Toledo Personal Injury Lawyer - brain injuries

Supersport motorcycle riders at higher risk for death | Ohio motorcycle accident lawyers

Chuck Boyk — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:42:00 GMT

According to The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, those who ride high performance motorcycles, or super-sport motorcycles, are four times more likely to die in a motorcycle accident. With speeds as high as 190 miles per hour, super-sports are very dangerous for the non-professional rider. To put speed into perspective, 190 miles per hour is also the take-off speed for a 747 airplane.

Our Ohio motorcycle accident lawyers see the devstating effects that fatal motorcycle accidents can have a family and their community. If you are going to ride a motorcycle, do so responsibliy. Mind the speed limit, and always wear your helmet.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact our office today to order your FREE copy of The Ohio Accident Book.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chuck Boyk

Helmet use imperative to prevent motorcycle accident brain injuries

Chuck Boyk — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:17:00 GMT

“Careless car drivers injure motorcycle riders on a regular basis,” said Ohio motorcycle accident attorney Attorney Chuck Boyk. “For the past 25 years I have seen much more serious injuries and death due to lack of motorcycle helmets. Individual freedom is nice, but being alive and healthy may be more important.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation is starting to require helmet manufacturers to place a larger, tamper-proof DOT label on the back of certified helmets. This larger label would not only make it harder for riders to wear novelty helmet in states that require DOT certified helmets, but it would also help riders in all states recognize a safe helmet to use in order to prevent personal injury in the event of a motorcycle accident.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, helmets reduce the risk of death by 29% and are 67% effective in preventing brain injuries to motorcycle riders. NHTSA also predicts that an unhelmeted motorcyclist is 40 percent more likely to suffer a fatal head injury and 15 percent more likely to suffer a nonfatal injury than a helmeted motorcyclist when involved in a motorcycle accident.

If everyone riding a motorcycle would have used a helmet in 2006, roughly 752 lives could have been saved nationwide, and 24 lives in Ohio.

Ohio law requires that motorcycle riders and passengers under the age of 18 must wear a helmet at all times. Ohio law also requires all riders, regardless of age, to wear some sort of protective eyewear while riding a motorcycle.

Even the safest motorcyclists have no control over other drivers on the road, and must prepare to ride defensively and obey all posted traffic signs, in order to prevent an Ohio motorcycle accident. Make sure to use proper turn signals, mind the speed limit, and always stay visible to other vehicles around you. Wear a helmet while riding, regardless if the law requires you to.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an Ohio motorcycle accident, order your FREE copy of The Ohio Accident Book to learn your rights. Our Ohio motorcycle lawyers can give you a free consultation and case evaluation.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chuck Boyk

ATV accidents, Yamaha Rhino accidents under scrutiny by U.S. government – Part III

Chuck Boyk — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:06:42 GMT

Our Toledo, Ohio ATV accident attorneys had help continuing their blog series on ATV safety from the co-founder of Concerned Families for ATV Safety, Sue Rabe.

The Rabe family lost their son, Kyle, to an ATV accident when he was only 10 years old. He had been riding for over a year and a half without any accidents. His parents write on the website that he was a very cautious, skilled rider wearing boots, gloves, several layers of clothing and a full face, approved helmet.

But all of those factors did not prevent an ATV accident.

“It’s devastating,” said Sue Rabe of Turner, Oregon. “Kyle was three months shy of his 11^th birthday. Until you have children, you won’t understand that they become your number one. They are everything to you.”

Sue Rabe fought hard to get Oregon Senate Bill 49, “Kyle’s Law,” passed, which would prohibit anyone under 12-years-old from operating an ATV. It would also put stronger restrictions on ATV riders between 12 and 15 years of age, and make helmet use mandatory.

While the bill did not pass, Sue believes that all of the lobbying and attention that Kyle’s Law received helped save lives.

“Last year not one child in the state of Oregon died in an ATV accident,” Sue said. “The year before, eight kids died. Apparently someone is listening.”

Stay tuned for our on-going series on ATV accidents as we report the information that Concerned Families for ATV Safety and Sue Rabe has provided us with.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chuck Boyk

ATV accidents, Yamaha Rhino accidents under scrutiny by U.S. government – Part II

Chuck Boyk — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:42:00 GMT

An ATV accident can be a devastating experience, causing severe personal injuries and emotional distress.

As discussed in “ATV accidents, Yamaha Rhino accidents under scrutiny by U.S. government – Part I,” ATV accidents can frequently be seen with the use of a Yamaha Rhino.

The Rhino’s high center of gravity and narrow wheelbase makes it tip easily, which can lead to ATV rollover accidents. The rollbar and seatbelts do nothing to protect the lower legs, which can be ejected during a tip or roll.

Injuries from an ATV accident can include broken arms or legs, including hands and feet. Often during a rollover ATV accident, the driver’s leg becomes pinned under the 1,100-pound ATV, crushing the limb. There have been cases where the injury to the leg leads to amputation.

Children involved in an ATV accident are more likely to suffer wrongful death. Their small bodies cannot control the weight of the ATV, making it easier for them to run into another object, roll the ATV over, or fall off the vehicle.

Severe head wounds are one of many injuries that can happen to kids during ATV accidents. Brain injuries, fractures, and spinal cord injuries can often occur, which could lead to wrongful death.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an ATV accident, order your FREE copy of The Ohio Accident Book to learn your rights. Contact our office today for your free consultation and case evaluation.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chuck Boyk