Since Bosch develops a lot of tech for motorcycles, it could be included in future models.

Bosch spokesman Harald Kroeger says they carried out 18 crash tests to analyse specific accident scenarios and demonstrate the functionality of Help Connect.

Bosch Help Connect emergency call system crash testBosch Help Connect crash test

Emergency tech mandated

These emergency call systems have been available in cars for some time and are now mandated throughout Europe with motorcycles 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 buttonBMW’s SOS button

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

The Austroads report notes that the problem with these systems in Australia is the lack of mobile phone coverage in rural areas.

Riders can also use an EPIRB, download an emergency app, use this Aussie-made Sentinel device or, in future, wear a helmet with the device fitted.

Slow response timesOutback adventure Royal Flying Doctor Service calls

Delays in reaching crash victims in rural and remote areas include difficulties in locating crash sites and a lack of mobile phone reception, according to emergency organisations and motorcycle rider groups.

The Austroads report found the average time for a first responder to arrive at a motorcycle crash in rural and remote areas was 55 minutes compared with 18 minutes in urban areas.

Remote crash victims also took an average of 11.6 hours to arrive at a hospital emergency department compared with 59 minutes in urban areas.

“Retrieval time subsequently impacts on crash outcomes with delays until discovery or delays in accessing the trauma system increasing the risk of mortality following major trauma,” the repot finds.

The probability of a rider dying increased by 2.7% for every 100km from a hospital.

It’s a worrying statistic for adventure riders heading out into the Outback.

As a more rural example, the report says more than half of all Victorian motorcycle crashes occur in the Gippsland region where ambulance response times are 29.9 minutes compared with metropolitan times of 12.7-17.2 minutes.

South Australia and NSW are the only states with post-crash emergency response in their road safety strategy and action plans.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

6 Untold Facts About Motorcyclists & Driving Reckless

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(Contributed post for our North American readers)

Riding motorcycles gives riders a profound sense of joy, freedom, and adventure.

But with the advantages of riding motorcycles comes some serious health and safety risks. Reckless riding contributes significantly to the dangers of riding. And unfortunately, motorcyclists tend to suffer the worst consequences when involved in a crash.

While most bikers are probably aware of these risks, below are some untold facts to keep in mind so you can safely enjoy the freedom of the open road.

Reckless Driving Affects Motorcyclists More Than Other Drivers

Reckless driving includes excessive speeding, as well as driving that substantially endangers other drivers and passengers on the road.

Several types of reckless riding behaviors have a greater effect on motorcyclists, including:

  • Distracted riding,
  • Excessive speeding,
  • Tailgating, and
  • Failing to look for and yield to a motorcyclist.

Distracted driving, in particular, disproportionately affects motorcyclists. Drivers who use their cell phones while driving, fiddle with the radio dials, or are otherwise distracted often fail to see motorcycles in time to avoid a crash.

And unfortunately, the motorcyclist often suffers the worst of the consequences. Many drivers also fail to look for motorcyclists and properly share the road. These reckless driving behaviors increase the chances that a motorcyclist will suffer a serious or fatal accident.

Reckless Driving Causes More Serious Motorcycle Crashes

Motorcycles offer riders much less safety than larger vehicles on the road.

Motorcycles lack doors, airbags, and other protective safety features that help prevent serious injuries and deaths in car crashes. As a result, motorcyclists are more likely to suffer serious injuries or death when involved in a collision.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that motorcyclists are about 28 times more likely to die in a car accident than car and truck drivers. In 2018, a total of 4,985 motorcyclists died in automobile accidents. This number has nearly doubled over the last two decades. These risks are far greater when the motorcyclist or other driver drives recklessly. Among the fatal motorcycle accidents in 2018, more than 20% of them were caused by reckless driving.

Helmets Are Only Partially Effective

Every motorcycle rider should wear a helmet. Studies show that riders involved in crashes are much more likely to survive and avoid head injuries when wearing a helmet.

But when one or both motorists drive recklessly, helmets become less effective at preventing brain injury and death. Health studies demonstrate that helmets are only 37% effective in preventing motorcycle deaths. Helmets are far more effective when crashes involve lower speeds. Driving at lower speeds and in a controlled manner gives both drivers more time to react and avoid a more serious collision. 

Alcohol Causes Many Motorcycle Crashes

Riding motorcycles requires significant mental and physical awareness to operate the vehicle safely.

As a result, alcohol has a more significant effect on the driver’s ability to ride safely, even at low levels of intoxication. And alcohol use contributes significantly to motorcycle crashes. In 2018, 26% of fatal motorcycle accidents occurred when the motorcycle rider had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over .08%.

Alcohol use increases the likelihood that the rider will suffer severe injuries or death.

This is due to several factors, including:

  • Intoxicated motorcycle riders are less likely to wear helmets,
  • Intoxicated riders drive at higher speeds, and
  • Intoxicated driving increases the chances of head-on collisions.

In addition to increased risk of injuries, alcohol use while riding also carries heavy legal penalties, including possible jail time and substantial fines. 

Reckless Driving Results in Higher Insurance Costs

Insurance coverage for motorcycles and other vehicles depends on several factors, including:

  • The retail price of the vehicle,
  • The cost of parts,
  • The overall safety of the vehicle, and
  • The individual’s driving record.

Reckless driving significantly increases the chances you will be involved in a motorcycle accident. 

Reckless driving also usually involves more serious crashes and greater damage to a vehicle. Data gathered by Highway Loss Data Institute shows the frequency and severity of motorcycle insurance claims. Motorcycles with larger engines and higher performance have significantly more claims than other types of vehicles. This matches statistics showing that motorcyclists riding high-performance bikes tend to drive at higher speeds and more recklessly than other riders. A conviction for reckless driving will also raise your insurance premiums, even if no crash occurs. 

Reckless Driving Leads to Serious Legal Consequences 

Most states take reckless driving seriously and impose harsh penalties on drivers who endanger others. 

Punishments for careless driving vary by state, but most consequences include:

  • Possible jail time, 
  • Large fines of up to $1,000,
  • License suspension, 
  • Probation, and 
  • Driving classes.

Reckless driving convictions can cause long-term consequences and disrupt your life. However, hiring a skilled reckless driving law firm, such as Virginia attorney Andrew Flusche, who may help reduce the likelihood of a reckless driving conviction. Your attorney can negotiate on your behalf and argue for lesser charges or a more lenient sentence. If you are facing reckless driving charges, you should speak with a qualified attorney as soon as possible. 

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Driver charged after 2019 fatal bike crash

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A 57-year-old male driver has been charged after a fatal collision between his Toyota Yaris and a motorcycle in Queanbeyan, NSW, last December.

The collision occurred about 3.20pm on Monday 23 December 2019 in McCrae Street, near Lanyon Drive.

The 74-year-old male rider was taken to Queanbeyan Hospital with face, chest and leg injuries.

He died in hospital on Wednesday 1 January 2020.

The Yaris driver was not injured in the collision and was taken to Queanbeyan Hospital for mandatory testing.

Officers from the Crash Investigation Unit commenced an investigation.

Last Sunday, (31 May 2020), the driver, from Kambah, ACT, attended Queanbeyan Police Station where he was issued with a Court Attendance Notice for negligent driving (occasioning death).

He is due to appear at Queanbeyan Local Court on Monday 24 August 2020.

The penalties in NSW for negligent driving causing death on a first offence are:

Maximum fine $3300
Minimum disqualification 12 months
Automatic disqualification 3 years
Maximum prison sentence 18 months

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

What Makes Motorcycle Accident Lawsuits Different from Car Accidents?

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(Contributed post for our North American readers)

Everyone who decides to operate a motorcycle understands that there are significant differences between this type of transportation method and that of a car, truck, or another passenger vehicle. In fact, a motorcycle license is a different class of driver’s license than for a passenger vehicle, much like you are required to carry a Commercial Driver License (CDL) to operate an 18-wheeler or other large commercial vehicle. There are many reasons that make a motorcycle different from a car, and these reasons are part of why motorcycle accident claims and lawsuits are different than car accident insurance claims.

Below are just a few different reasons why these types of accident claims and lawsuits are different, but the reality is that the differences are much more complex than pointing out the difference in wheels between a motorcycle and a car. To get a comprehensive idea of what makes YOUR accident different, contact motorcycle accident lawyer Richard Morse for a free consultation today. Your case is unique and deserves the care and attention that a proven accident attorney will give you.

Motorcycle Accidents Have Higher Fatality Rates

Everyone who operates a motorcycle, or rides on the back of one, must be aware of the fact that motorcycles are significantly more dangerous than cars. They have higher rates of collisions per capita—for a variety of reasons, most not the fault of the motorcyclist—and a higher fatality rate per accident, meaning that the risks are significant on both accounts. In 2001, the NHTSA showed that motorcyclists were about 26 times as likely to die in a crash than someone riding in a passenger car, and are 5 times as likely to be injured.

Proving Liability Can Be More Complicated With a Motorcycle

Because of the additional complexity of operating a motorcycle safely, insurance companies often try to put the additional fault on the motorcycle driver, whether or not there are clear grounds for this. Insurance companies focus on limiting the amount of money that they pay for any injury claim against their policyholders, and they will use the fact that you were operating a motorcycle instead of a vehicle as a possible grounds for placing some degree of negligence on you.

Helmet Laws May Complicate Injury Claims

If you are in an accident and you are not wearing a helmet in California, then you will have serious issues trying to collect on damages that are related to your head. However, there are states where motorcycle drivers over a certain age are allowed to operate or ride without a helmet, and although this theoretically should not impact their ability to collect on damages, it will likely play a role in your negotiations.

Trying To Fight For What You Deserve Is Harder When You Are Seriously Injured

As mentioned above, motorcycle accidents are 5 times more likely to lead to injury, meaning that there is also an increased risk that you will suffer from serious, life-changing injuries. After you are hurt in an accident, the last thing that you want to be doing is to fight with an insurance company about money that you are rightfully owed. In fact, taking on additional stress will have a serious impact on your recovery process, which is another reason why you need to hire a lawyer as soon as possible.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Police target riders over crash deaths

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Queensland Police will target motorcycle speeds after a spike in rider and pillion deaths in the first five months of the year, despite the reduction in traffic during the pandemic lockdown.

They have vowed to increase their presence and revert to their mobile speed camera program which had been temporarily suspended during the lockdown.

Inspector Peter Flanders says: “The bottom line is if you are on a motorcycle, you are that vehicle’s airbag. If you get hit or if you hit something it is you who takes the force.”

A total of 91 lives have been lost on Queensland roads in the first five months of 2020, up from 84 at the same time last year with 23 rider and pillion fatalities.

“Motorcyclists were highly represented in the figures, with one in four of all fatalities either motorcycle riders or passengers,” Police media says.

Stats by state

Police target riders over crash deathsAustralian statistics

It sounds like a lot, but it’s not unusual. The proportion of rider lives lost compared with total fatalities is much the same as previous years and is only three above the five-year average.

Meanwhile, the national trend shows rider deaths decreasing.

To the end of April, there were 186 deaths on motorcycles, which is actually the lowest it’s been over the past 10 years.Police target riders over crash deaths

Victoria has had 12 rider/pillion deaths to the end of May compared with 27 last year, down a whopping 56%, probably due to the lockdown.

Likewise, NSW has had 18 deaths so far compared with 24 last year and the 24 five-year average.

South Australia is also down from 11 last year to nine, although the five-year average is five.

Speed targetPolice target riders over crash deaths

In Queensland, police will target speeding as a response to the statistically anomalous spike in motorcycle road deaths.

Road Policing Command Superintendent David Johnson says motorcyclists are more vulnerable to injury than drivers and passengers in any other motor vehicle on our roads.

“Excess speed and loss of control are contributing factors in many traffic crashes involving motorcycles, so we really need riders to take responsibility and ride at speeds relative to the conditions and the posted speed limit,” he says.

However, we note several crashes so far this year involving unlicensed riders, stolen bikes, riders fleeing police, and riders hit by cars at intersections and on the wrong side fo the road.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Criminal trial for head-on bike crash

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A daughter of renowned neurosurgeon Charlie Teo will face a criminal trial later this month over a head-on crash with former Comanchero boss William “Jock” Ross in September 2019.

NSW Police will allege Nicola Annabel Teo, 24, was driving her LandCruiser on the wrong side of the road for 200m before crashing head-on into a Harley-Davidson near Wiseman’s Ferry, NSW, on 26 September 2019.

Nicola Teo Jock RossNicola with her LandCruiser

The bike was being ridden by former Comanchero William “Jock” Ross, 76, who suffered extensive, head leg and internal injuries and still walks with the aid of a crutch.

Teo was charged with dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving, not driving on the left hand side of the road and not giving particulars to the police.

Criminal trial

The matter has proceeded through the Windsor Local Court before being moved to the Penrith Local Court where in February Teo was committed to stand a criminal trial.

The arraignment for the trial  was set last week and will be heard in Penrith on 26 June 2020. An arraignment is the first stage of a criminal trial where the indictment is read out.

If found guilty, Teo could face a substantial custodial sentence.

Police are expected to provide the court with CCTV footage, witness statements and physical evidence.

Teo is currently on conditional bail.

Jock Ross

William Jock Ross TeoRoss with his Harley

Ross, a Glasgow-born former soldier and Rural Fire Service volunteer, says “god was looking down” on him on the day of the crash.

He was one of five founders of the Comancheros on the New South Wales Central Coast in 1966 and was ‘supreme commander’ when they were involved in the 1984 Milperra Massacre.

Four Comancheros, two Bandidos and a 14-year-old girl died in the infamous shootout.

Ross received gunshot to the head and suffers permanent vision loss and a brain injury.

He was jailed for murder in 1987 over his role in instigating the massacre and was released in 1992 after serving five years.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com