Texas Officers Discuss The Perils of Motorcycle Escort Duty

Nearly every day, Houston-area motorists share streets and freeways with police officers on motorcycle who are escorting funerals, dignitaries, wide-cargo loads or controlling traffic outside sporting events.

The two-wheeled duty can be dangerous and even deadly: At least one officer was killed and seven others were injured as off-duty escorts in the past five years, according to a Houston Chronicle accident analysis.

Sgt. Matt Novotny, 52, is recovering from a broken pelvis and other severe injuries he received when was hit by a motorist Dec. 12. Novotny, the head of Pasadena Police Department's 10-officer motorcycle unit, was working an off-duty job escorting a funeral when he was hit at the intersection of West Fuqua and Almeda. The female driver, who police determined was not impaired, had a green light but apparently failed to see the officer.

"It is a very dangerous thing," said Vance Mitchell, spokesman for the Pasadena police. "This is probably the worse we've had, and this is the third one in the last 12 months."

The most recent death appears to be a January 2008 accident that killed Harris County Precinct 7 Deputy Constable David Joubert, 60, who was on his way to escorting a funeral in Houston when a car pulled in front of him.

Vehicle of choice

Toy Leach is one of the Houston Police Department's 46 officers assigned to the motorcycle detail, officers who have to requalify annually to ride their Harley-Davidson Road King police motorcycles. Motorcycles are the vehicle of choice for escorts because they can maneuver between cars to clear congested intersections.

"The intersections are the hardest because some of them are big, and they're three lanes coming from each direction," said Leach, a two-year veteran. "So when a motorcycle goes up there and puts their lights and sirens on, the people don't see you on a motorcycle anyway. The intersection is the most dangerous part, you have people running red lights and stuff like that."

The Harris County Sheriff's Office currently employs nine full-time motorcycle officers assigned to traffic investigations, and another 22 who work only off-duty escorts of oversize cargo loads or funerals processions. Three deputies have died over the past 30 years in motorcycle accidents, and two were escorting funerals. The latest was Deputy Keith Fricke, who died in June 1997 after a car cut through the procession and hit Fricke's motorcycle.

Lt. Darryl Coleman, head of the Harris County Sheriff's Office traffic enforcement section, said the biggest danger is motorists who don't notice the motorcycle officers, even when they are using their emergency lights and have sirens on.

"The known dangers are the unaware motorists, the inattentive motorists who not aware of the police motorcycle who is approaching them," said Lt. Darryl Coleman. "The (motorcycle officer) has to be on the lookout for the driver who is not on the lookout for them."

Coleman said it has been years since a sheriff's motorcycle officer died, and the most recent accident was last December when a deputy was injured while escorting participants in the Texas Bowl football game near the Galleria.

A Houston city ordinance requires that all funeral processions be escorted by at least one police motorcycle, and at least two for a procession of more than 10 vehicles. Off-duty motorcycle officers are hired by funeral homes to do the escorts, and they are paid from $125 to $225, depending on the number of stops and which department the officers belong to.

Call to repeal ordinance

In addition to the off-duty escorts, police departments assign motorcycle officers while on duty to escort funerals of officers and their families, as well as escorting visiting dignitaries.

Houston police, since January 2010, have assigned their motorcycle officers to escort vehicles at 188 events, including 151 funerals of police officers and their relatives, as well as other city workers. The remaining escorts were either for dignitaries or for traffic control at major sporting events.

HPD said its last serious motorcycle accident took place when Officer Scott Hamilton was escorting a funeral in January 2010. His injuries required multiple reconstructive surgeries to his face, causing him to retire for medical reasons.

One Houston funeral director wants elected officials to repeal the ordinance requiring motorcycle escorts for a funeral procession, saying it has become increasingly dangerous to officers and those in the motorcade. He'd rather have mourners meet the hearse and the family at the church or cemetery.

"I've seen over the years it's getting more dangerous. We're endangering the police officers, and the people going down the road and the people in the procession," said Greg Compean, owner of Compean Funeral Home. "It comes at a cost, and I'm not talking about economics but about someone getting seriously hurt, or even killed."

Refusal to yield

Leach, the HPD officer, says motorists have sometimes refused to yield to a police escort, forcing him to explain that city ordinance extends the authority of a police emergency vehicle to off-duty escorts.

But the motorcycle officers are mainly concerned with the drivers who are zooming along, talking on their cell phones or otherwise not paying attention.

"You're ready to move out of the way if a car's coming. You've got your head on a swivel," Leach said.

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source: officer.com (Pinkerton, 12/19)

Weird Motorcycle Law: Honduras outlaws motorcycle passengers to... prevent shootings?!

We've seen some pretty strange legislation crop up when it comes to curbing crime, but Honduras has reached new extremes. According to the BBC, the country has outlawed passengers on motorcycles in an effort to fight a homicide epidemic. Honduras has the world's highest murder rate, with 82 people killed out of every 100,000 per year. Two recent high-profile killings involved shooters who fired at their victims while riding shotgun on motorcycles, and President Porfiro Lobo has responded by asking congress to put a ban on bike passengers for six months as a result.

The country faces a rash of problems as Mexican drug cartels move to expand their influence. Honduras currently serves as a corridor for cocaine traffic from South America, and the presence of violent gangs in the nation has only serve to further destabilize the area. The country began deploying armed troops as police enforcers in November.

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source: autoblog.com (Bowman, 12/13)

Subaru, Honda, recall vehicles due to brake issues

2012 Honda Gold Wing GL-1800 Motorcycle

Subaru of America is recalling three of its car models and Honda Motor Co. is recalling some motorcycles, all because the brakes can malfunction.

The Honda recall covers 126,000 GL-1800 motorcycles from the 2001 to 2012 model years. A problem with a secondary brake master cylinder can cause the rear brake to drag, possibly causing a crash or fire. In documents sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Honda said that 26 complaints have been received, including two about fires. In one case, a customer had to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher.

Honda said the problem has not caused any crashes or injuries. Company documents say that only 4 percent of the recalled vehicles have the defective part.

The Subaru recall involves nearly 32,000 Legacy, Outback and Impreza models from the 2012 model year. A defective brake master cylinder could cause the brake pedal to travel farther than expected. Federal safety regulators say this could cause a driver to misjudge the amount of pressure needed to stop quickly.

Subaru says no crashes or injuries have happened because of the defect. The company has received 112 reports of the problem, mostly through its dealer network. Only about 3,000 of the cars were sold, and the rest are either on dealer lots or en route to dealers. They will be fixed before being sold, the company said.

The recall does not include WRX/STI models of the Impreza.

In both the Honda and Subaru cases, customers will be told to take their cars to dealers for an inspection. If necessary, the parts will be replaced. The Subaru recall will begin this month, while the Honda recall is expected to start in early January.

In addition, Nissan Motor Co. announced that it is recalling more than 7,000 of its 2011Rogue crossover vehicles in the U.S., because the electric power steering can fail.

Documents filed with NHTSA say that the circuit boards controlling the power steering may not have been installed correctly. The solder between the terminal and the circuit board can crack, causing the board to fail. "As the circuit board fails, the power steering assist feature will stop functioning, increasing the force needed to steer the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash," the documents say.

A Nissan spokesman said there have been no reported accidents or injuries because of that defect.

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source: CBS News (AP, 12/5)



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.

Motorcycle Medics Reach the Injured Faster in Austin

In early June, emergency medical services (EMS) personnel in Austin, Texas, began using a different mode of transportation to reach the injured along the congested and accident-prone Interstate 35: medically equipped motorcycles. Rather than navigating the congested highway in ambulances, EMS personnel now hop on their motorcycles to respond to traffic accident victims — a tactic that originated in London, and has proven successful in Florida’s Miami-Dade County for nearly five years.

Motorcycles can arrive two to three minutes faster than an ambulance — especially during large congested events like Austin’s South by Southwest music festival, said Eric S. Jakubauskas, commander of Austin-Travis County EMS Special Events. And those extra minutes can mean the difference between life and death, he said. “That can be special if the person is in severe respiratory distress or was having a cardiac problem — two to three minutes can mean whether you resuscitate the person or you don’t.”

The motorcycles — BMW G650 X-Ps equipped with lights and sirens and suspension that can handle rougher terrain than a standard street bike — are outfitted with life-support equipment such as medications, airway equipment and first aid supplies. Also, an automatic external defibrillator allows EMS technicians to monitor the heart if needed.

Motorcyle medics can treat an injury or illness for up to 15 minutes; they can give immediate care and determine the severity of injuries. An ambulance is always immediately behind them, Jakubauskas said.

The ambulance will arrive within minutes and depending on the severity of the injury, can further treat the patient and transport him or her to a hospital. If the injury is minor, however, the motorcycle medic can call off the ambulance so it may be available for a more serious call.

Austin-Travis County EMS Special Events has four motorcycles, which Jakubauskas said have all been donated. “The taxpayers haven’t paid a dime for the motorcycles yet — more than $42,000 worth of motorcycles.”

The current deployment is an open-ended pilot, Jakubauskas said. EMS personnel riding the bikes complete a modified Austin Police Department motorcycle course and go through recurring training.

“Hopefully within the next three to six months, we’ll be able to pull enough data [from the pilot] to be able to justify moving forward,” he said, adding that right now, some paramedics are taken from ambulance duty to work as motorcycle paramedics — they’re not dedicated like a motorcycle police officer would be. “We put them on extra duty and put them on the streets. And hopefully we can put some people on permanent staffing for the motorcycle program.”

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source: www.govtech.com (Mulholland, 11/28)

The Dangers of Risky Lane Change As Reported by a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you were injured on a motorcycle simply because another vehicle driver made a risky lane change, you'll need a talented motorcycle accident attorney to defend your privileges. According to research, more than 55,000 bikers are involved in one incident or another yearly. These mishaps typically end in fatality and serious physical injuries. One of the major reasons behind these accidents is unsafe lane change by reckless motorists. Once another motorist is reckless and illegally switches lanes, causing you to lose control of your motorcycle or collide with another vehicle, an attorney can assist you to get compensation for all of your damages, which includes lost pay or wages, medical expenditures, loss of companionship or consortium, and actual physical pain and suffering.

Driving through traffic is stressful and sometimes frightening. One contributing factor is the overly aggressive behavior of some drivers. Drivers of passenger vehicles who perform unsafe lane changes as well as other dangerous maneuvers additionally result in many serious automobile accidents. Changing lanes isn't easy. Making a lane change may be very complex and can be rather risky. Yet, every vehicle driver must understand how to switch lanes. If you're a parent, coach your teen the way to change lanes correctly, because this is not a move to be taken frivolously.

When changing lanes, use your blinker or use hand signals. Only switch one lane at a time and never switch lanes in a location where lanes are defined by solid lines (yellow or white, single or double). Only do this where the roads are marked by broken or dashed lines. Be sure never to accelerate or cut anyone off while changing lanes. It can be dangerous to change lanes in a school area. Don't change lanes in an intersection, or too close to the intersection. It's advisable to wait until you're past the light before changing lanes.

Now, if perhaps you were injured by another driver due to unsafe lane change it's a good idea to employ a motorcycle accident lawyer to assist you. A motorcycle accident attorney is somebody who has specialty in the field and definitely will deal with your case with accuracy. He is familiar with the ramifications which are involved in a legal strategy. He can approximate the chances of your case and you will thereby get a distinct concept of what might be the result of such a case. An essential advantage of finding a motorcycle accident lawyer can promise you that the case is being worked by someone who is familiar with this field and knows perfectly what ought to be the subsequent step. Therefore, you can ease your mind of the pressure and stress.

When you're suffering from a personal injury, the last thing you'll need is a lot of anxiety. Selecting a motorcycle accident attorney could help you stand to get much better compensation or settlement. Through the help of a motorcycle accident lawyer, the chances of getting well recompensed are tremendously enhanced. Bottom line is you are in position to gain more through the help of a motorcycle accident lawyer or attorney.

The Cole Legal Group 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.

We regularly represents motorcycle accident clients all over the great state of Texas, including Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Amarillo, Waco and Lubbock. Contact us with this online form, or call us today at 1-800-245-5539 for a free case evaluation!

Should employers ban motorcycle riding for employees?

On Monday, October 10, 2011, Cleveland Browns’ defensive end, Marcus Benard, was injured in a motorcycle accident. According to police, Benard had left the Browns practice earlier and was riding his Can-Am Spyder on I-71 near Cleveland. Witnesses said it appeared Benard and another vehicle were racing at a high rate of speed when Benard’s motorcycle went into a wall near West 65th Street. Benard suffered a broken arm.

By early Tuesday morning the sports casters from Cleveland and from across the country had renewed calls for banning professional athletes from riding motorcycles. This issue was also addressed in 2006 when Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was severely injured in a motorcycle crash. Although Roethlisberger’s accident was in the off-season, many questioned the wisdom of allowing a high profile and talented athlete to participate in an activity that appears so dangerous.

Let’s face it – motorcycling can be dangerous. It is especially dangerous if you are racing on an interstate in a major city. However, there are plenty of ways to court danger. Water skiing can be dangerous. Parasailing can be dangerous. Horseback riding can be dangerous. There are any number of ways a person can be injured while enjoying recreation or even doing everyday chores like driving (a car) to the grocery store.

While banning certain activities as a condition of employment should be left to the individual employer, signaling out only motorcycling is just wrong. Perhaps a better way to approach a situation like NFL players being hurt in off the field activities would be a hefty fine for missing games because of injuries either from motorcycling, playing a pick-up game of basketball, or ballroom dancing.

Just an opinion. Comment below with your opinion.

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source: examiner.com (Davis, 10/11)

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer - Why Do You Need One?

Motorcycle accidents are common road incidents that take place frequently these days. They generally involve collision between one or more motorcycles. They can have pretty serious outcomes and can even lead to a person's death. After such mishaps one needs to get help from his/her insurance company to get financial help in covering the damages. To make the whole process smooth, hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer is the best option.

A motorcycle accident lawyer is a legal representative who has undergone training in the field of law and is well versed with the implications of such cases.

Here are a few advantages of hiring a personal injury lawyer.

1. A motorcycle accident lawyer is a person who holds specialty in the field and can fight your case with precision. He knows the ramifications that are involved in a legal course of action. He can estimate the chances of your case and you can thereby get a clear idea of what would be the outcome of such a case.
   
   
2. A professional attorney can conduct you through the intricate legal methods.
   
   
3. A lawyer is in steady contact with the various important officials at the court. So, he must be updated with all the newest law procedures.
   
   
4. A major advantage of hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer can guarantee you that your case is being dealt by someone who is proficient in this field and knows very well what should be the subsequent step. So, you can relieve your mind of the tension and stress.
   
   
5. A lawyer will be representing you at the court. He is the person who knows how to present your case with all the assembled evidences.

It is absolutely necessary to get in touch with a professional lawyer to fight your case. However, you must know the right way to look for the right person who can fight for your rights.

Qualifications:  They must be qualified enough to take your case. Do check the certifications and educational documents to make sure that they are capable.

Experience:  Level of experience matters a lot while choosing a good lawyer. An experienced attorney must know about the probable outcomes of a case thoroughly.

Referrals:  Ask your acquaintances, relatives and friends regarding the reputed lawyers in your area who are known to have good advocacy skills.

The last thing you would want after facing a miserable accident is to hire an inefficient motorcycle accident lawyer. The Cole Legal Group has represented bikers all across Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Since our lawyers ride, we bring our riding experience, knowledge and perspective to each and every case to maximize our clients' recovery. As a result, our personal injury lawyers understand the dynamics of tar snakes, counter steering, high-siding, tank slapping, lane splitting and many other areas that Texas motorcycle riders regularly experience. We aggressively fight biker bias and do everything within our powers to protect our clients.

More women learn how to ride a motorcycle

(by Nancy Gondo)

You've seen 'em. The Hells Angels on their cruisers, the crotch-rocket jockeys splitting lanes and the everyday commuters on their standards. What do they have in common – besides their motorcycles? Chances are, they're all dudes. But why?

The number of women who own and operate motorcycles has risen through the years -- up 52% from 2003 to 2008 according to the Motorcycle Industry Council, the most recent statistics available. Yet, you rarely see a woman riding on the streets, other than being a passenger on the back of a bike. Is it a skill that's harder for women to learn? Or is it a risk they're not willing to take?

I decided to find out for myself by taking a beginner's rider course approved by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. I consider myself an unlikely candidate -- female, married with a 5-year-old daughter, working in the financial journalism industry. Turns out, the class closest to me, Westside Motorcycle Academy, is co-owned by two women: Erika Willhite and Amanda Cunningham.

More than half of WMA's rider coaches are women. When Amanda began coaching 10 years ago, she was one of the only female instructors. But times have changed. She and Erika launched WMA in October, 2005, and have trained over 16,000 novice riders since. Today, a 12-person riding classes will often be comprised of six women and six men. Of course, that may be partly because women are more likely than men to take a "safety" course. When was the last time a guy you know stopped to ask for directions?

Most states recommend all bikers take classes approved by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. That may set you back a couple hundred bucks. The upshot? :

You'll likely learn to be a better rider, get a break on insurance and waive the DMV written and/or driving test. I took a beginner's course in a sports arena parking lot in Inglewood, Calif., with Erika and Amanda as my coaches. My 11 classmates and I (three of us were women) selected our bikes and were soon up and running what's called the "friction zone."

Having never learned to drive a stick shift, learning to use the clutch to shift gears while worrying about braking and throttling with the right foot and hand was a bit tough. But I learned how to shift smoothly and slowly release the clutch without stalling out. We also learned safety techniques such as cornering, U-turns, swerving and stopping quickly. Midway through the second day, I felt almost comfortable on my Honda Rebel, though when skills-testing time came, I was a bit nervous. But we all pulled through. With great relief, we snapped some group pictures, and headed home with a sense of accomplishment.

Erin Roski, 21, a fellow novice I met in the class, summed it up best: "It was a wonderful experience -- I had a lot of fun, and I learned techniques that will save my skin when I'm riding on the street," the second-year UCLA law student says. Taking the course was fun, and it's good to know that if I do ride a motorcycle again, there are ways to avoid a major wipeout. And if nothing else, it's good to prove that women can ride just as well as the guys.

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source: Drive On (Gondo, 9/26)

Employing A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer That Can Help With Your Insurance Claims

If involved in an accident, you need to first of all talk with a motorcycle accident lawyer before agreeing to an arrangement coming from an insurance company. Mishaps concerning motorcycles cause massive physical, mental shock and debilitating injuries and can have an undesirable impact on the basic way of life of the immediate family members. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer will inform the victim to have a written record of the health-related bills related to the automobile accident. These paperwork can increase the victim's credibility and enhance their odds of getting a reasonable solution.

Motorcycle mishaps take place not just as a result of driver's negligence but because of other factors, like a missing road signal, or due to a malfunctioning traffic light. A lot of these threats exist when the city or local government won't hold up their end of the legal bargain.

There are points that may be observed to help decrease the odds of having an accident. Safe riding comes in various forms. Many are decisions the driver can make on the road, and some are decisions he or she makes just before he sits on a bike for the first time. Having to take a training course is definitely crucial for any novice, and a plus for experienced motorcyclists. Newbies study everything from starting up a bike, to proper and safe turning and driving. Skilled riders can benefit from learning more advanced methods. Both group could even see benefits from accreditation in these courses with insurance discounts.

Novices would want to keep in mind the particular bike they will choose. Usually, a bike with a smaller sized engine is much more suited to users who are less experienced. It's crucial for you to ensure that the size of your bike is suitable to your power and weight, because a rider outmatched by their motorbike is just creating trouble for themselves. A rider should always be sure that he's wearing both a helmet, plus a tough and comfy clothing that can help limit his injuries in an automobile accident. This includes boots, pads and leather-based jackets. A good motorcycle rider should always observe traffic laws. Running traffic signs, speeding or driving in a hostile manner will only put the motorist in harm's way. Even worse, most people may see the motorcycle driver as a danger or irritation and drive offensively against him. If driving intoxicated in a car seems hazardous, the dangers are only increased by the fact that motorcycle drivers are responsible for balancing their vehicles.

If the driver has adhered to every one of the safety measures, but nevertheless became a victim of a motorbike accident, he ought to contact a motorcycle accident lawyer. Insurance providers often times like to divide the liability between the motorcyclist and the at-fault party; even though the biker may have had practically nothing to do with the root cause of the automobile accident. Working with insurance providers after a motorbike accident can be quite challenging. That's the reason it would be far better for any motorcycle crash victim to employ an experienced lawyer to raise his odds of getting a claim.

You can find more detailed information about a Texas motorcycle accident lawyer at our website. Be sure to contact a Texas motorcycle accident lawyer immediately right after your motorcycle accident.