On January 29, 2009, Salvador Montoya, 29, of Porterville, California was found unconscious in the roadway by a Fresno Police Officer.

Apparently, last wednesday night, Mr. Montoya was crossing the street in Fresno, California when he was struck by a car.  It is presently unclear whethre the driver of the car or the pedestrian may have been contributorily negligent in causing the accident.  The car accident in Fresno county occurred at Morton Avenue west of Belmont Street in Porterville, California.  The pedestrian was not crossing in a cross-walk at the time he was hit.  The car driver stayed at the scene of the pedestrian-car accident, so this was not a hit-and-run accident.

As a result of the car striking this pedestrian, resulting in a car-pedestrian accident, an ambulance transported Mr. Montoya to an emergency helicoptor heli-pad where the injured pedestrian was airlifted to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, California.  As a result of this car-pedestrian accident, the pedestrian was rated to be in serious condition upon arrival at the hospital.  These serious injuries included severe leg injuries and head injuries, such as brain trauma and brain and spinal cord injuries - as well as blunt force trauma.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident in which the injured party was struck by a bicycle, car, motorcycle, truck, big rig, or any other motor vehicle in Fresno, contact one of our experienced Fresno Pedestrian Accident Attorneys immediately for a free consultation.

What should you look for when selecting a motorcycle helmet to protect your head and brain if you are involved in a motorcycle accident or collision?

Motorcycle helmets which meet the minimum Federal safety standards set by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) have a thick inner liner usually about one-inch thick of firm polystyrene foam.  Helmets which fail to comply with these standards, and will also fail to protect your head or brain if involved in a motorcycle crash, normally only contain soft foam padding or simply no padding at all.

Upon laying your bike down or being involved in a motorcycle collision, your helmet's chin straps should be used which will secure the helmet to protect your head, brain and spine from road rash, scraping and bruising.  Additionally, to absorb and protect from brain injury, your motorcycle helmet should generally weigh about three (3) pounds.  If your helmet weighs one pound or less than it is likely a novelty helmet, and it will not protect the wearer.

Generally, unsafe helmets are noticeably smaller in diameter and thinner than ones meeting the DOT standard.  Additionally, full-face motorcycle helmets when worn correctly generally protect more than non-full-face helmets.  There is also a smaller likelihood that the full-face helmets will be separated from the rider upon a motorcycle accident.

All riders know of a friend who has been involved in an accident and the damage that can occur at even low speeds.  It is therefore important that you always wear a DOT approved motorcycle helmet which is secured properly as well as other protective gear to make sure you can always return to your loving family.

If you or a loved was was injured in a motorcycle accident in Fresno, California, please contact one of our motorcycle injury attorneys to discuss the payment of your medical bills and just compensation for any brain injuries or head trauma that you may have suffered.