On January 18, 2009, in Ada County, Illiniois, a ten year old girl died from blunt force trauma injuries when a fourteen year old boy driving a motorcycle struck the young girl from behind.  Upon the motorcycle colliding with the girl's bicycle, the motorycle accident caused the young girl to be thrown from her bicycle.  From the collision of the motorcycle as well as contact with the pavement, the young girl sustained blunt force trauma injuries as well as other serious injuries.  While the young girl sustained brain injuries as a direct result of the motorycle accident, there is no indication that she was wearing a helmet.

The young girl's death was reported within four hours of the motorcycle accident, where the young girl  was transported to St. Luke's Regional Medical Center Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Initially, the motorcycle accident and resulting fatality has been ruled as an accident, but the family of the young girl may still have rights against the young boy's family for their loss.  It is essential that they contact an attorney immediately so witnesses and data may be collected while such facts are fresh beyond the investigation being conducted by the Elmore County Sheriff's Office.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in Fresno, please visit our Fresno Lawyers Website and speak with one of our knowledgable personal injury attorneys.

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.

You should always wear a DOT approved motorcycle helmet in the unlikely event you are involved in a motorcycle crash.

Motorcycle helmets are scientifically proven to save lives.  To properly protect these motorcycle riders, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) requires that all motorcycle helmets sold in the United States meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218.

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218 defines the minimum helmet crash and performance impact levels that will protect a motorcycle rider's head and brain in the event of a non-fatal accident.  The U.S. Dept. of Transportation conducts compliance testing to ensure those helmets presently being sold in the United States meet the Federal safety standards.  Now, many States also require motorcycle riders to wear helmets that satisfy FMVSS 218 requirements.

Some motorcycle helmet manufacturers attempt to circumvent FMCSS 218 by selling their helmets as novelty items. In the unlikely event of a motorcycle accident while wearing a novelty helmet, the rider may be seriously injured and may not be able to recover because of his failure to wear a DOT approved motorcycle helmet.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Fresno, please visit our website.