seattle personal injury lawyers

A man and a woman sustained serious injuries in a Washington motorcycle accident after they were struck by a vehicle on the Highway 20. According to a news report in the Whidbey News Times Reporter, the man and woman were riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle when the collision occurred. Both were airlifted to a Seattle hospital.

This news report provides very few details about this motorcycle accident. However, the article states that the accident was a collision – it involved another vehicle. So there are several questions here. Who was at fault for this accident? How did the collision occur? Was the driver of the other vehicle distracted, inattentive, driving under the influence or negligent in any other way? In any motorcycle accident, it is critical to determine the exact cause of the accident, which would then lead us to who was at fault.

Just like any vehicular accident, it is critical that accident reconstruction experts get to the scene of the accident right away to gather any available physical evidence. These important bits and pieces of evidence disappear within a few hours. So it is crucial that you get an experienced Seattle personal injury lawyer on your side right away. A knowledgeable and resourceful motorcycle accident law firm will send their own experts to the scene as soon as possible so that vital evidence is not lost. It is also important to preserve the vehicle involved in the accident so it can be thoroughly examined by an expert for evidence of defects, malfunctions or other issues.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident as a result of negligence on the part another individual, 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.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/wnt/news/81148292.html

Motorcycles are just tougher to spot than cars because of their smaller profiles. As drivers of cars, trucks, vans or SUVs, we are more conditioned to look out for other cars, not motorcyclists. As a Seattle personal injury attorney, I have directly seen how important it is that we as drivers always be aware of our surroundings. It’s important to remember that you could become involved in a motorcycle accident when you make a left turn in front of a rider or when a motorcyclist is in your blind spot. Sometimes, you could also have an obstructed line of sight. Large vehicles such as big rigs or vans may block motorcyclists from your view.

Here are some tips, which will hopefully help you avoid motorcycle accidents:

1. Be more aware of motorcycles and motorcyclists.
2. Remember that motorcyclists have the same rights and privileges as other drivers. Be aware especially at intersections and on highways.
3. Be ready to anticipate a motorcyclist’s maneuvers. A piece of road debris that poses no threat to a car may be deadly for a motorcyclist. Anticipate evasive moves that a motorcyclist might make.
4. Do not follow motorcycles too closely.
5. When you are at an intersection, watch for motorcyclists in addition to other larger vehicles.

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. Contact us at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for our FREE brochure, which has useful and educational information about Washington motorcycle accident cases to help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.

A news report in King5 states that there may have been injuries in a Seattle motorcycle accident on the Interstate 5, which also involved a car. According to the report, the accident happened between Mercer Street and the State Route 520 interchange. The cause of the crash is still unknown as is the extent of the injuries.

In any accident involving a car and a motorcycle, it is very likely that a motorcyclist would suffer more serious injuries because motorcycle riders do not have the same level of protection as drivers of other larger vehicles. Motorcyclists are basically exposed to the elements and risk being thrown off their motorcycle. That is why it is extremely important for motorcyclists to be well-protected. If you ride a motorcycle in Seattle or Washington State, the law requires that you wear a helmet. You should be wearing a full-faced helmet to protect yourself from severe, potentially fatal, head injuries.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident as a result of a product defect, dangerous roadway condition or a negligent driver, please contact a skilled Seattle personal injury lawyer 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 understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his experienced legal team today.

Source:http://www.king5.com/news/Accident-blocks-I-5-traffic-in-Seattle-80362922.html

Seattle personal injury attorneys have always encouraged motorcycle riders to protect themselves as much as they possibly can. A full-faced helmet certainly helps shield motorcycle riders from traumatic brain injuries and other head injuries that can potentially turn fatal. A good pair of leather boots and other leather gear can protect you from foot injuries and road rash, which can be extremely painful.

I recently came across a news report in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune about The Defender Motorcycle Jean, which has Kevlar (the material used to make bulletproof vests) sewn in. The article talks about a female rider who fell off her motorcycle, hit the pavement and skidded across two lanes of traffic, but still got away with some bruises and a light scuff on her knee because of her special pair of jeans. She says: “You could mess up yourself royally if you’re not wearing the right gear.” That is 100 percent accurate when it comes to motorcycle accidents.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 7.1 million motorcycles on the nation’s roads in 2007. With more people owning motorcycles in Washington State and elsewhere in the nation, we are also seeing an increase in the number of motorcycle accidents every year. It is not only important that motorcyclists wear protective gear, but they also need to undergo training to safely operate motorcycles. We have often observed that motorcyclists who have undergone training, ride carefully, follow all traffic rules and wear protective gear are looked at much more favorably by jurors in a personal injury case.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, 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 brochure, which has useful and 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.sgvtribune.com/living/ci_14060656

Motorcycle riding has become extremely popular in the United States. According to a report released by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) this month, dealerships sold a million more two-wheelers in 2008 compared to the previous year. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that there were 7.1 million motorcycles on the road in 2007. However, in the United States, the number of motorcycle accident fatalities has also been increasing at a consistent rate. In 2008, motorcycle accident deaths were at an all-time high – 5,290 – in the United States.

Motorcycles are inherently more dangerous than other passenger vehicles, which have an enclosure for its drivers and occupants. Motorcycles are also less visible to other drivers and pedestrians and far less stable or crashworthy than other vehicles. Also, operating a motorcycle requires a different set of physical and mental skills than those used in driving four-wheel vehicles. Motorcyclists and their passengers are more vulnerable to road conditions and weather conditions than other drivers in closed vehicles. According to 2007 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, motorcyclists are 37 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled and nine times more likely to be injured. In 2008, motorcyclists accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities, 17 percent of all occupant fatalities, and 4 percent of all occupants injured.

Motorcycle accidents may sometimes be caused by alcohol or drug use, speeding or the rider’s lack of training. But very often, these accidents occur because drivers of other vehicles are not paying attention to motorcyclists on the roadway. Many times, motorists forget that they share the roadway with motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians. And invariably, when a motorcycle collides with another passenger vehicle, it is the people on the motorcycle who sustain serious or fatal injuries.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident as a result of a distracted driver, please contact the skilled 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 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.iii.org/media/hottopics/insurance/motorcycle/

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