Motorcycle Accident

Bay City News Service is reporting that a San Jose motorcyclist and a Daly City bicyclist sustained major injuries in an accident on Highway 1 near Ano Nuevo State Reserve. The accident occurred on September 10 when both riders were traveling south on the highway. The 44-year-old motorcyclist collided with the 26-year-old bicyclist at the intersection of Highway 1 and Rossi Road.

California Highway Patrol officers responded to the accident, which is still under investigation. CHP officers report that both accident victims were using appropriate safety equipment and that alcohol does not seem to be a factor in the collision. Officers ask that anyone who witnessed the accident call (650) 369-6261.

Even when motorcyclists and bicyclists wear proper safety attire, they are still at risk of accidents due to several factors:

• Motorcycles and bicycles are smaller than cars and trucks, making them more difficult to see.
• Motorcycles and bicycles have fewer safety features than cars, increasing the risk of serious injury in an accident.
• Motorcyclists and bicyclists ride without the protection of a car or truck interior. This increases the risk of head injuries.
• Car and truck drivers do not always know how to drive near motorcyclists or watch out for bicyclists. The risk of injury increases in bad weather conditions that further reduce visibility.

In some cases, motorcyclists do not take proper safety precautions when riding. They cause accidents by speeding, changing lanes without signaling, and making other driving mistakes. If you sustained serious injuries in a San Jose motorcycle accident caused by a reckless driver, you deserve to recover compensation for your pain and suffering. Contact the San Jose personal injury attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates to discuss your case. Call us at (877) 862-6288 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Summer is on its way and motorcycle riders all over Northern California will be taking advantage of the favorable weather and hitting the road. With their increased numbers, it is important that motorists and motorcyclists understand how to safely share the road, especially with Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month coming in May. Taking the proper safety precautions and driving defensively can dramatically decrease the risk of a motorcycle accident in San Jose.

If you are planning on riding your motorcycle this spring and summer, it is important to remember that what you wear is almost as important as how you ride. A motorcycle does not offer the same protection for its rider as cars do for their drivers, so a motorcyclist needs to protect themselves. The essentials of what to wear are:

• A full-face helmet (as it provides eye and face protection),
• Sturdy/padded jacket (with full sleeves),
• Pants made of thick material (no shorts or cotton pants that flap in the wind!),
• Reinforced gloves, and
• Boots tall enough to protect the ankles.

In addition to proper riding gear, the most important aspect of being a safe motorcycle driver is knowing your motorcycle. Taking motorcycle courses and getting your motorcycle license are the best ways to get to know how a motorcycle works. It is very different from a car and asks more of its driver, so you need to be comfortable with it to ride it safely. Smoothly shifting gears, braking, and turning take practice, and it is only with practice that you will get used to your motorcycle. Regular maintenance and knowing basic troubleshooting techniques will also help you stay safe on the road.

Finally, driving defensively will help keep a motorcyclist safe. Other motorists don’t always know how to share the road with motorcycles or possibly don’t even know that there are motorcycles on the road. A motorcyclist must be especially aware of other vehicles and assume that they don’t necessarily see them. Driving with these points in mind will help prevent a motorcycle crash.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident because of the negligent driving of another, the experienced San Jose motorcycle collision lawyers of Van Der Walde & Associates, LLP, can inform you of your legal rights and options. For a consultation, contact us at 877-862-6288.

A San Jose police officer, driving his motorcycle on South First Street, was struck by a car and hospitalized early this week, according to KTVU.com news. The police motorcycle officer was attempting to catch up to a traffic violator when he was hit by a light blue Honda at the South First Street and Alma Avenue intersection; the injury collision ejected the officer from his bike, and the Honda did not stop.

The San Jose police motorcycle officer is in the hospital where he is making good progress toward a full recovery. The driver of the light blue Honda has yet to be found and an investigation is still underway. The San Jose Police Department’s traffic investigations unit is asking that anyone with any information concerning the accident and the light blue Honda to contact them immediately.

Various factors can contribute to a San Jose motorcycle injury crash:

• Defective motorcycle parts;
• Unsafe road conditions, such as potholes, an icy or wet road surface, or excessive debris on the road; and
• Reckless or negligent driving, on the part of the driver of another vehicle, or the motorcyclist.

In most of these cases, the at-fault party can be held liable for financial and emotional losses and damages resulting from the motorcycle crash injury. Hit and run cases, however, are more difficult because the reckless or negligent driver flees the scene. Investigations are aggressive when dealing with hit and run drivers in order to ensure that they take responsibility for their actions.

The dedicated San Jose motorcycle hit and run injury lawyers of Van Der Walde & Associates, LLP, understand how difficult a hit and run injury and case can be and are prepared to work with you, professionally and compassionately, towards recovering the losses and damages resulting from your accident from the at-fault party. Call today at 877-862-6288 for a consultation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that there were 5,290 motorcyclist fatalities in motorcycle crashes in 2008. Additionally, there were approximately 96,000 motorcyclists that were injured in accidents during the same year. California had the highest number of motorcyclist fatalities per state in the U.S. in 2008, with 537 motorcyclist deaths occurring.

Many factors can cause a Santa Cruz motorcycle accident, including:

• A motorist’s inability to see a motorcyclist, which is the most common cause for a motorcycle accident.
• Failure to check blind spots before changing lanes.
• A motorist neglecting to alter their driving to weather conditions.
• The road’s quality; if there is debris, potholes, roadside barriers, uneven roads, or unexpected curbs, this can cause motorists and motorcyclists to suddenly swerve.
• A motorist’s speed; if a vehicle is traveling at greater speeds than the law or weather calls for, a motorist may be unable to stop in time before crashing into a motorcyclist.

There are various injuries that can result from a Santa Cruz motorcycle accident. Common injuries include brain damage, often caused by a traumatic brain injury (TBI); concussions; skin and muscle damage, often referred to as road rash; bone or joint breakage—the most common breaks are the shoulder and the pelvis; neck and spine injuries; as well as severe nerve damage to a person’s upper arm, which is a condition that is commonly referred to as “biker’s arm” that results in a motorcyclist suffering permanent paralysis of arm movement.

One of the most crucial things a motorcyclist can do to help reduce the seriousness of injuries is to wear a helmet. In California, 12 percent of motorcyclists that were killed in 2008 were not wearing a helmet, even though California law requires all motorcyclists to do so. The NHTSA estimates that a motorcyclist who is not wearing a helmet is 40 percent more likely to die in a crash than one with a helmet. Wearing other protective gear such as a jacket, pants, gloves, boots, vests, and goggles can also help reduce severe injuries.

The Santa Cruz motorcycle crash attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates can help you seek compensation from a negligent motorist who has caused your motorcycle accident and any injuries you have suffered. Call us today at 877-862-6288 for a free consultation.

A recent Mariposa County motorcycle accident resulted in the loss of three lives and injured four others, according to a fresnobee.com news story. Reportedly, the head-on collision involved a Ford Bronco, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, and a Ford Escape. The driver of the Ford Bronco allegedly crossed over a double-yellow line while maneuvering a curve in the road, and consequently struck the motorcycle and then the Ford Escape. The two Chowchilla residents riding the motorcycle, 39 and 43, were killed, as was the 55-year-old driver of the Ford Escape. All four people in the Ford Bronco, including the 18-year-old driver, sustained injuries, which ranged in severity from moderate to major.

The California Highway Patrol is currently investigating the crash, which at this point does not appear to have been the result of the 18-year-old driver being under the influence of either alcohol or drugs. Regardless of the severity of a crash, all details are thoroughly investigated in order to determine as accurately as possible exactly what happened. Further details of this incident will undoubtedly be revealed in the near future.

Motorcycle crashes are especially dangerous, particularly given the fact that motorcyclists and their passengers cannot rely on being protected by the steel reinforced sides that an automobile has to offer. Every year, far too many motorcycles are injured or lose their lives in California as the result of motorist negligence of some kind.

For more information about your rights as an accident victim, please contact the San Jose motorcycle attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates. Our experienced Sunnyvale personal injury attorneys will fight to ensure that your rights are not infringed upon in a court of law, and will hold negligent parties accountable for their actions. For more information and a free evaluation of your San Jose motorcycle accident injury case, call 877-862-6288.

According to Santa Cruz’s local CBS-affiliate, KION-46, a 19-year-old motorcyclist was involved in an accident with a Ford Expedition being driven by a 31-year-old motorist. Reportedly, the driver of the Expedition was stopped at an intersection waiting to make a left-hand turn while traveling northbound. The teenage motorcyclist, traveling eastbound, was unable to make a controlled stop, lost control of his bike, and crashed into the driver’s side of the SUV as it was turning. Unfortunately, the extent of injuries sustained by the 19-year-old was too great, and the teenager was pronounced dead at Natividad Medical Center.

While no further details surrounding this Northern California vehicle accident were made available, a more thorough investigation will undoubtedly take place in order to determine as accurately as possible exactly what happened.

The California Department of Transportation notes that there were 452,595 vehicle accidents in 2008, 3,113 of which led to the death of a vehicle occupant. In any traffic accident in California, it is essential that all available evidence is carefully examined to determine whether or not negligence contributed towards the accident and subsequent injuries or wrongful death. In some cases, dangerous road conditions may be deemed at least partially responsible for causing an accident. More specifically, if roads are not properly maintained by local municipalities and construction crews, then those roads may be dangerous to travel over for motorists. Motorists injured as a result of such improper maintenance may be able to hold negligent parties accountable for their actions in a court of law.

If you’ve been involved in a Santa Cruz motorcycle accident, your best course of action should always involve retaining the services of an experienced Santa Cruz personal injury lawyer. At Van Der Walde & Associates, our skilled Santa Cruz motorcycle accident attorneys will fight to ensure that your rights as an accident victim are not infringed upon. For more information and a free consultation, please call us today at 877-862-6288.

According to The San Francisco Chronicle, a reckless driving act known as a “sideshow” has resulted in the deaths of three young adults and injured three others. Reportedly, a total of five people were in the Nissan Altima that veered into oncoming traffic, struck a parked vehicle, and overturned onto the sidewalk before coming to a stop. Three of the five, a 22-year-old, 19-year-old, and 21-year-old, were killed in the auto accident in Alameda County. The two other vehicle occupants, along with a pedestrian, were injured in the crash and hospitalized with serious injuries. Updates on the conditions of the three injured individuals were not included in the report.

According to residents of the area where the accident took place, the dangerous vehicular activity puts all nearby residents and their property in grave danger. Whether the sideshow consists of “ghost riding the whip “ (a practice in which an individual vacates his or her vehicle while it is placed in neutral and traveling at slow speeds and dances around it or on top of it) or a “hyphy-train” (a practice in which a caravan of cars synchronize their driving patterns in what is similar to a conga line), such vehicular behavior represents an utter abandonment of traffic safety laws and greatly increases the probability that an individual is going to be killed or be subjected to severe physical injury. Victims of such reckless abandon should consult a personal injury lawyer that will hold individuals responsible for putting on sideshows accountable for their actions and responsible for damages that result from such foolish behavior.

If you have been involved in any type of vehicular accident, it is important to remember that you have rights. At Van Der Walde & Associates, our experienced traffic accident attorneys will examine the circumstances surrounding your accident, and will hold responsible for the accident accountable in a court of law. If you have sustained injury or lost a loved one as the result of another person’s reckless driving behavior, please don’t hesitate to contact our Northern California personal injury lawyers at 877-862-6288 for a free evaluation of your case.

Source:http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/18/BA751A77S7.DTL&type=newsbayarea

An article in San Jose’s Mercury News talks about the $1.2 million settlement that the family of a killed bicyclist received from Santa Clara County. The male bicyclist was killed in an accident involving a police patrol car that was being driven by a sheriff’s deputy that fell asleep at the wheel while driving. The deputy also hit two other male bicyclists during the Cupertino accident that occurred in March of 2008. Santa Clara County previously settled with another one of the other victims for a total of $2.3 million. The third victim recovered from his injuries, and any sort of settlement received by him was not disclosed in the article.

The parents of 30-year-old and 29-year-old bicyclists that were killed filed suit on behalf of their sons, and were awarded compensatory damages on their behalf. While the sheriff’s deputy certainly did not mean to fall asleep at the wheel, he was found negligent in causing the accident. Because there was no intent to commit harm to the bicyclist, the officer pled guilty to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter, and was sentenced to four months of house arrest and an undisclosed amount of public service.

Ultimately, the settlements amount can be considered indicative of the sheriff’s department admitting that wrong-doing on the part of one of their officers took place. As with all vehicular accidents, negligent action can typically be attributed to one or more parties, and such action can hold those individuals responsible for the behavior that caused the accident. Regardless of the situation, it is always important to retain the services of a skilled personal injury lawyer that will examine the details surrounding your accident to ensure that your rights are upheld and those responsible for your accident are deemed as such in a court of law.

If you have recently been in a bicycle accident or any other type of personal injury accident, chances are that negligent behavior played a definite role in causing you injury. At Van Der Walde & Associates, our experienced Santa Clara County bike accident attorneys will seek compensatory damages on your behalf, and will hold the negligent accountable for their actions. If you have been injured, please don’t hesitate to contact us today at 877-862-6288 for a free evaluation of your personal injury case.

Source:http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_13519726

The Mercury News recently reported in a story that a motorcyclist was struck by a white BMW on Interstate 680.  The motorcycle accident in Pleasanton occurred on the northbound I-680 near Sunol Boulevard.  The driver of the BMW fled the scene, leaving the motorcyclist seriously injured.

California Highway Patrol revealed that the driver of the white BMW sedan was traveling at upwards of 100 mph, and nearly collided with other vehicles before clipping the rear wheel of the motorcycle.  It was reported that the driver of the white BMW was following closely behind a 2005 Chevrolet SUV when it came to a curve in the highway.  The BMW’s front wheel then struck the rear wheel of the 2007 Suzuki GSXR750 being ridden by the motorcyclist.  The motorcyclist was thrown from the bike and onto the concrete roadway, the motorcyclist’s head colliding with the concrete pavement.

The driver of the white BMW fled the scene without offering assistance to the motorcyclist.  The BMW’s front tire that hit the motorcycle was flat, and CHP are still trying to ascertain the driver’s identity.  The driver of the Chevrolet SUV stopped to help the motorcyclist, who was eventually taken to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley.   Updates on the motorcyclist’s injuries are unknown.

Injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents can be very serious and often are not the fault of the motorcycle operator.  The San Jose motorcycle accident injury attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates have years of experience in assisting those injured in motorcycle accidents with seeking compensatory damages to help with recovery.  If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, please don’t hesitate to contact the skilled attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates for a free consultation.

Local San Francisco CBS news affiliate KPIX-TV channel 5 recently reported in a story that a motorcyclist was killed in a crash that involved a big-rig on highway 238 in Castro Valley, CA.  The motorcyclist, identified as a 29-year-old male, sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene.  The man was on his way to take the oral board review portion of the California Highway Patrol entrance exam.

The man’s motorcycle collided with a big-rig just north of interstate 580.  The motorcycle crash in San Francisco took the man’s life, but it is not known whether or not the driver of the large truck was injured.  CHP officers did not have any further information regarding the specifics of the crash, and did not speculate on who was at fault.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a staggering total of 5,037 motorcyclists died in crashes in 2007.  Though it had been steadily declining since the 1980s, the number of motorcycle deaths each year has unfortunately been steadily rising since 1998. Motorcycle deaths accounted for 12% of all motor vehicle deaths in 2007.  Due to such a large difference in size and the fact the motorcyclists are more exposed than truck drivers, motorcycle crashes involving large trucks almost always end in fatality for the motorcyclist.

The skilled San Jose motorcycle accident injury attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates are experienced and skilled in seeking compensatory damages in motorcycle cases.  Our diligent attorneys will hold those responsible for your accident accountable for their actions, and will get you the compensation you deserve to help cover the costs of medical bills, physical therapy fees, motorcycle repair, and, in some cases, funeral costs and loss of potential wages.  Please call us today for a free consultation.