According to Honda, the problem lies with a potential rear brake issue - the rear brake may be at least partially applied even after it has been released. If the motorcyclist continues riding with a partially engaged brake, it may generate enough heat to cause a fire in the rear brakes. Also, when a motorcyclist rides with an engaged brake, it could increase the risks of an accident. 

Honda informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it learned about the potential problem in July 2010. A Honda motorcycle user had just finished riding his motorcycle, when there was a small explosion a few minutes after he finished riding. He saw flames emerging from the rear brake area. There were no injuries in that incident, and the motorcyclist was able to use an extinguisher to put out the flames. 

However, Honda took about 16 months to verify the existence of the problem, and to determine the appropriate course of action. In the United States alone, the company was aware of at least 26 similar complaints of rear brake problems, including dragging, and at least 2 fires. The recall is expected to commence in January. If you own a Honda motorcycle that has been included in the recall, you are advised to contact your dealer for details about repairs.

Shoddy repairs, inadequate maintenance or defective parts in a motorcycle can increase the risks of an accident. Proper maintenance of the motorcycle is a major part of safety training for motorcyclists. Make sure that the motorcycle wheels are in perfect condition and safe to ride on. Your motorcycle tires are the only parts of your vehicle that are in direct contact with the road surface, and it's important to make sure that they can handle wear and tear. 

Check for tire tread depth, and weathering. Look out for bulges and embedded objects in a motorcycle tire. Don't forget to check for motorcycle tire pressure. Look out for bent, broken or missing spokes in a wheel, and cracked and worn-out seals. Make sure the battery, headlamp, and lights are in perfect condition. Make sure that your turn signals are flashing correctly and that the mirrors are crack-free and clean.  

The Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyersat the Katz Law Firm represent persons who have been injured in motorcycle accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia.

According to the company, the brake light switches on its motorcycles can be exposed to excessive heat from the exhaust system, causing the brake lights to fail. This failure can cause a fluid leak, as well as the loss of the rear braking system. The loss of the rear braking system is likely to result in product liability claims since they are highly likely to cause a serious injury or death. Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers have regularly encouraged riders to get their bikes regularly checked, but this is the type of issue that could not have been identified through regular maintenance absence a warning from the manufacturer.

According to the company, the Touring, CEO and Trike motorcycles are included in the recall. These motorcycles are from the 2009 to 2012 model years. The motorcycles were manufactured between June 2008 and September 2011. The company has already begun the process of notifying all Harley motorcycle owners about the recall. Owners of Harley motorcycles that are included in this recall are advised to visit their dealers for installation of a new rear brake light switch kit. The recall involves approximately 241,000 motorcycles in the United States, with the remainder in other countries. 

According to Harley-Davidson Inc., the problem came to light in June 2010, when it received a report of a Trike motorcycle losing its rear brake light. While the company was investigating this accident, it received a report of a similar incident in Louisiana. The Louisiana accident resulted in injuries to one person. The company began an investigation into the Louisiana accident, but has not yet been able to determine whether the rear brake light problem caused that accident. According to the company, it is not aware of any other accidents or injuries associated with the problem.

Motorcycle accidents may occur because of brake and tire failures, failure of the shock absorbers, and chain failures. Motorcycles that come with defective parts, like defective pedals may also be at a higher risk of being involved in an accident. 

Additionally, motorcyclists who wear defective helmets may have a higher risk of being injured in an accident. Only purchase motorcycle helmet laws that are approved by the Department of Transportation. Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers have been concerned to see a growing trend of using novelty motorcycle helmets that look sleek and stylish, but do nothing to protect the motorcyclist during an accident. Motorcyclists who are wearing a non-approved helmet may assume that they are protected from serious injuries, when the reality is otherwise.

What Atlanta motorcycle accident attorneys would really like to see is motorcycles made safer with mandatory installation of antilock braking systems. Studies have indicated that the installation of these braking systems can reduce the number of serious motorcycle accidents.

The Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent persons injured in motorcycle accidents in the Metro Atlanta region and across Georgia.

According to police, the thirty-five-year-old motorcyclist was riding his vehicle in the left lane of northbound I-85 when his motorcycle struck the tire tread. The impact caused the motorcyclist to lose control. He was lying in the center lane of the highway, and in the path of an oncoming 18- wheeler. The truck driver did not see him, and ran over him. He was rushed to the Gwinnett Medical Center, but died.

This is the most recent in a series of motorcycle accidents that have left Atlanta personal injury lawyers very concerned. In recent months, according to police officers, there have been at least half a dozen motorcyclists killed in accidents in metro Atlanta highways. In August, a motorcyclist was killed in an accident involving two vehicles. He had been riding a Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle, when his motorcycle was struck by two vehicles on I-75 near Cobb County. He sustained fatal injuries. Police believe that the accident was caused by a Porsche driver who fled the scene of the accident. Both the driver and his passenger were located by police about two weeks later.

Another accident in south Fulton County involved a motorcycle and a sports utility vehicle that had stopped with a flat tire.   A 74-year-old riding a Harley-Davidson struck the stopped SUV. In May, a female motorist was accused of crashing into a motorcycle and killing a student. That driver was arrested earlier for DUI.

Look out for motorcyclists even closer at accident magnets, like intersections. Remember that a motorcyclist may be hidden in your blind spots, and may be concealed from view. Don't assume that a motorcyclist is speeding - a motorcyclist may seem like it's traveling at higher speeds than it is. Most motorcyclists know that their chances of surviving any accident involving their vehicle and an automobile, are not very good, which is why Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers find that most motorcyclists prioritize obeying safety rules.

The Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent motorcyclists injured in accidents across Georgia.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's study is a naturalistic one, believed to be the first such study into motorcycle safety in the country. The study relies on the use of recording and tracking devices, like video cameras and GPS devices to record the motorcyclist on an everyday basis. One hundred motorcycles will be recruited as part of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation study. These motorcycles will be fitted with five color video cameras, a GPS tracker, and other devices that will help researchers track the motorcyclist’s riding experiences.

The researchers hope to get valuable information about the motorcyclist’s daily experiences on his vehicle. They also expect information about the environment just before and during the crash. A typical motorcycle accident study does not take into consideration such real-time data. A typical study will include a simple examination of accident scenes. Through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation study, researchers hope to capture information in the minutes just before a crash, to understand more about the causes of such accidents. 

Besides video cameras and trackers, the motorcycles will also include brake pressure and accelerated readings. The data is all recorded and sequenced. This allows researchers to coordinate different types of data for a complete picture of the accident.

This was not the kind of expansive, broad-ranging study that the Motorcycle Safety Foundation believed would result in useful or valuable insights into motorcycle cause prevention. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation had considered putting up $3 million for that study, but changed its mind after the study become vastly narrower in scope. Therefore, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation decided to fund its own study.

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have already conducted preliminary studies which will serve as a foundation for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s naturalistic study.

The last in-depth study into motorcycle accident causation was the Hurt Report which was published in 1981. However, that was more than three decades ago, and the kind of environment that a motorcyclist rides in 2011 is vastly different from the one in 1981. There are several challenges that motorcyclists now face, and this Motorcycle Safety Foundation study is likely to define these challenges more clearly. This will help federal and state transportation officials develop appropriate motorcycle safety policies.

Even as the numbers of people killed in auto accidents in the United States have declined over the past few years, the numbers of people being killed in motorcycle accidents has remained more or less steady. In 2010, federal auto safety agencies recorded the first drop in motorcycle accident fatalities in more than eleven years. The decline was slight, but was encouraging to Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers who have been very concerned about the fact that motorcycle fatalities have remained high over the past decade. However, the decline in fatalities was too low to mean any major change in the attitude towards motorcycle safety in the country.

In 1981, the groundbreaking Hurt Report was published, and outlined the major factors involved in motorcycle accidents in the United States. The study had been sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Hurt Report was published during a time of high accident fatality numbers involving motorcyclists.   One of the findings of the Hurt Report was that most motorcycle accidents are caused by motorists who fail to yield right-of-way to a motorcyclist.

Those findings are just as true in 2011, as they were back in 1981. Many motorcycle accidents every year are caused by motorists who fail to respect the rights of motorcyclists. Motorists need to look out for motorcyclists. Failure to do so can have devastating consequences for motorcyclists, because these people have very little protection during an accident.

Motorcycle accident rates could be reduced further if more motorists accepted the increasing number of motorcyclists on Atlanta's streets, and respected the rights of these people to be there.

The Atlanta motorcycle accident attorneys at the Katz Law Firm represent persons injured in bicycle accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia.

The victim, a thirty-one-year-old man from Norcross sustained serious injuries, and died.   The driver of the Mazda has confirmed to police that the Porsche struck the motorcyclist before her car did. Police are now looking for a silver Porsche that is likely to have moderate damage. Unfortunately, as any personal injury attorney will tell you, some of the most devastating accidents occur with hit and run drivers. These drivers are often uninsured, drinking or on drugs.

A motorcycle accident can be a traumatic experience. These are some of the most serious accidents, and can end in fatalities, or serious injuries to motorcycle riders and passengers. Apart from a helmet, a motorcyclist has little protection against injuries.

The trauma after a motorcycle accident can be compounded by the attitude of insurance companies. If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, your primary source of compensation is the insurance company of the automobile or truck that was involved in the accident. You can expect the insurance company to begin an investigation of the motorcycle accident immediately. This investigation will be conducted with a view to limiting the damages that you are eligible to recover from the insurance company.

You can expect the insurance company to complete all of these formalities within one week after the accident. That's how fast a company can work to begin protecting its interests. You can also expect the insurance company to begin exerting pressure on you to accept a settlement as quickly as possible. Soon after an accident, a motorcycle accident victim will be in a fragile state, struggling to deal with his injuries, as well as the looming financial expenses ahead. In a vulnerable state like this, victims are much more likely to agree to a settlement that is not in their best interests at all. It's the reason why you need to speak with an Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyer as soon after your accident as possible.

Remember, an insurance company will not be interested in offering you a settlement that covers the vast range of expenses that you can expect after your injuries. For instance, insurers prefer to ignore future medical expenses and lost wages in their payout. Accepting a settlement like this will mean additional financial difficulties in the future. Remember, once you accept a motorcycle accident settlement, you cannot recover any additional funds in the future. Rather, you claim is permanently ended once you accept a settlement.

An issue that persons often do not understand is that their own insurance policy may be available to pay them additional funds if the responsible driver is uninsured or underinsured. If your auto or motorcycle insurance policy has uninsured motorist coverage, you have paid a premium for this additional protection under your policy. However, if you fail to properly structure the settlement with the other driver’s insurance carrier properly, then your claim under your own policy can forever be lost.

According to research by scientists at the University of Bath and Bath Spa University, wind can escape from just underneath the helmet, and can damage the eardrums. This sound can be strong enough to cause hearing loss. The study titled Aeroacoustic Sources of Motorcycle Helmet Noise finds that motorcyclists who wear helmets may be a risk of suffering hearing loss even when they ride at safe speeds.

The scientists in the study used mannequins, and re-created the levels of noise that a motorcyclist is exposed to while riding. They found one particular spot under the helmet which allows sound to travel to the eardrums. The researchers are calling for more studies into the differences in how motorcyclists perceive sound, in order to better understand what's going on here. 

In the meantime, they recommend protecting your hearing while wearing a helmet by using earplugs. Earplugs have long been found to be to be an effective way of protecting the ears from damage. Earplugs can help block out much of the noise that attacks eardrums, but allows motorcyclists to continue to hear important sounds, like traffic noise. Earplugs have been popular among motorcyclists for a while now, but are likely to become even more popular now that the study shows a high risk of hearing loss from helmets.

Atlanta motorcycle accident attorneys would definitely not recommend avoiding motorcycle helmet use just because of the findings of the study. While we respect the opinions of persons who do not like wearing helmets, the benefits of wearing a motorcycle helmet are greater than any risks of suffering hearing loss from helmet use. The helmet is the most basic protection that a motorcyclist has, protecting him from fatal or serious traumatic brain injury in an accident. 

However, Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers would like to see researchers use the findings of this study to design a safer helmet that can not only protect the motorcyclist from traumatic brain injury, but also reduce the risk of hearing loss. Anti-helmet groups already have enough reasons why they believe helmets should not be made mandatory, and they are likely to use these findings to further their cause. A motorcyclist has little control over how other motorists behave around them. They can't control or account for drivers’ speeding, reckless driving or drunk driving. However, they can increase their chances of surviving accidents by wearing DOT-approved helmets.

In 2010, Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers found a drop in motorcycle accident fatalities, the first drop recorded in 11 years. While that had been an encouraging sign, it was not a sharp enough drop. Far too many people continue to be at risk of an accident when they ride a motorcycle. Motorcyclists are at risk from motorists driving under the influence, or speeding. The risks of being involved in an auto accident increases when they are sharing the road with a motorist who is texting while driving. Other times, these car accidents are caused by drivers who fail to look out for motorcyclists.

A major factor in the drop in highway auto accident deaths across the country has been that automobiles now come with safety devices that not only reduce the risk of an auto accident, but also prevent serious injuries and deaths in an accident. Electronic stability control systems have substantially reduced the number of rollover accidents that occur every year. These are some of the most serious accidents, and account for a large percentage of fatalities in accidents every year. The fatalities have been declining because more vehicles now come with stability control systems. 

Besides, automobiles now come with an impressive array of high-tech devices, including lane departure warning systems that warn motorists when they are in danger of going off the lane, and forward collision warning systems that alert the motorist when there is an object in the path of the vehicle. It's not just prevention of accidents that has been the focus. Side airbags have substantially helped reduce the number of injuries that occur in side-impact accidents. These accidents end in serious injuries, because there's very little protecting occupants from injuries in an accident involving a vehicle broad siding another. Side airbags can help minimize these injuries.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has analyzed the benefits of antilock braking systems in preventing accidents, and has found that these could substantially reduce the number of serious and fatal motorcycle accidents every year. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has recommended that anti lock braking systems be made mandatory on all motorcycles. However, neither the federal administration nor motorcycle manufacturers have paid heed. Motorcycle manufacturers need to pay more attention to making their vehicles safer for riders. 

Motorcyclists in Georgia are at a greater risk of collisions with motorists this summer, when more numbers of drivers and motorcyclists can be expected to share the road. Not only are motorcyclists dealing with a large population of adult drivers on their way to holidays distracted by their families and their holiday plans, but they are also sharing the highways with larger numbers of teen drivers. 

Summer is when the total number of teenage drivers on the road is higher, and the months of June, July and August see 40% more driving by those teen motorists. These are inexperienced drivers, who may fail to practice basic motorcycle safety behaviors, like looking out for motorcyclists at intersections. This accident illustrates how necessary it is for motorists to be extra cautious when approaching an intersection, and look out for motorcycles. Many young and teen drivers tend to think of summer as a long, extended weekend, and fail to prioritize traffic safety rules. 

Additionally, motorcyclists are also likely to be at great risk from drivers who are distracted. A motorcycle has a narrow frame, which makes it easy to miss. The risks of missing a motorcyclist are even greater if you're talking on a cell phone or texting while driving. Unfortunately, Atlanta motorcycle accident attorneys expect to see more such reckless and distracted driving during the summer.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Safety, most of those deaths occurred on Atlanta streets. Out of the 18 deaths, 11 occurred in Atlanta. At least some of those accidents also involved motorcycle deaths and pedestrian accidents resulting in deaths. In Atlanta, a student at Georgia Tech was killed in a motorcycle accident when his motorcycle was struck by a drunk driver. Another motorcycle accident was recorded in Lilburn over the weekend. 

Heavy traffic and motorists rushing to get to their destination during the holiday were responsible for many of the fatalities. In one accident, a 19-year-old motorist escaped injuries when his car flipped over. As he was standing outside the car checking out the damage, he was struck by a passing vehicle. He died at the scene.

Some deaths this holiday were linked to red light violations. A 16-year-old driver in Roopville allegedly ran a red light and struck another vehicle. Both the teen driver and the occupant of the other vehicle were killed. 

There has been no official word about the reason for the dramatic spike in auto accident fatalities and injuries this Memorial Day weekend over the last year. However, as Atlanta car accident attorneys, weare already concerned about the fact that the year’s peak travel season has only just begun. Hopefully, the Memorial Day death toll won't be an indicator of what we can expect over the next three months. To everyone out there - drive safely, do not drink and drive, and switch off your cell phone while driving.

Many accidents that Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers come across occur because drivers fail to look out for motorcyclists, especially when they are making lane changes or entering thoroughfares. Look especially closely for motorcyclists in your mirrors during these times. Here are some basic tips for motorists.

When you are sharing the road with a motorcycle, do not try to pass the motorcycle in the same lane.

Don't follow too close to a motorcycle in the front. Allow at least 4 seconds following distance. Remember that a motorcycle can come to a stop much quicker than your car can. In a pinch, you could end up hitting the motorcycle in front, causing serious injuries to that person.

Look extra carefully for motorcyclists before you open your car door next to traffic. 

Look carefully for motorcycles in your blind spots

Look out for motorcycles, and check their possible speed before you make a turn. 

Lane sharing is not safe. Always try and allow motorcycles a full-lane width.

Remember that motorcycles may seem like they are traveling much faster than they actually are.

Motorists can do their part to help reduce the numbers of people being killed in motorcycle accidents every year.

Helmets are a motorcyclist’s first line of defense against injuries in an accident. It's important that motorcyclists wear helmets that are approved by the Department of Transportation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will soon require new motorcycle helmets to come with a label that contains the words “DOT FMVSS 218 Certified.”

Novelty helmets have recently become very popular, because of their designs. However, testing has found that these helmets do not meet safety standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Those safety standards are contained in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218. These standards cover a number of criteria, including impact absorption and penetration resistance. 

Helmets that are approved by the Department Of Transportation meet the criteria contained in the standards, & come with a label certifying that they are approved by the Department of Transportation. However, manufacturers have been affixing “Department Of Transportation-Approved” labels on these non-approved helmets too. Persons who wear these helmets may have little or no protection in the event of an accident.

Atlanta's motorcyclists will be in more danger of accidents with motorists now that summer is here. While a helmet is highly recommended for its effectiveness in preventing and reducing the severity of traumatic brain injury, it isn't completely foolproof against injuries. Drivers this summer must take care to look out for motorcyclists at all times, especially those in their blind spots. Look out closer for motorcyclists at busy intersections or when you are pulling out of a parking lot.

The Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent persons injured in motorcycle accidents across Georgia.

According to the survey, 70% of Americans feel that traffic safety laws should be strictly enforced. There's a lesson here for Atlanta and throughout Georgia which has recently banned texting while driving - laws can be meaningless unless these are enforced and violators penalized sufficiently. 

Additionally, the survey also indicates that there is plenty of support for tough teen driver licensing standards. 86% of the respondents believe that new drivers should be required to complete a driver’s education course before they are allowed a driver’s license. American motorists also want to see automakers invest in technologies that will help prevent accidents and keep motorists safe. 60% of the respondents wanted automakers to do more to make their vehicles safer. 

There are really no surprises in this survey for Atlanta car accident lawyers. One of the factors contributing to the declining rate of traffic accident deaths in Georgia has been strict state and local action against devastating driving behaviors, like drunk driving and distracted driving. Several states around the country, including Georgia, have passed laws aimed at keeping intoxicated motorists off the street. Newer laws prohibit drivers from texting while driving, and in some states, using hand-held cell phones while driving. More government action in the form of enacting new laws and enforcing current safety laws can help reduce accidents and keep people safer.

This is a growing problem in Georgia, where in 2008 motorcycle driver deaths has increased by 59 percent since 2004. As a remedy, Governor Nathan Deal signed into law last week a bill aimed to protect them, while simultaneously granting respite to sympathetic drivers who nevertheless feel a modicum of nervousness when inching by a motorcycle or bicycle.  

House Bill 101 requires drivers to give cyclists at least 3 feet of space. Before last week, motorists had only to maintain an arguably ambiguous “safe distance” when passing. Now, those same motorists will have to actually cross the yellow line to comply with the law.

The 3-foot requirement was actually an afterthought of sorts, tacked on at the last minute by Senator John Albers. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, he was inspired to do so by Kathy Serrano, widow of cyclist Tony Serrano who was killed in 2004 by a car in Gwinnett County, and by concerns for his own children, who are avid bike riders. He also aimed to encourage the exercise of generally safer driving practices: violation will result in heavy fines or jail time.

Beginning July 1, Atlanta bicycle accident attorneys will be more cognizant of this legislation as well, especially when pursuing lawsuits involving bicycle/vehicle collisions. Whereas the "safe distance" requirement was vague, this new law, which serves as a deterrent, also suggests more specificity in terms of liability.

During the first nine months of 2009, there had been 112 motorcycle accident deaths in Georgia, and those numbers had decreased to 98 deaths during the same period in 2010. That was a decline of 14, and while it is not a bad performance, Georgia is way behind our neighbor Louisiana with a decline of 37, Oklahoma with a decline of 25 and Wisconsin with a decline of 24 fatalities. Georgia could do much better with saving motorcyclists lives every year, if it invested more in educating motorists about the specific dangers facing motorcyclists.

According to the report by the GHSA, motorcycle accident fatalities across the country decreased by approximately 2.4% during the first nine months of the year. The GHSA is predicting the total number of motorcycle accident fatalities for 2010 to be around      4, 376 or fewer. However, the agency is warning against any enthusiasm over this decline in motorcycle accident deaths. 

In 2009, there was a decline of 16% in motorcycle accident fatalities. That decline had come after 11 years of continuous increases in motorcycle deaths. The fact that there has been a barely 2.4% decline in motorcycle accident fatalities this year seems to suggest that states around the country need to develop individual measures to increase safety for motorcyclists. This includes not only educating drivers about motorcyclists, but also modifying road design to make motorcyclists visible.

The Governors’ Highway Safety Association believes that over the next few years, we could actually see an increase in motorcycle accident fatalities unless states act fast. 

The Georgia/South Carolina/Alabama/Tennessee/Florida region recorded 6,375 car accident deaths in 2010, a drop of 3% from 2009, when there were 6,573 accident deaths. Overall, nationwide, there were 32, 788 auto accident, truck accident and motorcycle accident deaths in 2010, a decline of 3% from 33,808 fatalities in 2009. Moreover, the decline in car accident deaths was the lowest on record since 1949. Last year accident deaths also marked a 25% drop since 2005.

The statistics also seem to put to rest the theory that the decline in car accident fatalities has had a lot to do with the recession. Last year, Americans traveled more vehicle miles, but fewer Americans died in accidents. There are other reasons that have contribute to this decline that have been evident for the past few years. Higher seat belt usage rate is typically one of those factors. More drivers in Georgia now buckle up than ever before and this has meant fewer fatalities in accidents. 

Besides, cars now come packed with the latest safety features that are designed not just to minimize the risk of accidents, but also protect occupants better in the event of an accident. Side airbags are becoming popular on more and more automobiles while electronic stability control has been available on most new models for a while now. Besides, lane departure warning systems, forward collision warning systems including those that include pedestrian detection, and other advanced safety features have helped reduce car accident deaths.

More could be done, however. For instance, we could save more lives every year if we had harsher laws in place against the use of cell phones and texting while driving.

Georgia's motorcyclists will enjoy the warm spring weather, after what has been at times, a horribly cruel winter. The weather being as pleasant as it is, motorists can expect not just local Georgia motorcyclists, but also motorcyclists from neighboring states on their way to southern destinations. However, with the increase in motorcyclists, comes an increased risk of accidents. Biking season is the right time to remind drivers that most motorcycle accidents are caused by motorists and drivers of other vehicles, and not motorcyclists. 

In Georgia at least, we have noticed a trend of blaming motorcyclists every time there's an accident involving these riders. Most people are quick to assume that it's motorcyclists who disobey traffic laws, ride too fast, and try stunts on the motorcycle. Nothing could be further from the truth. Most motorcyclists are aware that any foolish behavior can have devastating consequences for them, and not so much for the occupants of the other vehicle involved in the crash.

Unfortunately, most of these accidents are caused by negligent motorists. For instance, motorcycle accidents at intersections can be avoided if drivers take care to be especially alert when they're making a left turn. 

Earlier this month, law-enforcement in Georgia initiated the Look Twice, Save a Life campaign aimed at urging motorists to be more vigilant and look out for motorcyclists. Authorities should focus even harder on motorcycling safety this spring.

As part of the campaign that is being launched, the Georgia Department of Public Safety will conduct a total of six motorcycle checkpoints between 1 March 2011 and December 31, 2012. The first checkpoint of 2011 was held earlier this month along Interstate 75 and along Interstate 95. Motorcyclists traveling along any of the highways that have been marked for checkpoints will find signs that require them to exit at an inspection station.

The campaign is being funded by a $70,000 grant by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Officers will be specifically looking to see if motorcycle drivers have licenses, and if they're wearing helmets. They will also be checking to see that motorcycles are in good operating condition, and will specifically be looking out for bad tires, broken or malfunctioning headlights and tail lights. According to the Department of Public Safety, the checkpoints won't be a major hindrance, and the average motorcyclist who is riding with a proper license, and is helmeted, will find that the delay lasts just about a minute.

The motorcycling community in Georgia has been displeased about these controversial motorcycle-only checkpoints, calling them biased. As an Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyer I would like to see more initiatives that target motorists and their need for greater awareness about motorcyclist rights. The money could have been better spent on education and awareness campaigns and crackdowns on motorists who fail to yield to motorcyclists.

Researchers at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine analyzed motorcycle accident collisions between 2002 and 2006. The data came from the National Trauma Data Bank. The researchers found that there was a substantially lowered risk of cervical spine injury among motorcyclists who wore helmets. The risk was as much as 22% lower compared to persons not wearing a helmet during a crash.

According to the researchers, this puts to rest a long-held misconception that wearing motorcycle helmets increases your risk of suffering a cervical spine injury. Critics of motorcycle helmet laws have long held that wearing helmets increases the risk of suffering a neck injury, and they often cite 25-year-old studies to support their arguments. The fact is that modern helmets are not just lighter and more sophisticated, but also come with added strength and complete protection.

Cervical spine injuries can often be seen in motorcycle accidents, and can include serious damage to the spinal cord, resulting in total or partial paralysis. These injuries can even be fatal. Cervical spine fractures are some of the most common of these injuries. A cervical spine fracture often requires surgical treatment. Motorcyclists could reduce the risks of suffering these debilitating injuries by wearing helmets while riding.

Cobb County police are on the lookout for a pickup truck driver whom they believe was responsible for a fatal motorcycle accident this week. According to police, the 60-year-old victim was riding his motorcycle, when he was cut off by the driver of a Ford F-150 truck. In order to avoid the accident, the victim was forced to go over the curb and across the sidewalk. The motorcycle struck a pillar on the sidewalk, and the victim sustained serious injuries. He was taken to the hospital, but succumbed to his injuries later.

Cobb County Police are on the lookout for the driver of the pickup truck. They say it is either a gray or black colored truck.

Unfortunately, most motorcycle crashes that Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers come across seem to follow similar patterns. These accidents are caused not because motorcycles were speeding or driving rashly, but because the motorcyclists were not yielded to or were cutoff.

As the 2010 holiday travel season kicks off with the Thanksgiving weekend, motorcyclists are likely to find more numbers of drivers in a hurry to reach their destination, and willing to cut them off. If you plan to ride over the Thanksgiving holiday, take some precautions to ensure your safety.

·        Try and plan an alternate route that doesn't have as much traffic. A longer route is preferable to one that will be crammed with impatient motorists.

·        Make sure you're dressed for safe motorcycling, and wear a DO-approved helmet.

·        Dress in bright colors to be visible to motorists. Remember, a driver is more likely to avoid you if he can see you.

·        Keep speeds down.

·        Avoid lane sharing. It is a frequent factor in accidents.