June 27th, 2012 at 11:35 am 
Last June Ronald Bizeau Jr., 25, was killed on his motorcycle due to what his mother declares as the negligent posting of a traffic control sign. The family is now suing the city of Chicago for their loss.
The suit states that a sign placed to notify motorists that the lane going south on Harlem Avenue near Myrtle Avenue was closed due to construction played a role in the cause of the accident. Bizeau was on his 1998 Suzuki going south on Harlem when he ran into the sign, reported police, (Family of motorcyclist killed in crash sues city, Naomi Nix, Tribune Reporter, Chicago Tribune,
Bizeau was then tossed from his bike, resulting in serious injuries and was taken to Advocate Luther General Hospital only to be pronounced dead later that day at 1:40am.
The family's great grief and expensive funeral charges are the reasons behind filing the suit says Bizeau's mother Nancy Bizeau-Luchesi.
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June 19th, 2012 at 2:13 pm
Ride through Baltimore lately? The next time you do you may notice at busy intersections new yellow diamond shaped traffic signs that state WATCH FOR MOTORCYCLES. These signs are all part of the effort Allstate Insurance Company has been putting forth to reduce the number of motorcycle accidents at intersections.
Allstate developed their “Once is Never Enough” (ONE) program two years ago, a campaign to promote drivers to look twice for motorcycles. Since then the program has installed 100 of their WATCH FOR MOTORCYCLES signs temporarily from 2010-2011 in over 30 different cities throughout the U.S.
Allstate works directly with local traffic authorities to pinpoint the most congested/dangerous intersections in their city to have the signs placed, then donates and installs them. Intersections are the worst areas for motorcycle-vehicle accidents as according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 46% of all motorcycle accidents involving another vehicle resulting in death occur at intersections.
The goal is to reduce motorcyclist fatalities at intersections, and as these signs are installed one-by-one awareness brought directly to the streets, hopefully grabbing motorists' attention to LOOK TWICE SAVE A LIFE.
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June 14th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
Have a thing for vintage bikes? Then you won't want to miss out on the AMA (American Motorcycle Association) Vintage Motorcycle Days in Ohio!
The event is taking place from July 20-22 at the Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Each day offers different racing events, shows, and much more! Friday hosts the Ride ‘Em Don't Hide ‘Em Show which starts off with participants riding a lap around the course, then heading out for a 25-mile ride to return at 2pm for the judging. There are separate classes of judging which include American, British, European, Japanese, and Special/Customs, (AMA: Bike Shows at Vintage Motorcycle Days Feature All Makes and Models, AMA Communications, http://motorcycling.speedtv.com/article/ama-bike-shows-at-vintage-motorcycle-days-feature-all-makes-and-models/).
Not all shows include a race; there is a Hall of Fame Static Bike Show scheduled for Saturday. This show is for bikes that have been restored or in original condition from 1900-1989. Classes for this show include America, British, European, and Japanese. Bikes entered in this show will be on public display all day.
Beyond these two highlighted events there is a HUGE schedule posted on their website at http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/events/amavintagemotorcycledays. Other events you won't want to miss out on are amateur national championship road racing, motocross, trials and dirt-track vintage classes, a classic field meet for motorcycles and scooters, seminars, hare scrambles, as well as the largest U.S. motorcycle swap meet!
Ticket pricing for this event are as follows:
- Full weekend pass: $55
- General Admission for Friday, Saturday, OR Sunday: $35
- ALL children 12 and under FREE with adult
- Tent camping: $45
- Vehicle Pass: $100
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June 8th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Hot off the presses! THE Motorcycle Lawyer℠ Jason Waechter recently published Litigating Motorcycle Injury & Death Cases. The book acts as an aid for victims of motorcycle accidents and the attorneys that represent them.
It's impossible to cover all of the details of personal injury law or motorcycle law in one single book and this book is no different. Attorney Jason Waechter prepared this book as a basic guide of Michigan's Automobile No-Fault Law, and hopes it can bring clarification to those wanting to learn more about the law.
Subjects in the book range from the distinctions between different classes of motorcycles, motorcycle statistics, overview of an insurance claim, common motorcycle injuries, litigation, and much more.
If you are ever involved in an accident, don't hesitate to call Jason Waechter, THE Motorcycle Lawyer℠! He wrote the book!
 
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May 29th, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Boxer Paul Williams was in a motorcycle accident in Marietta Georgia this past Sunday and is now paralyzed from the waist down.
Williams was in the neighborhood for his brother's wedding later that afternoon. While maneuvering along a curve Williams' attempted to dodge a vehicle in the lane next to him. Police say his speed was too fast to make the curve and hit the embankment. Williams fell of his bike landing on his back and head, severing his spinal cord. He is currently at an undisclosed hospital and is listed in to be in serious condition but stable, (Boxer Paul Williams paralyzed in motorcycle crash, manager says, Associate Press, Mercury News,
http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_20732825/boxer-paul-williams-paralyzed-motorcycle-crash-manager-says).
Fellow boxer Saul “Canelo” Alvarez was scheduled to fight Williams on September 15 in Las Vegas, but is now canceled says Williams' manager George Peterson. Peterson has been visiting and in contact with Williams and reports that “from the waist down, he has absolutely no movement. He's in very good spirits, though. He still believes he's going to fight again.”
His long time promoter Dan Goossen has confirmed the cancellation of the event and states that “right now, there's no thinking about his fights right now except for the fight that's facing Paul right now – get movement back in his body and keep the movement that's above his waist. I want to think along with him, ‘cause I've seen him do things in his boxing career that shouldn't have happened,” (Boxer Paul Williams paralyzed in motorcycle crash, manager says, Associate Press, Mercury News).
Goossen is referring to the fact that Williams has had anything but an ordinary boxing career. He is considered to be one of the most versatile and remarkable in the boxing world as he has competed in three different weight classes at 147-pounds 6-foot 2-inch. With everyone in good spirits and high hopes Peterson wants Williams' fans to know that “he's going to be alright and he'll be back. He said if he wasn't going to be boxing, he's going to be a stand-up comedian,” (Boxer Paul Williams paralyzed in motorcycle crash, manager says, Associate Press, Mercury News).
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May 21st, 2012 at 3:20 pm
In the State of California a driver who was texting while driving hit and killed a motorcyclist has now been sentenced to five years in prison.
Sequoia Jones, 23, was driving and texting in her Volkswagen Beetle in Sacramento on October 24 when she sideswiped Robert Wilson, 64, on his motorcycle. The collision knocked Wilson off his bike, resulting in his death after another car ran over his body, (Texting Driver Gets Prison Time in Death of Motorcyclist: But In Another State, Community Service Is Ordered, American Motorcyclist, June 2012).
Jones was charged with vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run to which she pleaded no contest on March 12 and then was sentenced to five years in jail.
In a similar case in North Carolina Andrew James Watkins, 25, pleaded guilty in 2011 after his driving while texting resulted in the death of motorcyclist Joel Severson, 39. Watkins sentence did not include the same amount of jail time however, he was given a 60-day suspension of jail term, perform 200 hours of community service and a $1,000 court fine, (Texting Driver Gets Prison Time in Death of Motorcyclist: But In Another State, Community Service Is Ordered, American Motorcyclist, June 2012).
AMA Government Affairs Manager Imre Szauter stated on the matter “these are very tragic cases in which texting while driving caused needless deaths. Our condolences go out to the Wilson and Severson families. Distracted driving poses a deadly danger to motorcyclists, and it's something that we are working on to try to reduce,” (Texting Driver Gets Prison Time in Death of Motorcyclist, American Motorcyclist, June 2012).
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May 15th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
This is the month! May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month! Whether you are a long time rider or just bought your first bike last week, THE Motorcycle Lawyer thinks it's always a good idea to brush up on some safety tips before hitting the open road!
- Always be alert! BUT especially at intersections. Roughly 50% of all motorcycle-vehicle accidents occur at intersections. The most common is a vehicle turning left in front of a motorcycle, so always be prepared to act quickly.
- Glancing in your mirrors before switching lanes or coming to a stop could prevent a rear-end collision.
- Watch the road a distance ahead of you so you are aware of any hazards or traffic issues before you are upon them.
- So many motorcyclists ride by this common tip: “Assume you are invisible to other motorists on the road and operate your motorcycle accordingly.” Ride to be seen, take up a lane and ride in it where you will be noticed by motorists. Headlights are a must during the day and night. Wearing reflective and bright clothing helps any motorcyclist be seen.
- Ride at a speed that is appropriate for the road conditions, i.e. weather, traffic, or construction.
- Treat other vehicles & motorcycles with courtesy and respect.
- Avoid tailgating and riding in between lanes.
- Always use signals when necessary.
(Motorcycle Safety, DOT HS 807 709, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
As a motorcyclist sometimes the only prevention you have against an accident from occuring is riding defensively. Always be aware of your surroundings and ride safe this season!
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May 14th, 2012 at 10:13 am
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April 19th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Audi will be taking Ducati under its Volkswagen wing. Although neither Audi nor the current owner of the motorcycle brand, an Italian Investment company Investindustrial, have made a formal statement, the deal is estimated to be for $1.1 billion.
Looking at the overall value of the company, taking into account the deal on the table and subtracting the company's debt, the actual value of Ducati is estimated to be seven times that of its profit from 2011 (discounting interest and taxes). The liabilities as of last month were reported by Investindustrial to be less than $262.7 million, (VW's Audi Nears Purchase of Ducati, Christoph Rauwald, The Wall Street Journal,
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304432704577349831924790146.html).
The famous motorcycle company was founded back in 1926, and has proven itself in standard having won 17 manufacturer's World Championship titles, and holding the current 2011 World Superbike Championship title. So it comes as no wonder why the Chairman of Volkswagen Ferdinand Piech, who celebrated his 75 birthday this past Tuesday, has eyed the company for years, having tried to purchase it previously in 2008, (VW's Audi Nears Purchase of Ducati, Christoph Rauwald, The Wall Street Journal).
Ducati will become the 11th brand under Volkswagen. It looks like it will fit right in with Audi's Superbike 119 Panigale S Tricolore, and upping the ante in the company's motorcycle competition between BMW models.
42,000 Ducati motorbikes were sold in 2011, accumulating to $630.2 million. However, Christoph Stuermer, a Frankfurt analyst with IHS Automotive believes that “Ducati is one of the finest machines you can buy,” but that the company is “mere accessory and insignificant for Volkswagen,” (VW's Audi Nears Purchase of Ducati, Christoph Rauwald, The Wall Street Journal).
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April 13th, 2012 at 1:16 pm
The proposed motorcycle helmet law, Senate Bill 291, has now become law. Governor Rick Snyder announced this decision today, April 13th, 2012.
The new law lessens helmet restrictions allowing motorcycle operators to ride without a helmet provided they are 21 years of age or older, have at least $20,000 of first-party medical benefits insurance coverage, and either have had a motorcycle endorsement for more than two years OR earn a motorcycle endorsement by passing an accredited or certified motorcycle safety course.
A passenger on a motorcycle may ride helmetless under the new law if the passenger is at least 21 years of age and is also covered for at least $20,000 of first-party medical insurance benefits (either by the operator's cycle insurance or their own). So, if you were to ride with a passenger, you may need an additional $20,000 of this medical coverage in addition to the $20,000 you require as the operator.
Proponents of the new law argued that being able to choose whether or not to wear a helmet is a freedom. They also point out that Michigan's tourism industry is presently negatively impacted because riders from our neighboring states do not have to wear a helmet (Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, & Wisconsin) and, therefore, avoid Michigan destinations.
Opponents of the new law argued that statistics report greater head injuries to helmetless riders. These injuries result in an increase in medical costs (to the government and to insurance companies), and a resulting increase in our no-fault insurance rates.
Passing a similar law was attempted twice during Gov. Jennifer Granholm's tenure, but was vetoed on both of the attempts. The present law was sponsored by State Senator Phil Pavlov, R-St. Clair Township. Governor Snyder stated in a news release that, "While many motorcyclists will continue to wear helmets, those who choose not to deserve the latitude to make their own informed judgments."
In an interview with a news reporter, Jason was asked; "How will the new law impact a civil negligence case of a motorcyclist who was not wearing a helmet?"
His answer: I think defense attorneys will argue that not wearing a helmet was unreasonable and that not wearing a helmet was a cause of some injury or severity of injury to the motorcyclist. If the jury agrees, it would assess a percent of negligence against the motorcyclist and that percentage would be subtracted from the dollar amount awarded by the jury. If the jury decides that the motorcyclist was more than 50% negligent, the motorcyclist will get no money damages for his or her injury.
Jason Waechter
THE Motorcycle Lawyer sm
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