Back in the saddle again

After a 2001 motorcycle accident that resulted in permanent injuries, Tim Freeman said he thought he would never again feel the exhilarating, wind-in-your-face feeling that inspires so many bike enthusiasts.

But thanks to a specially modified bike Freeman bought this summer from a local motorcycle dealer and a lot of hard work, he is back on the road again. And he's loving it.

"I thought that would never happen again," Freeman said. "Right now I'm very, very, very happy."

Out of his passion for bikes and the open road, he founded the Night Riders motorcycle group in the 1980s in Fremont. Freeman later settled in the Washington, D.C., area, where he worked for 19 years as a corrections officer in the federal prison system.

On a warm November day in 2001, he said, he took his newly purchased motorcycle for a ride in Maryland. After turning onto a brand new road to explore, Freeman said, he lost control and careened off the still-soft pavement into a wooded area.

"I was knocked out," he said. "I laid there for three days."

Freeman's salvation was realized when a passing motorist finally spotted his bike's tail light, which she said was still illuminated, and called in emergency crews.

"The good Lord decided it wasn't my time," he said. "And I'm so thankful."

Freeman said he spent nearly a week inside a hospital as a "John Doe," since someone apparently stole his wallet before he arrived in the emergency room. He said he is not bitter about that or anything else surrounding the incident.

"I'm not mad," Freeman said.

More than 10 years later, he still suffers from some brain damage, vision problems, a knee injury that forces him to walk with a cane, and he has difficulty using the right side of his body.

"They told me I would never drive another car again," Freeman said.

Freeman retired from his job at the prison because of his injuries, but decided to settle in Fremont again after coming back to visit his son in 2008. After getting glasses that correct his double vision and passing his Ohio driving test, Freeman bought a car.

He said, during the years since his accident, the idea of getting back on a motorcycle kept creeping into his mind until it became a serious goal.

"I tried everything for a while to get the idea of riding a bike out of my mind," Freeman said. "It just wouldn't go nowhere. When I started thinking positive, I just couldn't let go of it."

One day, he saw a woman pull up next to his car riding a motorcycle with three wheels, commonly referred to as a trike. Freeman said something clicked in his mind, and he started searching out his own modified motorcycle.

Frank Chovan, a salesman at Schiets Motorsports, said he met Freeman last year when the man walked into the dealership ready to buy.

"He basically came in and said he wanted to ride a bike again and it was more important to him than breathing air," Chovan said.

Employees put their heads together, he said, and realized that outrigger-style wheels could be added to a motorcycle to prevent any danger of it tipping, since Freeman might have difficulty bracing himself on his right side.

Last autumn, Freeman treated himself to the brand-new, specially modified Suzuki Burgman 650 as a birthday present.

"It felt so good, because it didn't lean," Freeman said. "I can't fall."

In addition to the two extra wheels, the bike was also outfitted with a left-handed throttle kick to replace the typical throttle on the right-side handlebar.

Chovan said motorcycle instructor Darl Schiets helped Freeman with a refresher course and everyone at the business has grown close to the man.

"We've become great friends," Chovan said. "I'm just happy we were able to help Tim out and get him riding again."

So what's next for the man who wouldn't let a life-threatening crash keep him off a bike?

Freeman and the rest of the Night Riders are planning a ride to Texas in August.

"I gotta go," he said. "I just enjoy it a whole, whole, whole lot."

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source: The News Messenger (Tower, 1/24)

Memorial for Dale Lahti, avid motorcyclist

Dale Lahti, 82, Alamo, Texas, formerly of Turtle Lake, Wis., died Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, at Weslaco, Texas, following a motorcycle accident in which he sustained severe head injuries.

Dale was born at West Allis on March 16, 1929, and grew up on the family farm at Mosquito Lake, south of Almena.

Dale served with the U.S. Army and was part of the Berlin Air Lift at the end of WWII.

He married Leona Mjelnek in 1954. Dale and Lee were "second parents" to their nephews and nieces until Lee's death in 1980.

Dale was an avid motorcyclist, traveling throughout the U.S. and parts of Canada and Mexico on his bike. He met his second wife, Carole Varga, while he was on a motorcycle trip in the Black Hills. They were married in 1987.

Dale retired from Almena Co-op, where his expertise in flooring was well known in the area.

He was a life member of Almena VFW Post 8512, a past commander of the post and was instrumental in the acquisition of the building that is the post home. He was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church from childhood until recently when he joined the Santa Rosa United Methodist Church in Texas, where his wife is the pastor.

Surviving, in addition to his wife Carole, are a sister Elaine Ehrler of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a brother Don (Shirley) of Fountain Hills, Ariz.; a stepdaughter Janice Van Camp of Cumberland and her children; stepson Donald (Darla) Varga of Balsam Lake and their children and grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dale was preceded in death by his first wife, his parents George and Hilda (Thorbeck) Lahti and a sister Renee Krecker.

Services will be held Wednesday, Jan. 25, from Santa Rosa United Methodist Church.

Memorial contributions can be made to Justice for Our Neighbors South Texas, c/o Carole Lahti, 1048 N. Alamo Road #58, Alamo, TX 78516.

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source: Barron News Shield (1/18)



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 Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Amarillo, Waco and Lubbock. Call us today at 1-800-245-5539 for a free case evaluation!

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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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)