Category: Motorcycle Accidents

It’s extremely important for drivers to watch out for motorcyclists, particularly on roads that are notorious for accidents. Likewise, motorcyclists need to make sure they are operating their bikes in a way that does not endanger their safety.

At this point, it’s unclear what exactly happened, but a motorcyclist was killed in an accident with a truck in West Knox County last night. According to media reports, a 27-year-old man was riding a 2004 Kowasaki east on Lovell Road. The bike reportedly collided with a Dodge Ram truck, which was headed west on the road, after it apparently turned in front of the biker. It appears that the driver was attempting a left turn onto Bob Gray Road, according to a Knox County Sheriff’s spokesperson.

The motorcyclist, who was from Knoxville, was pronounced dead at the scene. Reports say that he was wearing a helmet. The 66-year-old driver of the Dodge, meanwhile, was not injured in the accident.

People who live in the area say that it is a notorious spot for accidents. The Knox County Sheriff’s Department says that it is still investigating the cause of the crash.

Unfortunately, this accident shows that helmets can’t always spare motorcyclists from serious crash injuries. When accidents are severe or high impact, sometimes no amount of protection can prevent fatal injuries. That makes it all the more important for drivers to keep an eye out for motorcyclists, particularly while making turns on busy roads.

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel, “One killed in West Knox motorcycle crash,” Aug. 21, 2012

• Our firm handles similar situations to the one discussed in this post. If you would like to learn more about our practice, please visit our Knoxville motorcycle accident page.

We recently told you about a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study that shows how motorcycle helmets save lives. Despite the evidence, fewer states require motorcycle helmets than in decades past, and there’s an alarming trend in the number of fatal motorcycle accidents.

Back in the 1970s, all but three states required riders to wear motorcycle helmets. Now only 19 states maintain this requirement. (Most of those states do require helmets for younger motorcyclists.)

This may be a result of pressure from motorcyclists who do not think they should be forced to wear helmets if it’s not their preference. The American Motorcyclist Association says that it opposes helmet requirements because they have “unintended consequences.” Instead, the group emphasizes rider education and awareness.

Still, it’s hard to argue with the numbers. Back in 2002, there were about 3,200 motorcycle deaths. Less than a decade later, in 2010, there were 4,500. And that number has essentially doubled since the 1990s. Yet the number of people dying in car accidents is at its lowest point since the 1940s. Something’s off here, but what?

It all comes back to the CDC report, the results of which have been mirrored in many other reports over recent decades: Helmets save lives. In fact, hundreds of lives are saved every year by motorcycle helmets.

Still, many riders look at the helmet issue as one of personal liberty. The question comes up again and again: Can laws require people to do something for their own safety even if they don’t want to? Or do the social costs of not wearing a helmet outweigh that concern? The debate isn’t going away anytime soon.

Source: PBS, “Why rise in motorcycle deaths hasn’t meant tougher helmet laws,” June 19, 2012

As we reported in a recent blog post, data continues to support the stance that wearing a motorcycle helmet can save a rider’s life in the event of a motorcycle accident. Unfortunately, it’s never true 100 percent of the time.

A 25-year-old motorcyclist from Maryville was killed last week when his bike struck a tractor-trailer that was attempting to make a U-Turn. The accident happened on Hall Road close to Associates Boulevard in Alcoa.

A man driving a 2007 Kenworth truck for TLD Logistics Services in Knoxville was apparently trying to make a left U-turn. The motorcyclist, who was riding a 2006 Kowasaki motorcycle, apparently approached the semi in the northbound left-hand lane. He was unable to stop and slid directly into the side of the tractor trailer.

The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders, according to a police sergeant. The Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Alcoa Fire Department were among the responders. The 30-year-old truck driver, who is from Sparta, was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash and was not injured.

It’s not clear if charges are pending. The investigation was continuing after the accident.

Sadly, the crash shows that even with proper protective gear, such as helmets, motorcyclists are still vulnerable to injuries in accidents, particularly ones involving big vehicles. That makes it all the more important for bikers and other drivers to keep a proper lookout to avoid such accidents in the first place.

Source: The Daily Times, “Motorcyclist dies in collision with tractor trailer,” June 15, 2012

Quite often motorcyclists argue that they should have the freedom to decide whether they wear a helmet when they ride. Some don’t like the restriction of wearing a helmet, even if it offers protection.

Others would argue that in the case of motorcycle accidents, helmets save lives. And the statistics certainly seem to back that up, as evidenced by new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Rather unsurprisingly, the research shows that fewer motorcyclists die in the states that require motorcycle helmets. On top of that, about five times as many no-helmet bikers are killed in states with laws that are less restrictive.

Only about 12 percent of no-helmet deaths occurred in one of the 20 states that require everyone to wear a helmet. Data focused on a total of 14,283 motorcyclist deaths between 2008 and 2010. Over 6,000 of those motorcyclists were not wearing a helmet.

In addition to the number of deaths, the research found that helmets cut down on costs as well. In 2010, for example, it is estimated that helmets saved more than $3 billion in economic costs in the U.S. alone. That reportedly includes lost work productivity and medical expenses.

It’s not all or nothing. Some states mandate that teens and other riders wear helmets. And a handful of states don’t require riders to wear helmets, but require that they carry higher amounts in medical insurance.

Some say it shouldn’t matter what the bikers themselves want. The lead author of the study says simply, “These laws save lives.”

Source: Ocala.com, “CDC: Motorcycle helmet laws reduce deaths,” June 14, 2012

It may be a cliché, but experience matters, and that applies to everything from schooling to motorcycle riding. As for the latter, a new study reveals that the first 30 days during which a motorcyclist gets out on the road are often the most dangerous, with a higher incidence of motorcycle accidents.

In general, the first year of motorcycle riding is the most dangerous, and the first month in particular. In fact, during the first 30 days, motorcyclists are four times more likely to be involved in some sort of mishap than during the entire second year of riding.

One study took a look at insurance claims filed between 2003 and 2007. Of the claims involving motorcycle accidents, 22 percent of them were linked to accidents that occurred within 30 days of acquiring insurance coverage.

And while this seems somewhat puzzling, states that require motorcycle training for those under the age of 21 actually had higher crash rates. One possible reason for this, according to an article in the Republic, is that drivers taking such classes may already be licensed, which could potentially shorten a learning period required under a preliminary permit.

Whatever the reason, it seems that the more experience riders get, the safer they are. In the study, the claim rate dropped by a third in the second month of a motorcyclist’s experience, and by two-thirds within six months. That’s probably not a coincidence and shows that a rider’s comfort on the road can lead to safer conditions.

Source: The Republic, “Motorcycle crash risk drops sharply after the first month on the road,” Michael Virtanen, April 15, 2012

It’s important for drivers to watch out for motorcyclists. On the flip side of the coin, motorcyclists need to pay careful attention on the road, too. Motorcycle accidents with a heavy impact can be very serious, and a crash in Sevier County over the weekend is no exception.

A 30-year-old man from Sevierville was reportedly riding his 1997 Yamaha motorcycle along the 400 block of Old Knox Highway just north of the intersection with West Main Street, a bit after 6 p.m. on Sunday, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.

The motorcyclist was apparently traveling in the southbound lane when he struck a 2005 GMC pickup truck that was heading north. It’s not clear if the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, but he suffered serious injuries. He was flown by helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for treatment.

Unfortunately, he passed away earlier this week from his injuries. The pickup truck driver was released from LeConte Medical Center after being treated for injuries that were described as minor.

At this point, it’s not clear what exactly caused the accident, but the Sentinel reports that it is still under investigation. The Dalton Daily Citizen reports that the motorcyclist was a professional rodeo competitor.

Motorcycle accidents in Tennessee have been increasing over the last several years. For example, in 2004 there were 2,293 crashes, according to statistics provided by the government. By 2008, there were 3,257 motorcycle accidents. 2,530 of those accidents involved injuries and 143 of them were fatal.

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel, “Motorcyclist dies following Sevierville crash,” April 16, 2012

It’s important to look out for vehicles that may be merging onto a highway. Doing so can prevent serious car or motorcycle accidents. You would think that vehicles with flashing lights would be hard to miss, but a Knoxville motorist nearly ran over two policemen on motorcycles, causing them to crash. Now authorities are searching for the driver.

According to WBIR, the Knoxville Police Department says that earlier this week, two motorcycle patrol officers tried to merge onto the Interstate 140 ramp when a speeding vehicle nearly took them out. The officers had to swerve to avoid being run over and ended up crashing down onto the pavement. One report also indicates the motorcycles crashed into each other.

The speeding vehicle just kept going without bothering to stop.

One of the policemen suffered minor injuries, including cuts and scratches, and was treated at a nearby clinic. The other was taken to UT Medical Center. His condition wasn’t clear, but it was reported that his injuries were not life threatening.

Both officers were wearing helmets as they rode the Harley Davidson motorcycles. They also had their emergency lights flashing. The Knoxville Police believe that the speeding vehicle was a small gray car, most likely a Honda Civic. Officers were reportedly looking for the vehicle as investigators tried to reconstruct the accident.

Any driver should have the decency to stop if they cause an accident. The driver in this case could face serious charges, if he or she is located.

Source: WBIR, “KPD looking for car that caused crash that injured 2 officers,” Taz Painter, April 3, 2012

The details are still sketchy at this point, but one thing is for certain: A Pigeon Forge Police Department motorcycle officer suffered injuries in a crash over the weekend after a collision with a van. The motorcycle accident reportedly happened on Saturday afternoon near traffic light 1, on the portion of Sugar Hollow between the Cracker Barrel restaurant and the Wood Grill Buffet.

Witnesses told the Tennessee Highway Patrol that the officer was driving down the road on his motorcycle at about 3 p.m. when a minivan apparently pulled out in front of him as it made a left turn, colliding with his motorcycle. The officer apparently went over the handlebars and was injured.

The officer, who according to the Mountain Press is a longtime employee of the department, was conscious and well enough to summon help. He apparently called his department and told them he’d been in a crash. After the accident, the police chief said the officer’s condition was not known, but he was placed on a backboard and put in a back brace to help him recover.

He was conscious and talking at the hospital, where he was taken via ambulance shortly after the accident. An article on WATE TV’s website says that the officer’s injuries include abdomen and knee injuries. The motorcycle was apparently totaled in the crash.

An investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing. It’s not clear if charges may be pending against the other driver.

Source: Mountain Press, “PF motorcycle officer hurt in Saturday wreck,” March 17, 2012

When motorists don’t react quickly enough to traffic conditions, such as abrupt starts and stops, serious accidents can occur. When accidents like that involve motorcyclists, riders are particularly vulnerable to injuries. With minimal equipment to protect them, they are at risk if they are involved in crashes with multiple vehicles. A three-vehicle accident that left a motorcyclist in critical condition in Tennessee is currently being investigated, and charges may be pending against one of the drivers.

The motorcycle accident happened earlier this week on Highway 58 in Chattanooga. A motorist was in the center turn lane waiting to turn into a Hardee’s restaurant. Meanwhile, a 24-year-old woman was driving north in the left lane on the highway when she apparently didn’t react appropriately to halting traffic and swerved into the turn lane, striking the vehicle that was waiting to turn.

According to WRCB TV, the impact caused her to veer into the southbound lane near the 4800 block of Highway 58, where she collided with a 57-year-old motorcyclist. He was reportedly taken to Erlanger Medical Center and was listed in critical condition. The extent of his injuries wasn’t reported.

Many news sources report that investigators will attempt to reconstruct the crash to determine if charges are appropriate against the driver who lost control of her vehicle. It’s not known if alcohol might have been a factor in the accident. Blood tests were taken after the crash, which could also impact potential charges.

Source: WRCB TV, “Motorcyclist seriously injured in three vehicle accident,” Gary Poole, March 6, 2012

It’s a question debated by motorcyclists and safety advocates alike: Should motorcycle riders have a choice when it comes to wearing a helmet? A recent bill that would have ended helmet laws for those over 21 was withdrawn by state lawmakers this week.

That means that motorcyclists who enjoy the freedom of riding without helmets have experienced a setback. But safety advocates, as well as some state lawmakers, believe that helmets really do save lives when motorcycle accidents occur.

Many motorcyclists simply don’t want restrictions regarding the way they ride, despite studies that have shown the severe brain trauma that can result from accidents in which riders aren’t wearing helmets.

One Tennessee rider says he always wears a helmet. Once, he went around a curve too fast and landed on his head on a gravel portion of a road. He thinks his helmet probably saved his life.

He’s not alone, but others simply think helmets block their vision. As one rider tells Volunteer TV, “Helmets are vision impairing. When you have a helmet coming up to here, your peripheral vision is shot.” Others say helmets take the fun and spontaneity out of riding, and others just don’t want the government telling them what they can and cannot do.

Others argue that it’s not worth the risk. Even at low speeds, motorcyclists can suffer severe brain injuries if they are involved in an accident, many of which are long-lasting.

Whether riders like it or not, laws are not changing for the time being.

Source: Volunteer TV, “Lawmakers pull bill; abandon changes Tennessee helmet law,” Sara Shookman and Kate Burgess, Feb. 28, 2012