Kirk Bernard

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), studies show that the head, arms and legs are the most frequently injured body parts during a motorcycle accident. Protective clothing and equipment serve a three-fold purpose for motorcyclists. First, they offer comfort and protection from the elements. Secondly, they offer injury protection. And thirdly, the use of colorful or reflective material makes the motorcyclist more visible to other motorists on the roadway. Here is a short list provided by experienced WA injury attorney Kirk Bernard regarding some of the gear and equipment you may be well-advised to use if you are a motorcycle rider:

1. Helmet: This is the most important piece of equipment you need. In Washington State, if you are riding a motorcycle, it is mandatory to wear a Department of Transportation approved helmet. When you choose a helmet, look for the DOT label on the helmet. There are several novelty helmets in the market. Stay away from them. They offer no protection in the event of a crash.
2. Eye protection: Most motorcycles do not have windshields. So it is important that riders protect their eyes against insects, dirt or other airborne matter. Choose good quality goggles, glasses with plastic or safety lenses or a helmet with a face shield. Whatever you use for eye protection must be scratch free, shatter-proof and well-ventilated to prevent fogging up.
3. Clothing: What you wear should provide some degree of protection from abrasion and road rash in the event you fall off the motorcycle. Clothing should be made with durable material such as synthetic material or leather. Jackets should have long sleeves. Trousers should be full-length. Avoid baggy or flared pants to prevent entanglement with the chain, kick starter, foot pegs or other motorcycle parts.
4. Gloves: It is recommended that you wear gloves that are durable and non-slip. Leather gloves are perfectly suited.
5. Footwear: You need footwear that protects your feet, ankles and lower parts of the legs. Leather boots are ideal. Sandals or sneakers should not be used since they offer no protection from abrasion or a crushing impact.
6. Colorful or reflective clothing: It is always good to be seen on the roadway. Some riders use reflective orange or yellow vests to cover their jackets. Reflective material may also be used on clothing, the helmet and the motorcycle. Remember, that a majority of motorcycle crashes occur because the driver of the other vehicle failed to see the motorcyclist in time to avoid the collision.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington motorcycle accident, please contact the experienced Washington motorcycle accident lawyers at The Bernard Group for a FREE consultation and evaluation of your motorcycle accident case. Call us at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for our FREE brochure, which has useful educational information about Washington motorcycle accident cases to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

You cannot be careful enough when you are riding a motorcycle. As a skilled personal injury attorney, Kirk Bernard knows that Washington motorcycle accidents can result in extremely serious injuries. When a motorcycle collides with another vehicle, it is usually the motorcycle rider who sustains severe injury. Here are the top five tips about what to watch out for and avoid when you are riding your motorcycle:

1. Watch drivers’ heads and mirrors: This really helps anticipate when drivers will make sudden moves. Most drivers will move their heads one way or the other before making a sudden movement to the left or right – something that can be lethal to a motorcyclist.
2. Make sure you are seen: Be positive that drivers and pedestrians can see you even from a distance. It would be a good idea to ride with your high beam on during the day and wear brightly colored gear so you are noticeable on the road.
3. Be aware of your environment: Always scan your environment while riding. That allows you to anticipate and react to the unexpected.
4. Be extra careful when making left turns: Statistics show that a lot of motorcycle accidents occur when the other vehicle is making a left turn. So, when you approach an oncoming car about to turn left, be prepared. Turn your high beam on. Keep your eye on the driver’s hands on the steering wheel. If you see movement, be ready to brake, swerve or accelerate. Do what seems best, given your situation.
5. Be wary of treacherous roadways: Be on the lookout for debris spilled on the roadway, which has the potential to cause fatal motorcycle accidents.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact the experienced Washington motorcycle accident lawyers at The Bernard Group for a FREE consultation and evaluation of your motorcycle accident case. Call us at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for our FREE informational brochure, which has useful educational information about Washington motorcycle accident cases to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/howto/122_0504_motorcycle_riding_tips/index.html

When it comes to motorcycle accidents, there is no question that helmets save lives. In Washington State, wearing a helmet for motorcycle riders isn’t an option or a choice. Here, it’s the law. The law also requires riders to wear a helmet that has been certified by the manufacturer as meeting the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) safety standards. A helmet meeting these standards set by DOT will have a sticker on the back and inside labeling indicating the name, helmet model, size and other manufacturing information. In addition, a certified helmet has an inner foam lining usually about an inch thick. These certified helmets do not flex as easily as novelty helmets which are made with plastic and offer very little protection in the event of a crash.

It’s important to note that legal helmets are designed to save lives and prevent catastrophic or fatal head injuries which are extremely common in motorcycle accidents. The other helmets are sold only as novelty items and are never intended to be used on the road. During a motorcycle collision, these novelty helmets provide zero protection to the rider. Unfortunately, not many motorcycle riders in Washington State know the difference between DOT-approved helmets and novelty helmets.

If you ride a motorcycle in Washington State, it will be worth your time to research these important facts about your helmet. It could save your life one day. For more information about how to identify these bogus or novelty helmets, please visit the Washington Safety Patrol’s Web site (http://www.wsp.wa.gov/traveler/docs/equipmt/helmet.pdf).

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury lawyers with The Bernard Law Firm for a free and comprehensive consultation. Call us at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for our FREE informational brochure, which has useful educational information about Washington motorcycle accident cases to help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

A 42-year-old man was critically injured in a Washington motorcycle accident. According to a news report, the man was going north on 132nd Avenue Southeast, on a 1998 Honda motorcycle, when he was struck from behind by a 1995 Mercedes 280 driven by a 30-year-old man. The driver, a Renton man, was uninjured. The motorcycle rider was wearing a helmet, but sustained critical injuries in the crash. He was transported to a Seattle hospital. Investigators believe excessive speed was a factor in this major injury motorcycle crash.

Rear-end collisions, especially when the affected vehicle is a motorcycle, can cause devastating injuries. In this particular case, officials believe that the driver of the other vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed, which apparently caused him to rear-end the motorcyclist. In auto accidents where speeding, reckless driving or other types of negligence are involved, the at-fault party can be held financially responsible for the injuries and damages caused.

If someone in your family has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, my advice would be to contact a Seattle personal injury lawyer right away. Do not delay contacting an injury attorney because critical accident scene evidence could be lost. Physical evidence obtained at the scene can make or break a Washington motorcycle accident case.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident as a result of a distracted driver, please contact the experienced Seattle motorcycle accident lawyers with The Bernard Law Firm for a free and comprehensive consultation. Call us at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for our FREE informational brochure, which has useful educational information about Washington motorcycle accident cases, which will help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ken/news/48535637.html

A 20-year-old man sustained fatal injuries in a Washington motorcycle accident, after his motorcycle collided with a car on a street in unincorporated Kent. The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the car was not injured in this fatal motorcycle accident. The King County Sheriff’s department is investigating exactly how and why this accident occurred.

According to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), the number of motorcycle accidents has been consistently increasing over the years. There were reportedly 2,428 motorcycle accidents in Washington State in 2005. That number increased to 2,620 in 2007. There were 68 fatalities and 460 serious injuries involving motorcycle accidents in 2007.

In any motorcycle accident that involves another vehicle, it is critical to look into how or why the accident occurred. Did the other vehicle fail to yield right-of-way to the motorcyclist? Did the driver turn in front of the motorcyclist? Did the driver of the other vehicle suddenly leave a driveway or a parking lot without looking for oncoming traffic? If there was negligence on the part of another driver that led to the motorcycle accident, then the victim or his or her family could seek compensation for injuries, damages and loss.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident as a result of a distracted driver, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury lawyers with The Bernard Law Firm for a free and comprehensive consultation. Call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail info@bernardlawgroup.com for our FREE informational brochure, which has useful educational information about Washington motorcycle accident cases, which will help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ken/news/26913764.html

A number of Washington motorcycle accidents occur as a result of drivers turning left in front of the motorcyclist. This typically happens because the driver is not paying attention to the traffic situation. He or she is not consciously looking for motorcyclists coming from the other direction. Drivers of bigger vehicles often tend to forget that they share the road with bicycles, motorcycles and pedestrians.

A recent news report details an accident, which occurred exactly the same way. A motorcyclist was traveling south on a roadway, when a car in the turn lane facing north tried to make a left turn and struck the motorcyclist. The motorcyclist, who was unfortunately not wearing a helmet or other protective gear was critically injured. He sustained a fractured skull and shattered ankle, but is expected to survive. The 83-year-old driver told officials that she never saw the motorcycle as she began turning. The motorcyclist was traveling at 35 mph, well within the speed limit. The driver was given a citation for failure to yield when making a left turn.

There are a couple of important lessons for all of us, to be learned here. First of all, when you make a left turn, Washington State Law requires drivers to yield right-of-way to oncoming traffic. Secondly, if you are riding a motorcycle, please make sure that you are wearing a full-faced helmet and protective gear. A full-faced helmet is the only kind of helmet that can prevent fatal head injuries, catastrophic brain injuries or severe facial injuries, which can all occur in a motorcycle accident.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Washington motorcycle accident, please contact the Seattle personal injury lawyers with The Bernard Law Group for a free and comprehensive consultation. Call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com for our FREE informational brochure with useful, educational information about Washington motorcycle accident cases, which will help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his experienced legal team today.

Source:http://www.eacourier.com/articles/2009/12/09/news/doc4b1f075ae9aba834542342.txt

Seattle personal injury attorneys are extremely concerned about texting drivers who can cause devastating motorcycle accidents due to their negligence. Texting, or using a handheld cell phone while driving is against Washington law. Texting and driving can cause catastrophic injuries to motorists. Motorcyclists are at greater risk because their injuries are often much more serious when they are struck by the distracted driver of a larger vehicle. Many states, including Washington, are now beginning to vigorously prosecute motorists who are driving while texting or otherwise distracted. A 22-year-old man was sentenced to 90 days in jail after he pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and failure to stop and render aid in connection with a fatal motorcycle accident.

The man apparently rear-ended a motorcyclist while trying to read a text message he got on his cell phone while driving. The motorist struck the Harley Davidson pushing the motorcycle into oncoming traffic. The motorcyclist was fatally injured and the other driver did not stop and fled the scene of the crash. Of course, the driver who initially rear-ended the motorcycle rider got a three-month jail sentence, but the family who lost a beloved member will be thinking about how one man’s momentary distraction took their loved one away forever.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident as a result of a distracted driver, please contact the experienced Seattle motorcycle accident lawyers with The Bernard Law Firm for a free and comprehensive consultation. Call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com for our FREE informational brochure, which has useful, educational information about Washington motorcycle accident cases, and will help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his dedicated legal team today.

Source:http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2009/12/05/conroe_courier/news/txtdeath1206.txt

Deer versus motorcycle collisions have caused some serious injuries in Washington State. In fact, a recent King5 news report states that deer versus vehicle collisions have increased 15 percent just in the last five years. According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, there are about 1.5 million deer versus vehicle collisions every year in the United States. These types of collisions cause more than 150 deaths each year and occur most frequently during the months of October, November and December. State Farm Insurance estimates that the chances of a vehicle – be it a car or a motorcycle – colliding with a deer is 1 in 516. This estimate is based on their deer claims data from the last half of 2007 and the first half of 2008.

Deer can cause significant damage to a car, truck or SUV. But if you are a motorcyclist who strikes a deer, then you are looking at serious personal injuries or death. Here are some important tips motorcyclists and motorists should bear in mind as they pass active deer crossing areas. Always be aware of deer crossing signs that are usually placed in active deer areas. Remember that deer are most active between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. When you ride your motorcycle at night, use the high beam of the headlamp to illuminate the road ahead. Deer generally tend to travel in herds, so if you see one, it is very possible that there are more deer close by.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident as a result of negligence on the part of another individual, please contact the experienced Seattle personal injury lawyers at The Bernard Group for a FREE consultation and evaluation of your motorcycle accident case. Call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com for our FREE informational brochure, which has useful educational information about Washington motorcycle accident cases, which will help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

Source:http://www.nwcn.com/archive/61499512.html

A Seattle police officer was injured in a motorcycle accident after a driver turned in front of him. According to a KOMO News report, the officer was getting off the southbound Interstate 5 Express Lane at Eastlake Avenue East and Stewart Street in downtown Seattle when the collision occurred. The officer reportedly had the green light. Officials said the driver of the other vehicle made a left turn in front of the officer’s motorcycle. The officer got thrown off his motorcycle and was injured. He was transported shortly after the crash to a local hospital. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. The driver has not been cited or arrested pending an ongoing investigation.

Very often, motorcycle accidents occur because motorists do not pay attention to the road while making a left turn. In this case, if both the motorist and the police officer had the green light, then the motorist should have yielded right-of-way to the oncoming officer before making a left.

Washington State Law requires motorists turning left to yield right-of-way to oncoming vehicles. The Revised Code of Washington Section 46.61.185 states: “The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard.”

In any motorcycle accident case, it is very important that victims retain the services of an experienced and knowledgeable Seattle personal injury lawyer immediately so that they have someone on their side investigating the case and gathering valuable evidence right away. If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, please contact The Bernard Law Group today. Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team will send you a free informational brochure about motorcycle accidents and schedule a free consultation so we can begin working on your case at once. Call us for a free evaluation of your Seattle motorcycle accident case.

Source:http://www.komonews.com/news/local/78435767.html

A motorist in Yakima, Washington, is facing a negligent driving charge after she apparently caused a motorcycle accident that injured a man on the Interstate 82. The Yakima-Herald reports that the 18-year-old driver and the 45-year-old motorcyclist were traveling westbound when the teen driver went onto the right shoulder and then returned to the roadway, hitting the motorcycle. Washington State Patrol investigators said the crash occurred because of the young driver’s inattention. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet and the driver was wearing a seatbelt. Alcohol and drugs did not play a part in this injury motorcycle accident, officials said.

It’s not clear what caused the young driver to go off the roadway and then come back and strike the motorcyclist. However, in such cases, if inattention or distraction is found to have played a part, the driver will likely face negligent driving charges. The at-fault motorists, in such cases, can also be held civilly liable for the injuries and damages caused to the victim. In these types of injury accidents, victims may seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, physical therapy, rehabilitation and other related costs.

Victims would benefit from scheduling a consultation with a skilled motorcycle accident lawyer right away. The experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys at The Bernard Law Group have represented injured victims of all types of vehicular accidents successfully, for over 20 years. We have the resources and a team of talented, knowledgeable personal injury lawyers who can make a positive difference in your case. Call Kirk Bernard today for a free consultation and case evaluation. We will also send you a free brochure with comprehensive information to help answer some of the questions you may have on motorcycle accidents.

Source:http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2009/11/06/motorcycle-driver-injured-in-i-82-accident-in-richland