More Motorcycle Fatalities Can Be Avoided, Suggests Brunswick Personal Injury Attorney
Oct 25, 2012
Brunswick, GA (Law Firm Newswire) October 24, 2012 – Motorcyclist fatalities in Georgia are on the rise, according to Georgia’s Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.
In 2008, 12 percent of Georgia’s motor vehicle fatalities were motorcycle drivers, an increase of some 59 percent since 2004. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates almost 2,000 people riding motorcycles were saved by wearing helmets in 2008, and that more than 800 additional lives could have been saved, if those people were also wearing motorcycle helmets.
Most serious motorcycle accidents are caused by the negligence or carelessness of automobile drivers who do not see them, or who do not understand the turning or slowing capabilities of a fast-moving motorcycle. Automobile drivers increase the risk to motorcycle drivers by speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and by making maneuvers with their vehicle which subsequently forces the motorcycle driver off the road or into traffic. Accidents can cause everything from road rash to bone fractures, head and spinal cord injuries, and even death.
“All motorcycle riders are told to drive defensively,” states Nathan Williams, a Brunswick personal injury attorney. “But many riders do not really know what driving defensively entails. And while a helmet can save a rider’s life, learning to drive in a way to minimize as much risk as possible is always a smart idea.”
There are several motorcycle education programs that may be of use to keep bikers safe. One such program is currently offered by the Georgia’s Department of Driver Services—their Motorcycle Safety Program. The Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program (GMSP) is designed to offer motorcycle rider education programs, from beginner to experienced, and works to promote car and bike awareness through “Share the Road” campaigns and highway safety issues. Even experienced motorcycle riders can generally benefit from crash-avoidance training and refresher courses.
For the best street safety possible, all motorcyclists are advised to become trained through a rider course before their getting their driving license, wear all protective gear, including a helmet manufactured to the standards set by the Department of Transportation, commit to riding without distraction and unimpaired by drugs or alcohol, as well as to ride only within the driver’s skill limits, and take refresher courses and crash-avoidance courses.
Nathan Williams is a Brunswick personal injury lawyer, Brunswick divorce attorney, Brunswick criminal defense attorney and Brunswick DUI lawyer in Southeast Georgia. Visit http://www.thewilliamslitigationgroup.com or call 1.912.264.0848.
The Williams Litigation Group
5 St. Andrews Court
Brunswick, GA 31520
Phone: 912.264.0848
Toll Free: 877.307.4537
Fax: 912-264-6299
