Wrongful Death

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/

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

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

A 77-year-old man was killed in a Washington motorcycle accident recently, after his vehicle crossed the centerline on Highway 14 in Skamania County and crashed into an oncoming car. According to a news report in the Columbian, the man was eastbound on the highway, riding a 2004 Harley-Davidson, when he crossed the double-yellow centerline on a curve. The motorcyclist then slammed into a 2006 Honda Accord heading west. The 57-year-old who was driving that car was uninjured, the news report said.

There are many reasons why motorcycle accidents occur. Some involve alcohol or drug use on the part of the motorcyclist or the other driver. Some motorcyclists get on the road before adequate training. However, very often, motorcycle accidents are also caused as a result of negligent driving on the part of other motorists on the road as well as dangerous roadway conditions including potholes, uneven pavement or poor visibility, to mention a few. In some cases an auto product defect or mechanical malfunctions in the motorcycle may also cause a rider to lose control of the vehicle and crash.

In any motorcycle accident case, it is important to approach it from all angles in order to determine how or why the crash occurred. Liability in such accidents will heavily depend upon what caused the accident. If a vehicle defect caused the accident, the manufacturer of the motorcycle could be held liable. If a dangerous or defective roadway caused the crash, the agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could be held liable. And finally, if a negligent driver caused the accident, then that driver could be held responsible for causing the accident and injuries.

Injured motorcycle accident victims or their families would be well-advised to consult with the experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys of The Bernard Law Group. Kirk Bernard and his legal team have successfully handled such cases and won millions in compensation over the years, for their injured clients. Call us today for a free consultation and comprehensive evaluation of your motorcycle accident claim.

Source:http://columbian.com/article/20091103/NEWS02/711049956/-1/NEWS

A 32-year-old man was killed in a Seattle motorcycle accident after colliding with a car in South Seattle. According to a news report in the Seattle Times, the motorcyclist was traveling east on South Myrtle Street when he hit the back of a car. He was thrown off his motorcycle and then struck by another vehicle. The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.

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 2005. That number rose to 2,620 in 2007. There were 68 fatalities and 460 serious injuries involving motorcycle accidents in 2007.

Where a motorcycle is involved with another vehicle, it is very important to look into how or why the accident occurred. Whose fault was the accident? Did the driver in front of the motorcyclist slow down suddenly or without warning? Did the other driver turn in front of the motorcyclist or fail to yield right-of-way at an intersection? If there was negligence on the part of another driver which 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 injured in a Washington motorcycle accident and believe that the accident occurred as a result of someone else’s negligence, please contact Kirk Bernard at the The Bernard Law Group for a free and comprehensive consultation. One of our experienced Seattle personal injury attorneys will make sure that a thorough accident investigation is conducted and that the negligent parties are held liable for their actions.

Source:http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010139399_webfatal26m.html?syndication=rss