A study, commissioned by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and researched by a University of Southern California researcher found that when a motorcycle lane splits it is safer than the motorcycle sitting in stop-and-go traffic.  This study found that when a motorcycle sits in stop-and-go traffic, the motorcycle rider is more likely to be struck by cars and ultimately "sandwiched" between two or more cars.

Of the 7,163 accidents in California last year in which someone was either killed or injured, 2,822 of them had factors often associated with lane splitting.  Those factors include excessive speed, unsafe lane changes, improper passing and following too closely.

Generally, the general rule of thumb for lane splitting is to split lanes number 1 and number 2 and to travel no more than fifteen (15) to twenty (20) miles faster than traffic.  Travelling any faster may directly result in a higher likelihood of being involved in a motorcycle accident.

If you or a loved one was involved in a motorcycle accident in Fresno, please contact one of our highly trained Fresno Motorcycle Accident Attorneys.

The California Highway Patrol does not list motorcycle lane splitting as a factor in accident reports.

As California permits motorcycle riders to ride in between lanes traveling in the same direction, the rider of the other motor vehicles should be aware of the motorcycle riders presence.

Therefore, if you were involved in a motorcyle accident while lane splitting in Fresno, and through the negligence of the other drivers, you were hit because the other driver didn't see you or was simply negligent, please contact one of our Fresno Motorcycle Accident Attorneys today for a free consultation.

Last wednesday, thick fog (where at sometimes there was only a visible distance of about 50 feet) was a determining factor in several multi-vehicle accidents including all types of motor vehicles, incluidng: cars, trucks, motorcycles and SUVs.  The number and severity of the injuries ranged from severe bleeding, brain injuries, and broken bones to minor scratches.  A police officer at one of the car accient scenes stated that there were so many injuries that all ambulances were being used - so the emergency medical personnel were being stretched to their ultimate limits.

These multi-vehicle pileups occurred at various locations Highway 43 at Kansas in the South Valley while various other multi-vehicle crashes resulted on Highway 198.  There was also major injuries on Highway 41 near Conejo in Fresno County.

With respect to the accident on Highway 43, it occurred just after 8:00 AM. Two cars collided which resulted in backing up traffic and creating further delays.  This crash directly resulted in creating a four vehicle (car, motorcycle, SUV, big rig, etc.) accident.

Less than an hour after these motor vehicle accidents on Highway 43, six (6) separate accidents resulted on Highway 198 at Second Street, east of Hanford. In these separate accidents, there were a total of 15 (fifteen) vehicles, including two (2) big rigs which caused the higway to be closed.  Amongst these various accidents, only two people had serious enough injuries (and did not waive their right) to be taken to the hospital.

Approximately an hour after this second send of crashes occurred, on Highway 41 near Conejo in Fresno County,  two cars collided.  This car accident resulted in traffic backing up on this Fresno county highway which led to twelve (12) other vehicles either crashing, colliding or getting into an accident.  This Fresno County highway shut down for a little over two hours as the injured were cared for and the higway was cleared up debris and the cars involved in the accidents were removed and towed away.

If you or a loved one was injured in this or another multi-vehicle accident with a big rig, truck, car, automobile or motorcycle, please contact one of our Fresno Auto Accident Attorneys, Fresno Truck Accident Attorneys and / or Fresno Motorcycle Accident Attorneys.

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.

On Thursday April 2, 2009 it was reported that a California correctional deputy from Porterville has died in a motorcycle accident on a local freeway last night on his way to meet his family for dinner not to far from Fresno. His motorcycle was hit by a car and he was air lifted to the Fresno hospital where he later died. There are no details concerning the other driver, and it is assumed that they were not injured. The accident is still being investigated but it appears that the car who struck the deputy is at fault. More details will be revealed as the pending investigation finds more information concerning the cause of the accident.

It is probable that the deputy was thrown from his motorcycle and onto the road or into traffic. He may have suffered critical injuries such as severe burns and scraps as the result of hitting and rolling across the pavement. The intensity of a fall such as this would have caused serious damage to his internal organs, caused broken bones, or even severe brain damage. If this would not have been a fatal motorcycle accident it is most likely that the victim would have suffered for years to come with the injuries he suffered in the motorcycle crash.

Motorcycle accidents may be the result of a reckless motorcycle operator, or a negligent automobile driver.  In this case it appears as though a man suffered a wrongful death because of the reckless driviing of another car driver. If you or your loved one has ever been involved in am motorcycle accident in or around Fresno, California which was caused by negligence of automobile driver or your loved one has been killed in a motorcycle accident caused by being hit by another car you should contact one of our Fresno Motorcycle Accident Attorneys today for a free consultation.

On Tuesday March 24, 2009 a woman driving southbound on Highway 99 in Fresno, California was shot at by another automobile while driving her car along the 99 close to American Avenue. It was around 7pm in the evening when she noticed a Chevrolet GMC pick- truck, with several passengers, beside her on the 99 highway. She soon heard gun shots, and not long after realized that she was injured. The police are still trying to determine if her injuries are minor or severe and if they were caused from the bullets or from the broken glass fragments of her car window. The pick-up truck drove away, and is wanted by the Fresno County Sheriff's Department.

Whether it is a simple fender bender, a serious car crash, a fatal car accident, or something like a shooting while driving on the highway, it can be considered a legal issue. In Fresno, Highway 99 is the scene for many car accidents like head-on collisions, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents.  In the case of the Fresno Highway 99 shooting reported above, a possible multiple car crash could have occurred had the driver been severely injured and lost control of her automobile.

There were no fatalities in this story, but there have been many fatalities in stories involving car accidents, head-on collisions, and motorcycle accidents on the 99 in Fresno. With this known fact, all Fresno residents, and those using the 99 highway for their travels and work commutes should be made aware of the highly educated and qualified Fresno Highway 99 Accident Lawyers.

At The Law Offices of Lee Arter, our Fresno Highway 99 Accident Attorneys are ready and available to offer you a free, confidential consultation. Our desire is to help you or your loved ones with legal needs in matters of auto accidents on Highway 99, and / or other roads in and around Fresno.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at one time determined that Fresno, California ranked eighth statewide annually for motor vehicle accidents and collisions.  Specially, by years-end of 1999, 3,445 injuries and 50 fatalities occurred in Fresno City, CA.  Car and motorcycle crashes are responded to by the Fresno City Fire Department within Fresno city-limits who employ firefighters and certified emergency medical technicians. 

As is a common problem, training and equipment are at the mercy of a city and state's budget.  Specifically, the emergency personnel in Fresno, CA did not have the appropriate extraction equipment needed to remove individuals involved in bicycle accidents, truck accidents, car accidents, or motorcycle accidents which occurred within the city-limits of Fresno, California.  The budget constraints further prevented the Fresno City from disseminating a safety awareness education program, specifically in the use of seat belts, baby car seats, and bicycle helmets to further educate individuals and directly result in the protection and reduction of injuries to children from traffic accidents.

Upon receiving a grant, the City of Fresno immediately created a Vehicle Extrication Program as well as further expanding the existing Fresno public education and awareness program to directly combat its concerns of unnecessary injuries to children involved in both motor vehicle accidents and bicycle crashes.  To further educate the citizens of Fresno, the Fresno Fire Department participated in over 50 safety events in 2000 where over 7,000 children, parents and teachers were further educated.  The Fresno Fire Department further donated over 250 bicycle helmets to children to immediately begin protecting the children of Fresno, CA.

It is essential that your city follow the affirmative steps of Fresno, California to ensure that your residents are kept safe and are assisted with the newest and best technology in the unlikely event that you are involved in a car accident.

Despite these vast improvements to assist individuals who are involved in car accidents or other motor vehicle accidents within Fresno, California - these accidents continue to occur.  A professional and knowledgable Fresno motor vehicle accident lawyer should be hired if you were involved in any vehicle collision, especially if serious injuries, high medical costs, brain injuries or brain trauma resulted as a result of the negligence of another driver.

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.

On February 2, 2009, two motorcyle riders were out riding side by side Highway 88, just East of Tabeaud Road.  Both motorcycle riders were riding westbound on Highway 88.  According to the California Highway Patrol, both motorcycles drifted over the double-yellow-lines into oncoming traffic traveling eastbound.

The driver of a 2002 Toyota Sienna Van veered to the right in an attempt to avoid both motorcycle riders.  One of the motorcycle riders was grazed by the van and was knocked off his motorcycle and skidded along the ground.  His passengerless motorcycle continued driving on for a couple hundred feet prior coming to rest.  The other motorcycle rider was hit in a head-on collision with the van.  This motorcycle accident was fatal for this motorcycle rider who died from his critical injuries as a direct result of this motorcycle accident.  The other motorcycle rider involved in the motorcycle accident was transported to Sutter Amador Hospital in Jackson with serious injuries, including a broken left ankle and a sprained left wrist.  The driver of the van was not physically harmed.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a similar motorcycle accident in Fresno, please contact one of our Fresno Motorcycle Accident Attorneys for a confidential free initial consultation.