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7/5/2011
Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton
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Motorcycle Accident Deaths in Virginia, New York Highlight Necessity of Safe Riding

The Friday before July 4, 2011, I woke up to news of a fatal five-vehicle accident on I-64 in Norfolk, Virginia (VA), where I live. Police blamed reckless driving and speeding by two motorcyclists for the deadly crash that also involved a pickup truck and two cars and which left at least one bike passenger with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Then, one of the first news headlines that caught my eye when I returned to the office on July 5 was this: "NY Motorcyclist Dies on Ride Protesting Helmet Law." Literally, a man who had lived in upstate New York, flipped over the handlebars of his bike, hit his head on the roadway and died from head injuries that state troopers believe he "would have likely survived if he had been wearing a helmet."

I'm an avid two-wheeler myself, having first fallen in love with motorbikes while riding and renting moprds at the oceanfront as a teenager. I'm also a Virginia and Carolina personal injury attorney who has represented dozens of victims of motorcycle accidents and traumatic brain injuries.

As a rider and lawyer, I cannot stress strongly enough the importance of operating a motorcycle safely and of always wearing properly fitted and certified safety equipment when on a bike as a driver or passenger. Staying at or slightly below the speed limit, cruising to right of left side of your lane so people in cars and trucks can see you, and never racing or weaving in and out traffic are essential safe and defensive driving strategies when operating a motorcycle.

And when it comes to biking safety equipment, no piece of gear is more necessary than a helmet. Study after study has confirmed that wearing head protection significantly reduces spinal cord injuries, disabling TBIs and deaths for motorcyclists involved in all types of traffic accidents.

It's too late for two motorcyclists. Hopefully, other people enjoying the freedom and thrill of motorcycle riding this summer and into the future take the Fourth of July deaths as object lessons in biking safely.

EJL

Category: Carolina Car & Motorcycle Accidents

Labels: biker brain injuries Carolina personal injury attorney fatal helmet killed motorbike motorcycle accident New York North Carolina passenger injured safe driving on a motorcycle safety equipment TBI traffic accident Virginia


About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a law firm whose attorneys focus on injury and accident law and have experience handling traumatic brain injury and closed head injuries. In fact, our firm in 2000 helped a brain-damaged client receive what was then the largest verdict for a brain injury case in Virginia history. Then in the year 2012 our firm helped a brain injury client receive a $21 million dollar verdict.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008 and and we have been named a North Carolina "Best Law Firm" for personal injury law since 2010 by U.S. News & World Report. In addition, Rick and Jim have been listed in the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009 and our firm has the highest rating of AV from national lawyer ranking organization Martindale-Hubbell. That means we have a reputation for demonstrating preeminent legal skill.
We serve every area of North Carolina, including the Outer Banks, Nags Head and the western mountains, as well as all the cities and counties in between. In South Carolina, we cover the state from Myrtle Beach and Charleston to Orangeburg, Columbia, Florence, Rock Hill, Darlington, Aiken, Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg. While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer a free initial confidential injury case consultation, so call us toll-free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call promptly.
 
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