North Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has dubbed the month of May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month to promote motorcycle safety and road sharing between motorcyclists and other drivers.

The national safety campaign comes less than a week after the end of North Carolina’s Motorcycle Safety Awareness Week, which took place from April 21 to April 25.

The statewide and national safety awareness campaigns couldn’t come at a better time. The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles says that motorcycle deaths have risen—183 rider deaths last year compared to 61 motorcyclist fatalities in 1997.

Motorcycles account for only 1.96% of all registered motor vehicles in North Carolina, but make up nearly 12% of all traffic deaths. There are 500,000 licensed drivers in North Carolina with either a motorcycle learner’s permit or endorsement.

Promoting motorcycle safety is essential—especially as motorcycle accidents often lead to serious injuries and fatalities. Just lat month, a Guilford County school bus driver was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. She accidentally struck a motorcyclist when she failed to stop before driving through an intersection.

In North Carolina and South Carolina, our motorcycle accident law firm has helped many motorcycle victims and their families recover personal injury compensation.

Many motorcycle accidents occur because motorists fail to see the motorcycles on the roads with them. Driver inattention, inexperience, and drunk driving are also common causes of motorcycle crashes.

As your personal injury representation, our North Carolina motorcycle accident law firm can deal with all aspects of your personal injury case for you.

School Bus Driver Charged In Motorcycle Crash Death, WXII12.com, April 22, 2008

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, AAMVA.org, March 31, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Gov. Easley Proclaims April 21-25 Motorcycle Safety Awareness Week, WNCT.com, April 21, 2008

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Continue reading "Return of North Carolina Motorcyclists In Spring Followed By Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month" »

A report released by AAA Carolina ranks the most dangerous places to drive in North Carolina. Haywood County was named the place where there is the “Best chance of being in a collision” under the category “Top 5 Dangerous Counties for Tractor-Trailers.”

Haywood’s Interstate 40, which is winding and narrowly built, is one of the reasons for the high motor vehicle crash rate. The I-40 once was once known for having the highest rate of tractor-trailer crashes in the United States.

The large amount of traffic—in particular, tractor-trailers—that pass through the area is another reason that so many accidents occur. The cold weather can cause the roads and tunnels to become icy.

Swain County and Graham County ranked at the top of the “5 Dangerous Counties for Motorcycles” under the categories “Best Chance for Being Injured” and Best Chance of Being in a Collision.”

Graham County was also named the leading North Carolina County where one has the “Best Chance of Being Killed.” A major reason for this high ranking is the 318 curves on its 11-mile stretch of U.S. 129. The fact that the number of people buying and riding motorcycles is increasing is also playing a role.

Also ranking on the AAA Carolinas list is Gaston County, which ranked number 27 out of the 30 most dangerous counties in North Carolinas for auto crashes. On a positive note, it ranked 91 out of 100 counties where deadly accidents will most likely take place.

Mecklenburg County ranked number six under the most dangerous counties list. Also listed among the counties where motor vehicle collisions were most likely to occur were Lincoln County at number 25 and Cleveland County at number 33.

The number one county where auto wrecks were most likely to happen, for the fifth year in a row, is New Hanover County.

The North Carolina county where you are least likely to get into a motor vehicle wreck is Currituck County. Chowan County is the area where you are least likely to die in a car crash.

If you were injured in a motor vehicle crash or someone you love was killed in an auto collision that was caused by another negligent party in North Carolina or South Carolina, our motor vehicle accident law firm would like to offer you a free consultation to discuss your personal injury or wrongful death case.

Gaston County ranks in top half for wrecks, but few end in fatalities, GastonGazette.com, February 5, 2008

Mountain roads cited as among the state’s most dangerous, Smoky Mountain News, February 6, 2008

Related Web Resource:

AAA Carolinas

Continue reading "AAA Carolinas Releases Its List of Most Dangerous Places to Drive in North Carolina" »

A motorcyclist from Crouse was injured in North Carolina on Sunday after he was struck by an SUV at the intersection of N.C. 150 and N.C. 27.

North Carolina Highway Patrol say that Richard Mark Whitaker was riding his motorcycle east on NC 150 when a black Chevy pulled in front of him. Whitaker told police that he was going to go around the SUV but his motorbike locked up.

Whitaker sustained a cut to his head and said he was experiencing pain in his knee. The driver of the SUV, Somsack Phongsa, is from Grover, NC.

Police charged Whitaker with driving with his license revoked and having a fictitious tag. Phongsa was charged with failure to yield right-of-way.

This was the second traffic accident involving a motorcycle in Lincoln County over a 48-hour-period. On Friday, a woman was flown to Charlotte and treated at Carolinas Medical Center after she lost control of her motorcycle.

The woman says that a tractor-trailer was in the lane she was riding in on Shoal Road. She says that she tried to avoid the large motor vehicle but lost control of her motorcycle. She was flung from her motorcycle. An investigation in this case is ongoing.

In 2004, 134 of the 1,557 traffic deaths in North Carolina involved a motorcycle collision.

The “Hurt” Report” provides a number of statistics and information regarding motorcycle accidents, including the following:

• One of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents involving other motor vehicles is the other drivers’ failure to notice there is a motorcycle nearby.

• Motorcycle crashes involving other vehicles will frequently occur at intersections—usually because a car, truck, or bus has disregarded the motorcycle’s right of way.

• Motorcycle riders between the ages of 16 and 24 are significantly overrepresented in accidents; motorcycle riders between the ages of 30 and 50 are significantly underrepresented.

• 2% of motorcycle accidents are the result of road defects.

• Under 3% of motorcycle crashes are caused because of mechanical failure.

• About 75% of motorcycle crashes involve another motor vehicle.

If you have are the injury victim of a motorcycle crash caused by the negligent actions of another party, you should speak to a personal injury lawyer immediately. Injuries from motorcycle accidents are frequently severe, and a personal injury attorney can work with you to obtain financial recovery from the responsible party.

Crouse Man Injured in Motorcycle Wreck, Lincoln Tribune, September 9, 2007

The Hurt Report

Related Web Resources:

North Carolina Motorcycle Roads

North Carolina State Motorcycle Laws, American Motorcyclist Association

Continue reading "North Carolina Motorcyclist is Injured in Collision with SUV at N.C. 150 and N.C. 27 Intersection" »

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol says that the number of motorcycle fatalities is growing. This year, the Highway Patrol has so far reported 47 motorcycle deaths, compared to 93 fatalities for all of 2006.

This rise in motorcycle collisions is reflected nationally. In 2003, 3,661 riders were killed while riding motorcycles in the U.S., while more than 67,000 sustained injuries. Police reported more than 79,000 traffic collisions involving motorcycles.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol cites better gas mileage as one of the reasons that motorcycles are growing in popularity. The increase in the use of motorcycles is one of the reasons that more accidents, injuries, and deaths are occurring.

Despite the laws and safety measures that exist to keep motorcyclists safe on our roads, riding a motorcycle can be a very dangerous experience. Motorcycle riders do not have anything to protect them from becoming seriously injured when they are involved in a traffic collision with a truck, car, or another motorcycle.

North Carolina is one of the U.S. states with a mandatory helmet law. Also under state law, motorcycle drivers are required to have a passenger seat and footrest on their motorcycle if they are carrying a passenger with them.

Injuries from a motorcycle accident can include broken bones, severed limbs, severe burns, cuts, scrapes, bruises, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, road burns, disfigurement, and wrongful death.

Motorcycle Fatalities Up Across State, News14.com, July 1, 2007

Motorcycle Rider Safety Data, Bureau of Transportation Statistics

North Carolina State Laws, AMA Database of Motorcycle Laws

Related Web Resources:

Motorcycle Safety, NCDOT.org

State of North Carolina Mandatory Helmet Law

Continue reading "North Carolina Motorcycle Accidents and Deaths on the Rise" »