While motorcycles can be thrilling to ride, accidents happen quite frequently and the injuries sustained by bikers and passengers are often severe. Michigan motorcycle lawyers at Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. represent motorcyclists injured in motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, bus accidents, and even hit and run accidents. We are dedicated to protecting your interests and handling your case with personal attention, professionalism, and compassion. Our motorcycle accident Michigan attorneys have successfully represented injury and accident victims for over forty years.

Motorcycle crashes rose by 15 percent in Metro Detroit in 2012 according to the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG). It is unclear if the Michigan’s 2012 helmet law change of lifting the helmet requirement is a direct result of the increase in accidents, injuries and fatalities. Research has shown that wearing a helmet reduces the risk of head injury by 50 percent.

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May has been designated as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Motorcycle Safety Awareness month is a campaign proclaimed by many local and county governments throughout the United States that calls attention to the dangers and vulnerabilities motorcyclists face on the roads and highways.

The personal injury law firm of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. represent victims injured in a Michigan motorcycle accident, and are immense advocates of this month as they see the results of catastrophic motorcycle accidents and the effect the injuries have on motorcyclist victims and their family throughout the entire spring and summer season.

Throughout the month of May, the National Safety Council (NSC) encourages drivers to share the road with motorcycles and be extra alert when they are nearby. The NSC has good means behind this awareness campaign, as statistics do prove that most motorcycle crash injuries are caused by the negligence of another driver.  In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 75% of all motorcycle accidents happen when a vehicle fails to see the motorcycle before the collision. Other common causes for motorcycle collisions include trucks or cars forcing bikers into a guard rail and speeding on behalf of a driver and/or a motorcyclist.

Often times when a victim is injured in a bike accident, they do not walk away free and clear of injuries. The NHTSA states that crashes involving a bike and a car did result in 98% of people being injured. In addition, crashes involving just the driver of the motorcycle resulted in 96% of people being injured. In 2010 alone, motorcycle accidents attributed to 14% of fatalities.

Part of the awareness campaign, is to offer helpful tips to aide drivers and motorcyclists to stay safe on the roads and share the road.  Some of these helpful tips include:

1. Allow greater following distance when driving behind a motorcycle.
2. Do not share a lane with a biker. Always give a motorcyclist the full lane width.
3. Show extra caution in intersections.
4. Motorcyclists should position their bike to avoid a driver’s blind spot.

Besides helpful tips, resources is also a valid part of the campaign. At the law firm of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C., our attorneys offer a free app as a resource to riders. The free app aids bikers in their travels across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia.

The “Helmet Laws App” is available for immediate download and allows motorcyclist to access important helmet law information quickly and conveniently right from their smartphone, along with many other cool features and valuable resources for bikers such as, GPS Bike Finder, accident checklist to inform a rider what to do after a crash, discounts at some of your favorite bike shops around the country, and a cool helmet gallery where motorcyclist can submit photos.. The App is available for the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Android. To download the free app, just go to iTunes or Google Play Store and search for “Motorcycle Helmet Laws.”  To watch a demo video of how the app works, as well as learn more about the Motorcycle Helmet Laws App and the Law Firm of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C., visit http://bit.ly/MIMotorcycleAccidentLawyers

“We would like to remind people, especially new drivers, to be on the lookout for motorcycles and to share the road with them safely.  It is very easy for a motorcyclist to be hidden in a driver’s blind spot. This is why our biker injury attorneys highly recommend drivers to keep all distractions away while behind the wheel and to be fully aware that it is spring time and motorcycle riders are out on the roads” says Lawrence Buckfire, Owner and Trial Attorney at Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C.

About: Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C.

Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. is a family-owned Michigan personal injury law firm that represents bikers injured in a Michigan accident. This includes motorcycle accidents involving cars, trucks, and motorcycles and all types of injuries resulting, including, but not limited to brain injury and closed head injuries, spinal cord injury, broken bones and fractures, back and neck injuries, shoulder injuries, knee injuries, scarring and disfigurement, road rash requiring significant skin grafts, burn injuries, amputation injuries, and all other types of serious injuries.

To learn more about the motorcycle accident attorneys at Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. call toll-free at (800) 606-1717 or visit the law firm website at http://www.BuckfireLaw.com

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission reports that 104 motorcyclists were killed in Louisiana in the year 2009. Alcohol was a contributing factor in 41 percent of those fatal motorcycle crashes. Riding sober is one of many ways that Louisiana motorcyclists can reduce their chances of being involved in a serious injury accident.

One of the first steps to increase your safety on a motorcycle is to protect yourself with a helmet and proper gear. Under current Louisiana law, motorcycle riders who are 18 years of age or older are not required to wear a helmet provided they have adequate health insurance. That does not, however, mean that riders should not wear one. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), helmets prevent 37 percent of crash deaths among motorcyclists and 41 percent of accident-related fatalities among motorcycle passengers.

Proper attire and a helmet can help reduce the severity of injuries suffered in the event of an accident. The best way to prevent an accident, however, is to ride safely and defensively. When riding in Louisiana it is important that you:

• Obey the speed limit and adjust your speed relative to the roadway and weather conditions.
• Never ride while intoxicated.
• Only ride when alert and awake.
• Limit the number of distractions around you to ensure that your eyes remain on the roadway.
• Never split lanes or ride for too long in a driver’s blind spot.
• Ride defensively. It is not safe to assume that a driver sees you since you are on a much smaller vehicle.
• Never enter an intersection until it is clear that the other motorists are completely stopped.

A number of motorcycle accidents in Louisiana occur due to driver negligence. If the recklessness of another driver has left you seriously injured, it is important that you notify the authorities right away. It is also crucial that you get medical attention immediately. Last but not least, it is important that you seek legal guidance from a skilled Louisiana personal injury attorney, who will help protect your rights and seek fair compensation for the injuries and losses you have sustained.

Southfield, MI (February 11, 2012) – A new free motorcycle helmet App has been developed for bikers riding their motorcycles across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia.   The Helmet Laws App, created by the Michigan personal injury law firm of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C., provides bikers with the helmet laws for every state, country, or province that they might encounter on their road trip. Now available for immediate download, the Motorcycle Helmet Laws App allows motorcyclists to access important helmet law information quickly and conveniently right from their smartphone. The App is available for the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Android.

“The idea for the Motorcycle Helmet Laws App came from the tremendous interest we experienced with the creation of our State by State Motorcycle Helmet Laws Infographic, which visually displayed the helmet law requirements in every state in the United States,” says Partner and Attorney Lawrence Buckfire.  “As a free resource to bikers, we created the App to provide motorcyclists with the helmet law requirements for every geographic part of their trip.”

In addition to noting individual helmet laws, there are many other additional features and valuable resources for bikers available as part of the App, which include:

• Access helmet laws in multiple countries.
• GPS Bike Finder allows users to place a GPS pin for their bike’s location and set a time for when the user needs to return. This feature also allows you to quickly and easily email your current location to your friends.
• Submit images of cool helmets and see your images in the cool helmet gallery.
• Utilize the accident checklist – what to do after a motorcycle accident.
• Take and save photographs of motorcycle damage and accident scene.
• Receive discounts at some of your favorite bike shops around the country.
• Connect with fellow bikers and read recent informational blog entries with the social media feature.
• Access the Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. law firm website motorcycle resource center.
• Contact the best motorcycle accident lawyers to discuss your legal rights and options.

To download the free app, just go to iTunes or Google Play Store and search for “Motorcycle Helmet Laws.”  To watch a demo video of how the app works, as well as learn more about the Motorcycle Helmet Laws App and the Law Firm of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C., visit http://bit.ly/MIMotorcycleAccidentLawyers

About Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C.

The personal injury attorneys at Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. are nationally recognized as top legal experts in motorcycle accident injury cases.  The award-winning law firm has a reputation for meticulous case preparation – an approach that results in major verdicts and settlements for their injured clients. The attorneys at Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. have earned the highest possible rating in the legal profession for their skill and integrity and are rated “Superb” as top rated Michigan motorcycle accident lawyers by the most prestigious Internet lawyer rating service.  They are also members of ABATE and frequently speak to bikers and motorcycle clubs on important insurance issues affecting Michigan bikers.  For more information, visit http://www.buckfirelaw.com/

This seems like such an obvious thing – if you own a motorcycle, you shouldn’t operate it without a helmet.  Even children know they need a helmet if they ride a bike, so why do we continue to see fatalities where the motorcyclist doesn’t wear a helmet, or wears a helmet to look cool, but is of no use in an accident?  This is just a reminder of how important a motorcycle helmet is.  The last thing you want is to sustain a preventable injury that takes you away from the people you love.

Motorcycle helmets are built with the purpose of absorbing the impact of collision on the brain in case of an accident.  With this in mind, the first thing you should be  looking for is the material of the helmet.  Lightweight, tough and crack resistant fibers and grades of plastic have made it into the helmet manufacturing processes in a big way.  Impact resistance can be gauged by the shape and size of the helmets.  You should educate yourself on the different types of helmets and which style and type is the best for you.  It’s worth spending more money to protect your life.

Comfort is another factor when selecting a helmet, if you have an uncomfortable helmet, the chances of you not wearing it, or feeling like you don’t need it on a short trip will increase.  Full face helmets are the safest helmets and obviously the best buy.  Wear one that fits snugly.  Find one that suites you.  Any helmet you choose should feel soft at all points of contact on the skull. They come in different colors, designs and should invariably have DOT approval stickers on them.

Another kind of motorcycle helmet is the half face one.  Also good protection, but offering a fuller view of the road, allowing a feel of unity with the road that one whizzes past.  The visors that cover the face and protect the eyes from wind and dust should be tough, clear and scratch proof. All the inner linings and padding should be clean and finished properly.  Look out for itchy endings. The inner material should be made of quality material and able to absorb sweat and avoid odor.

As motorcycle accident lawyers, the attorneys at The Richard Harris Law Firm have seen the tragic effects of people not wearing a helmet, or wearing the wrong type of helmet while operating a motorcycle.  If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, we are here to help you.  We have a lot of experience helping people in similar situations, and we will fight hard to get you the money you deserve.  We offer all of our clients the no fee guarantee, which means if we don’t win your case, you don’t owe us anything.

Motorcycle accidents in Michigan can result in devastating injuries and damages. As Detroit motorcycle accident attorneys who represent injured victims and their families, we understand that often, it is the rider and/or passenger of the motorcycle who run the risk of suffering serious injuries in the event of a collision with another vehicle.

Statistics support this fact. According to the 2010 Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, motorcycles were involved in 1.2 percent of all traffic crashes in the state in 2010. Injuries were proportionately more severe to motorcyclists than to occupants of other motor vehicles.

The 2010 death rate for motorcyclists was 15.62 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled compared to the overall 0.96 mileage death rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. In 2010, 266,772 motorcycle registrations were reported statewide. Also, 3,362 motorcycles were involved in crashes during the same year. In those motorcycle accidents, 125 people died and 2,664 were injured.

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Motorcycles are no doubt fun to ride. With summer just around the corner, we will soon start seeing more and more motorcyclists take to Michigan’s roadways. However, it is also important to remember that motorcycle accidents can have devastating consequences especially for riders and passengers. It is often the people on the motorcycle who suffer major injuries when a collision occurs between a motorcycle and another vehicle. Solo motorcycle accidents can be tragic as well.

There are several steps motorcyclists can take to ensure that they are safe while riding on Michigan roadways this summer. Before taking your motorcycle out, you should always make sure that your motorcycle is in good working condition. Check your tires for any bulges, cracks or signs of wear in the treads. Make sure there are no oil or gas leaks. Also, ensure that all lights are functioning properly. It is also important that you check your motorcycle’s hydraulic and coolant fluids.

It also helps to remind yourself about some of the safety measures to take when you are riding. Maintain safe spacing, which means that you should leave plenty of space in front and back and to the sides from all other vehicles. This gives you the space and time to react to situations. Be wary of oncoming left turners. Vehicles turning left in front of motorcyclists is the leading cause of fatal motorcycle accidents. Slow down before entering an intersection. Stay visible. Don’t try to keep up with friends who are more experienced. Know your personal limits.

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Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has signed legislation that will give many motorcyclists the option to ride without a helmet. According to a news report in ClickonDetroit.com, the new measure will allow riders 21 or older to ride a motorcycle without a helmet if they carry extra insurance and meet training or experience criteria. The Republican governor’s action has essentially ended a long drawn out effort to change the state’s helmet laws. Earlier legislations to repeal the motorcycle helmet law were vetoed by then Governor Jennifer Granholm.

Some riders believe that wearing or not wearing a helmet is up to the rider. To them, it is all about freedom. Gov. Snyder told the media that although he expects many riders to continue wearing helmets, those who choose not to wear one should have the latitude to make their own “informed judgments” provided they meet other legal requirements. However, critics of this legislation say that the change will lead to more motorcycle accident fatalities. Michigan is the 31st state to make motorcycle helmets optional.

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Summer is just around the corner. For many Pennsylvania residents, summer is the time to go on road trips or travel. In Pennsylvania, we also see more motorcycles on the roadways during the summer season. As Allentown motorcycle accident lawyers who routinely represent victims of car and motorcycle crashes, we often see that a number of collisions involving motorcycles are fueled by alcohol. Sometimes, the other driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. However, there are times when motorcycle riders operate under the influence of alcohol. Operating a motorcycle under the influence can become deadly for riders and passengers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2009 fatal crashes, a higher percentage of motorcycle riders had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher. In 2009, 1,230 or 20 percent of all fatally injured motorcycle riders had BAC level of 0.08 percent or higher. An additional 308 or 7 percent had lower blood alcohol levels (between 0.01 and 0.07 percent). Also, 42 percent of motorcycle riders who died in solo motorcycle accidents in 2009 had BAC levels of 0.08 percent or higher.

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Riding a motorcycle in itself can be a thrilling, but dangerous hobby. The risks multiply considerably if you are riding a supersport bike. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), supersport bike riders have death rates that are four times greater than average when you consider all types of motorcycles. These so-called “rockets” are racing motorcycles modified for highway use. They typically have more horsepower per pound than other motorcycles. They are also built for speed, which is a part of their appeal.

Experts say that while supersport motorcycles can be fun to ride because of how nimble and quick they are, they can also cause catastrophic injuries or fatalities. In 2005, supersport bikes accounted for less than 10 percent of registered motorcycles, but they accounted for more than 25 percent of rider deaths. These bikes also appeal to a younger demographic. A majority of supersport bikers are between the ages of 18 and 35.

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