Motorcycle Safety Preparedness
How to be Prepared and Ensure Safety While Riding Our friends at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have put out their 2018 report on motorcycle crashes and fatalities. The latest report focuses on data collected for the year 2016. According to NHTSA, motorcycle fatalities rose 5.1% between 2015 and 2016. The report also states that 25% of those fatalities were related to alcohol impairment. Finally, NHTSA indicates that the lack of mandatory motorcycle helmet laws nationwide is a contributing factor to the rise in motorcycle fatalities. When you read the report, it is easy to conclude that motorcyclists…
Motorcycle Statutes To Remember
Motorcycle Statutes To Remember When Riding in Virginia and North Carolina Riders often know traffic laws better than the average driver. They have to since law enforcement profiling of riders is still a thing many motorcyclists have to contend with, whether they’re just riding to and from work or school or out on a road trip with friends. Traffic laws are passed on a state-by-state basis, meaning a different set of rules apply once you cross a border from one state to another. Here aresome laws to keep in mind when you’re out riding. It’s Illegal to Discriminate Against Riders…
Virginia To Change The Definition Of A Salvage Vehicle
The Chairmen of the Senate and House Transportation Committees requested that a committee be formed over the summer to look at the proposed change to Virginia law as it pertains to the definition of a salvage vehicle. For those of you who followed last year’s session, you will recall that there were two identical bills, Senate Bill 1364 and House Bill 1780, that would have changed the definition of a salvage vehicle by removing the requirement that the vehicle be a late model vehicle. A late model vehicle is a vehicle of the current year, or previous five years. Susan…
Motorcyclists Win A Victory In North Carolina House Of Representatives
On March 27th, House Bill 257, a bill exempting motorcyclists from theNorth Carolina prohibition against wearing masks in public, passed out of the House of Representatives. The bill now moves to the Senate. If it successfully passes the Senate, it will go to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law. Current law prohibits wearing masks in public places, to include public roadways. That means that motorcyclists in North Carolina who are covering their face with neoprene face coverings or bandanas in order to protect themselves from cold, wind, or sun are in violation of North Carolina law. The purpose…
Do I Need a Personal Injury Attorney?
Should you call amotorcycle injury lawyer if the facts are on your side and your damages fall below the responsible driver’s policy limits? Insurance companies would prefer to not cover your claim, regardless of whose negligence caused your accident and injuries. They may attempt to deny your claim or offer to pay less than you need to cover your lost wages and medical bills. Insurance companies aren’t renowned for their generosity. If they are attempting to pay you less than the full cost of your medical bills or they attempt to suggest you were actually fully or partially responsible for…
POA Communication After A Motorcycle Accident Injury
People involved in all types of auto accidents can be injured so severely that they are either knocked unconscious or are put under anesthesia shortly after the accident occurs. There may also be situations where a person isn’t entirely unconscious but they’re also incapable of making informed decisions for themselves due to a head injury. The risk of those types of injuries is a lot higher for motorcyclists than it is for other motorists due to the nature of riding. People on motorcycles aren’t surrounded by steel and airbags to protect them in an accident, so head and spine injuries…
The Evolution Of Motorcycle Helmet Laws
Motorcycles have been a fixture in American culture since the end of World War II, when thousands of veterans who rode during wartime came home. The second World War wasn’t the first time motorcycles had been used in war – in fact the U.S. military used motorcycles (Harley-Davidson’s to be specific) with sidecars during their hunt for Pancho Villa in 1916. During World War I, half of Harley-Davidson’s bike output – approximately 20,000 – were sent oversees so commanders could quickly send messages via motorcycles.1 But it wasn’t until WWII when bikes became a huge part of the war effort….
Three Wheeled Automobiles
This month, theMotorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) announced the introduction of a letter to theNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding the current federal definition of motorcycles. NHTSA defines a motorcycle as a motor vehicle with motive power having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground. With the recent proliferation of three-wheeled automobiles such as the Polaris Slingshot and the Campagna T-Rex, this definition is no longer adequate. A motor vehicle equipped with a foot-controlled accelerator and a steering wheel should not fall…
Tips To Keep Your Motorcycle Running In Top Shape
Keeping your bike in proper working order helps keep you safe on the road. Some riders like to handle nearly all types of maintenance on their own, while others trust the big service jobs to professional mechanics. Even if you’re not mechanically inclined, there are still a handful of relatively easily routine maintenance jobs you can likely perform yourself. These are just general suggestions. The actual proper application of each of the following maintenance suggestions may vary depending on the year, make and model of your motorcycle. Always consult your owner’s manual before performing any maintenance on your bike. Checking…