Archive for the ‘ Motorcycle Accident ’ Category

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21
Feb

Virginia’s Mandatory Motorcycle Helmet Law Remains in Place

Feb. 21, 2013

Virginia’s current motorcycle helmet laws were recently up for debate. According to an article from The News & Advance, a bill proposing changes to the current law was shot down during a recent legislative session.

Virginia state law requires motorcyclists to wear helmets at all times. Many feel this infringes on the right to choose whether to wear a helmet or not. This led to the introduction of the Freedom of Choice Helmet Law from Delegate Ben Cline, which aimed to repeal current state laws governing helmet use.

Supporters of the proposed legislation cited statistics that showed the number of motorcycle accidents in states without helmet laws were very similar to those with strict helmet regulations. Those in favor of mandatory helmet use were quick to point out numbers that showed helmet use dramatically decreases the chances of serious injuries and increases survival rates by as much as 50 percent in the event of a serious accident. They also provided data showing the increasing number of Virginia Motorcycle Accidents during recent years.

Lawmakers felt the laws in place now were essential to highway safety and turned down the bill in a 3-2 vote.

The Roanoke Personal Injury Lawyers at Skolrood Law Firm recognize the importance of always wearing a helmet when riding a motorcycle and encourage riders to always wear this vital piece of equipment regardless of the law.

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31
Jan

Motorcyclists Face Growing Problem of Accidents around Roanoke

Jan. 31, 2013

Roanoke has experienced an increase in the number of motorcycle accidents over the past year. A story from WSLS 10 News explained what officials believe is causing the increase, and what a group of local motorcyclists are doing to combat the problem.

Data collected by the city shows there were 20 motorcycle accidents in the city during 2011, resulting in a single death. The Roanoke Motorcycle Accident count then spiked by 60 percent in 2012 with 32 collisions resulting in two deaths. City officials believe the increased number of accidents can be attributed to a larger volume of motorcycles on the road due to rising fuel costs for larger vehicles.

To help eliminate the problem, a group of Roanoke businesses and motorcycle enthusiast organizations are promoting a campaign called “Look Twice, Save a Life”. The campaign features a moving billboard that will travel around the area educating the public on the importance of always looking twice in both directions before attempting to enter traffic.

So far, the program seems to be a success, considering other groups from across the nation are contacting organizers of the campaign for information to spread the safety message in their own cities.

The Roanoke Personal Injury Lawyers at Skolrood Law Firm hope the campaign will be successful in reducing the number of motorcycle accidents that occur in the region.

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17
Jan

Roanoke County Adopts New Helmet Law for Moped Riders

Jan. 16, 2013

Roanoke County is seeing increasing numbers of mopeds, which experts believe may be linked to the increasing costs of owning larger vehicles. As a result, officials are working to improve safety measures for moped riders. According to an article from WSLS 10 News, the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors implemented a law requiring moped riders to wear a helmet and also use other pieces of safety equipment.

The measure mandates moped drivers and passengers to wear face protection as well. This can be accomplished through wearing a face shield on a helmet, wearing safety goggles, or having the vehicle equipped with a windshield.

The policy aims to reduce the number of head and Roanoke Brain Injuries that are often associated with accidents involving mopeds.

Roanoke County law enforcement is currently working to educate the public about the new law before beginning enforcement at the end of the month. They say anyone who is caught in violation of the ordinance can face a traffic citation and a fine of up to $50.

The Roanoke Personal Injury Lawyers with Skolrood Law Firm are hopeful the new regulations will be successful in working to protect moped riders and other motorists from serious harm in the event of a traffic accident.

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8
Nov

Motorcycle Accident Claims Troutville Man’s Life

Nov. 8, 2012

A 58-year-old man from Troutville, Virginia, was recently killed in a motorcycle accident caused by another vehicle. An article from WSLS10 News said that the crash happened on Oct. 23 at around 5:20 p.m., at the intersection of Route 11 and Route 604, just outside Roanoke.

Troopers with the Virginia State Police say the victim was riding a Honda Gold Wing motorcycle southbound along Route 11 when an eastbound Ford Focus driven by a 50-year-old Troutville man, attempted to turn left. The biker did not have time to avoid the car and the two collided.

Despite wearing a helmet at the time of the Roanoke Motorcycle Accident, the biker died a short time after his arrival at a local hospital. The driver of the Focus was uninjured in the crash and was later charged with one count of reckless driving.

With daylight beginning to diminish sooner, it is more important than ever before that all motorists be aware of their surroundings at all times. The Roanoke Personal Injury Lawyers with Skolrood Law Firm suggest that motorcyclists make themselves more visible by wearing light-colored or reflective clothing and motorists should remember to always look twice in both directions before entering into an intersection—it doesn’t hurt to roll down the window to listen for oncoming traffic at blind or difficult to read intersections as well.

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20
Jan

Texting And Driving Could Become A Primary Offense In Virginia

January 19, 2012

Texting while driving may be illegal in the state of Virginia, but in order to be pulled over for the offense, a driver has to be doing something else wrong. This may change soon though according to reports from WSLS 10 News that say a new bill recently passed through the Senate would make texting and driving a primary offense, allowing officers to pull over drivers if they are caught in the act on their phones.

Senate Bill 219 was examined on Wednesday by the Senate Transportation Committee and approved by a vote of eight to five with one voter abstaining. Also approved was legislation that would make using a cellphone a primary offense for teen drivers with provisional licenses.

Sen. George L. Barker spoke to the committee in favor of the laws pointing out that drivers who text are more than 23 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than those who don’t. He added that making cellphone use a primary offense would “encourage greater compliance” from drivers.

The legislation will now go before the full Senate for a vote during the next session.

The Virginia Car Accident Lawyers with the Skolrood Law Firm know that statistically using a cell phone will driving is more dangerous than driving drunk. That is why they ask for drivers to put their phones down while behind the wheel.

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11
Aug

Motorcycle, SUV Collide in Roanoke, Killing 1

August 11, 2011

A 19-year-old motorcyclist lost his life Monday, August 8, when his motorcycle collided head-on with an SUV in Roanoke, Virginia, around 7 p.m.

The accident occurred as the victim and a friend were riding their motorcycles on Hollins Road, which they’d turned onto after riding on Williamson Road and Plantation Road.

The victim’s friend reports that they were traveling at 25 miles over the speed limit and that his friend lost control of his 2003 Honda CBR600RR sport motorcycle and hit an oncoming SUV head-on. The motorcyclist went beneath the vehicle, while his motorcycle skidded across the pavement.

“[The victim’s] bike went right in front of me,” said the friend in an interview with Roanoke.com. “He was just so close. It was so quick.”

The victim, a graduate of William Fleming High School, was wearing a helmet during the crash. Though his friend tried to remove him from beneath the SUV, he died at the scene.

The street was closed for more than three hours as police reconstructed the accident.

Read more.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Virginia auto accident, the Virginia auto accident lawyers at Skolrood Law Firm can help.

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4
May

Rider dies from injuries in Virginia motorcycle accident

May 5, 2011

A man involved in a Virginia motorcycle accident was wearing his helmet, but died of his injuries at a local hospital, according to wvec.com.

The man was driving a sporty Honda motorcycle when he took a turn too fast around a curve before the Virginia motorcycle accident. The bike fell on its left side, then rolled to the right in the Virginia motorcycle accident.

Read more.

What are some common mistakes motorcycle riders make? Do you think motorcycle riders are more prone to speed?

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Virginia motorcycle accident, the Virginia motorcycle accident lawyers at Skolrood Law Firm can help.

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3
Feb

Thee die in unrelated Virginia auto accidents in 1 weekend

February 3, 2011

The lives of three people were claimed in separate Virginia auto accidents within the same weekend, TriCities.com reports.

One man died in a Virginia auto accident when he turned into the crossover on Interstate 81.

A woman died when the car she was driving ran off the side of state Route 709 in a separate Virginia auto accident.

Another woman was killed in a Virginia motorcycle accident when her motorcycle skidded in loose gravel and ran off a bridge.

Read more.

What safety tips do you have for other drivers to avoid Virginia auto accidents and Virginia motorcycle accidents? Do you think speed plays a role in most Virginia auto accidents and Virginia motorcycle accidents?

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Virginia auto accident or Virginia motorcycle accident, the Virginia auto accident lawyers and Virginia motorcycle accident lawyers at Skolrood Law Firm can help.

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