Motorcycle Fatalities in San Antonio drop

Friends say Leonard Goff, 52, would be alive had he heeded his longtime girlfriend's advice to wear a helmet when he rode his motorcycle.

Goff, a longtime motorcyclist, died in a crash after losing control while speeding in the 14100 block of Judson Road on April 21. According to a police report, he may have been drinking.

He is the eighth motorcycle rider killed in a crash in San Antonio this year, police said. But they also say fatal crashes are on the decline: In 2012, eight fewer people died in motorcycle crashes than in 2011.

Texas is one of 16 states that has seen a drop in motorcyclist fatalities in recent years, unlike the rest of the country, where fatalities are expected to reach a record 5,027 once 2012 numbers are finalized, according to a study released by the Governors Highway Safety Association.

“We don't really know why they declined; the numbers fluctuate every year,” said Barbara Harsha, GHSA's executive director. “The state is probably paying more attention to motorcycle safety, but the most effective countermeasure is mandatory helmet laws for all riders.”

While Texas legislators in 1997 repealed a law requiring all riders to wear helmets, those younger than 21 still must wear them when riding, according to the Texas Transportation Code. Shortly after repealing the law, fatalities in Texas increased, published reports state, and the Texas Department of Transportation took notice.

The agency says an aggressive education campaign that began in 2008 is what's caused the drop in fatalities in Texas.

“We saw these fatalities starting to come up, and we knew that we had to focus on it,” said Carol Rawson, the director of TxDOT's traffic operations division. “There was a focus on this, like a laser. The benefits are coming about now, and 28 people didn't lose their lives in a motorcycle crash last year.”

She said that after interviewing motorists involved in crashes with motorcycles, the drivers often claimed not to have seen the bike, so officials targeted the campaign to better inform motorists. Called “Share the Road,” the effort includes electronic and road signs, advertising and education for both riders and drivers.

Texas motorcyclists aren't required to wear helmets, so long as they complete a rider training program or hold medical insurance covering motorcycle crash injuries. But they are encouraged in safety classes to wear helmets.

Rudy Vogt, 37, said Goff, who was a good friend, was a safe rider who was driving too fast while taking a curve on an unlit portion of the road.

Goff, described in an obituary as a “jack of all trades” who had many hobbies, “the greatest of which was riding his motorcycle,” is survived by his life partner, Angela Kiebler, and sons Anthony Goff and Joshua Mancini.

“He just didn't see the curve, but this could have been prevented,” Vogt said. “I always wear my helmet. I believe in it because my brother got into an accident, and a helmet saved his life.”


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source: My San Antonio (Moravec, 4/29)

The Basics of Motorcycle Helmet Safety

It's not set in stone, but it is thought that the earliest motorcycle was built in 1885 by Gottlieb Daimler. A simple device, not intended for high speed, there was no thought for head protection. Indian followed suit in 1902, followed closely by Harley Davidson in 1903, with motorcycles that went faster than the predecessor. These two builders battled it out for fastest bikes in the interim of 1931 and 1953, and as their bikes got faster, so did the fatality rate from motorcycles crashes climb.

The history of the modern motorcycle helmet began in 1953 when Professor C.F. Lombard, known as "Red," of the University of Southern California (USC), applied for a patent for a motorcycle helmet that featured a dual layer of padding focused on the design of absorbing and distributing the shock of impact in the case of accident.

By 1958, California set the precedent for motorcycle safety by requiring motorcycle police officers to wear helmets; But the United States wasn't the only country beginning to understand the need for safety.

American National Safety Standard

On January, 1, 1961, Australia passed the first law mandating the use of motorcycle helmets, well that seemed to get the ball rolling. In The United States in 1966, the American National Safety Standard for Motorcycle Helmets was introduced, this organization set required performance standards for helmets that all manufacturers were required to build their helmets to

The Highway Safety Act of 1966 was introduced by the federal government which stated that helmet laws in all states were required to be eligible for federal funding for highway maintenance and construction. In 1974 the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) set safety standards that every motorcycle helmet was required to pass and all helmets must be inspected and have a DOT sticker to prove that the helmet passed the inspection and met the minimum requirements. The USC Head Protection Research Laboratories lobbied the federal government in 1997 to upgrade these standards.

Back to 1977, for reasons unknown, the federal government repealed the helmet law and within three years half of the states followed suit and repealed their own helmet laws. Motorcycle injuries and fatalities rose sharply, seems the people forgot that 80% of motorcycle accidents resulted in injury or death. Statistics show that a motorcyclist is twenty-one times per driven mile more likely to be killed than persons driving cars.

The Attractiveness of the Helmet

This risk decreases by 29% if a helmet is worn. But, opponents to helmet laws cite freedom of choice as to whether or not they should wear a helmet, regardless of what the statistics show based on the thought that it didn't hurt anyone except themselves. Wrong! The numbers showed that more likely than not, those that chose "freedom of choice" and didn't wear helmets, usually chose not to have insurance as well. When these persons were injured in accidents it was left for the taxpayers to absorb the cost of their hospitalization. Not to mention the effect on friends and family when left to care for a paraplegic or quadriplegic loved one, without the benefit of insurance to pay for their care. Currently only three states do not have mandatory helmet laws.

The Biker Lawyers are experienced Texas motorcycle accident lawyers that also love to ride. We know Texas motorcycle law and the bias against bikers; therefore, we are dedicated to aggressively winning motorcycle accident cases. We will actively fight to not only protect your rights, but also win the settlement you deserve.

The Cole Legal Group regularly represents motorcycle accident clients all over the great state of Texas, including Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Waxahachie. Call us today at 1-800-245-5539 for a free case evaluation!

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Wednesday test drive on motorcycle leads to riders death

A man was test driving a motorcycle at Alamo Cycle Plex in San Antonio Wednesday afternoon around 3:45pm.

The man reported to be 43 years old, was pulling out of the motorcycle dealership riding a black 2005 Kawasaki and getting onto the eastbound access lane near Dezavala Rd. when apparently a problem began. The man was first clipped by a small yellow car knocking him off the motorcycle. Then the man was struck by a second car.

Authorities arrived shortly after 4:00pm and shut down a section of I-10 for about an hour and a half. The investigators were attempting to discover whether the motorcycles malfunction was due to mechanical failure or the riders mistake.

The cyclists name was not released at the time. But it was stated that the rider was wearing a helmet.


source: Examiner.com (Fields, 7/28)

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If you or a loved one is involved in a motorcycle accident in Texas, contact David Cole at the Cole Legal Group.  He is a Texas Biker Lawyer, a fellow rider, and a personal injury lawyer that knows what it takes to get the compensation riders deserve. Unafraid of the courthouse and his opponents, he has fought for injured Texas motorcyclists from Beaumont to Amarillo to Brownsville to Dallas.    Bringing his personal biking experience and dogged determination, he leaves no stone unturned to protect his clients.