Allstate Installs Permanent Warning Signs to Promote Motorcycle Safety at Dangerous Intersections in Dallas

These signs will be permanently installed today in Grand Prairie, Texas at the corner of E. Main St. and 14th St.

DALLAS – In an effort to help standardize warning signs for motorcycle safety and help reduce the number of motorcycle crashes at intersections involving other vehicles, Allstate Insurance Company announced earlier this month plans to permanently install motorcycle warning signs in more than 30 U.S. cities this year. Currently, there is no standard sign for motorcycle awareness.

The yellow, diamond shaped warning sign was created following two years of development, which included 140 temporary installations in various U.S. cities between 2010 and 2011.  The signs were designed to establish a standardized warning device that can be used by any local or state agency and would be recognizable to riders and motorists across the country.  Simply reading, “Watch for Motorcycles,” the sign was developed by Allstate as part of its “Once is Never Enough” (ONE) program – an awareness campaign that encourages people to look twice for motorcycles at intersections – and are being donated and installed  in Dallas to help prevent motorcycle crashes in the future.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), there were 569 crashes involving a motorcyclist in Dallas County in 2010, and of those crashes, 35 percent occurred at intersections.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 46 percent of all multi-vehicle crashes occur at intersections, oftentimes as a result of a vehicle turning left, impeding the motorcyclist’s right-of-way.

[If you've been involved in a motorcycle accident, contact Texas Biker Lawyer]

“It’s for all of us who share the road to remember to always look twice at intersections, especially on our crowded roads,” said Dusty Wallace, Allstate Agent.  “The addition of these motorcycle warning signs will be a great reminder to help keep everyone safe.”

Through its ONE program, Allstate works with local traffic authorities – like TxDOT – to identify dangerous intersections for riders and then donates and installs warning signs at the determined locations to increase awareness of motorcycles.

The signs will be permanently installed today in Grand Prairie, Texas at the corner of E. Main St. and 14th St.  Additional signs will be installed in Dallas during the coming weeks.

In honor of National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, Allstate is also encouraging people throughout the month of May to take the ONE Pledge – committing to look twice for motorcycles at intersections – and share with at least ONE other person to spread the message. For every pledge shared, Allstate will donate ONE dollar toward the creation and installation of more “Watch for Motorcycles” signs at dangerous intersections across the country. To take the ONE Pledge and help make our roads a safer place to ride, visit Facebook.com/AllstateMotorcycle.

Now in its fourth year, Allstate’s ONE program has evolved from general motorcycle awareness education, to installing temporary warning signs at dangerous intersections in more than 30 cities over the past two years, to the permanent installations of the new warning signs promoting motorcycle safety.

*The Fatality Analysis Reporting System shows 46 percent of all multi-vehicle motorcycle fatalities (5,746 out of 12,571 fatalities from 2006-2010) occurred at intersections.


***FACT SHEET***
Dallas County Crash Statistics
Provided by Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)

• According to TxDOT, there were 569 motorcycle crashes documented in Dallas County in 2010
• Of the documented crashes, 33 resulted in a fatality (6 percent)
• In nearly two-thirds of the motorcycle crashes, another vehicle was involved (362 out of 569)
• According to national figures from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) Encyclopedia, 54 percent of fatal motorcycle crashes were multi-vehicle crashes
• Thirty-five percent of all motorcycle crashes occurred at intersections (199 of 569)
• The goal of Once is Never Enough (ONE) is to prevent motorcycle collisions with other vehicles at intersections
• In 2010, more than half of the Dallas County motorcycle crashes (312 of 569) took place in Dallas, and 10 percent (56 of 569) occurred in Irving

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(Allstate Press Release, Beaman & Taylor,  May 29, 2012)

Have You Had Your Bike Checked?

Back in October we reported that Harley-Davidson had recalled over 300,000 motorcycles for a possible brake failure. Fox News had shared the information that there was a switch problem that can cause failure of the brake lights and possibly even the brakes themselves.

This recall applies to HD Touring, CVO Touring, and Trikes from 2009 thru 2012 model years.  So we ask, "Have you gotten your bike checked out?"  You would have received notification in the mail directly from Harley-Davidson, and it should have directed you to reputable dealers that would install a new switch kit free of charge.

Texas Biker Lawyers of the Cole Legal Group know a thing or two about the dangers of manufacturers defects, and we take recalls seriously.  Automotive defects can cause catastrophic injuries and even death.  Brake failure tops a list of common defects that statistically claims numerous injury victims.

While proving these cases can be difficult, the Cole Legal Group is committed to improving vehicle safety and protecting Texans from these unsafe defects and designs. We will immediately secure and inspect your vehicle for manufacturing or design defects to purse justice from the auto manufacturer, distributor, or retailer who contributed to your injuries.

It's a different story when the manufacturer offers up a recall notice.  They're not always the first to find out about product defects, as many of those victims of the statistics can attest.  We advise you to check your bike out soon, before you make that trek to one of the many summer motorcycle rallies going on this year.

If you've been involved in a motorcycle accident in Texas, contact an attorney with riding experience.

Annual 'Party in the Pines' Memorial Day Weekend returning to East Texas

They ride fast and close, and they make it look easy.

That’s how Rodney Blackwell described a new addition to the annual Party in the Pines motorcycle rally, which returns for its seventh year May 25 to- 27 at the Longview Fairgrounds.

Blackwell, who is chairman of the event for the League of Business Owners, said between 2,500 and 3,000 motorcyclists attend each year. This is the first time the rally will feature the drill team of the Glory Bound Chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists Association.

It’s hard to describe what the drill team does, Blackwell said, “other than to say they drive very fast, very close together, and they make it look easy.”

“It should be interesting to watch,” he said.

Glory Bound is based in Wichita Falls, and its drill team formed about three years ago.

“There’s actually several motorcycle drill teams in the United States right now,” said Glory Bound president and drill team member Ricky Scales. The team was the brainchild of Scales’ riding partner and Wichita Falls motor officer Mike Phillips. Phillips is the drill team captain and chapter vice president.

“What motorcycle drill teams do is provide an example of what can be accomplished through education and really learning to ride your motorcycle well,” Scales said.

Ten members of the team’s 15 motorcyclists will make the trip to Longview.

“What makes our drill team unique to any other drill team in the United States — as far as I know our drill team is the only one that uses trikes as far as our demonstrations go,” Scales said.

He compared the drill team’s demonstration to something a horse riding club might do, with pre-orchestrated drills that the team regularly rehearses.

Two performances are planned, at noon and 3 p.m. May 26, in an approximately 2,000-square-foot area at the fairgrounds.

“We will start with high-speed crossovers,” Scales said, explaining that means the riders start on diagonal sides of the drill pad, ride to the center and cross over at a high rate of speed — all without crashing.

“That doesn’t happen by accident. It doesn’t happen without practice, and because we practice we can do it safely,” Scales said. “That can be a quite impressive thing to see.”

Figure eights and a maneuver called the “Trinity” — three counter rotating circles of motorcycles — are other features of the performance, with most portions of the drill performed at slow speeds of 3 mph to 5 mph.

Drill team members on motorcycles are riding “touring bikes” that weigh between 800 and 900 pounds.

“They’re big. They’re heavy,” Scales said. “Most people think you can’t do on a motorcycle what we use these things for. We can turn it around in two parking spaces without having to put your foot down. We can do all these things keeping our feet on the pegs at all times.”

And doing all those things provides opportunities for the riders to fulfill their organization’s primary mission, Scales said — “to change the world one heart at a time.” The Christian Motorcyclists Association is an evangelistic group, and its primary ministry is to motorcyclists, Scales said. “(The drill team) is a tool that we use to help draw people toward us so we can talk to them ultimately about a relationship with Jesus Christ,” Scales said.

Still, if there are people who don’t won’t to talk to them, at least they’ll see a group of men who can have a good time and get along without turning situations that inevitably occur — like crashing two bikes while practicing — into a crisis.

Proceeds from Party in the Pines are used to support local veterans’ organizations as needs arise during the year, Blackwell said.

That’s all part of a history the rally has each year of supporting the military and veterans. Hundreds of motorcycles participate in the annual Freedom Parade through Longview each year. This year’s patriotic bike parade begins at 2 p.m. May 27. (Visit www.pinerally.com to view a map of the parade route.)

The rally’s focus on veterans will expand this year, with an oral history project in partnership with the Library of Congress and its American Folklife Center. Congress created the Veterans History Project in 2000 to collect the stories of America’s war veterans from World War I on.

Until this year, rally volunteers hadn’t been in a position to participate in the Veterans History Project, which relies on volunteers to collect veterans’ stories. A new partnership with Texas State Technical College and its veterans organization is making it possible this year, Blackwell said.

Veterans who attend the rally will have the opportunity to make video recordings of their stories, which will become part of the Library Congress.

Blackwell estimated 1,000 rally participants each year are veterans. Because of the time involved in making the recordings, volunteers likely won’t be able to make more than eight to 10 each day. Blackwell hopes the project becomes a permanent part of the rally, perhaps expanding with more cameras and volunteers in the future.

“I think it’s a wonderful legacy that we’re going to contribute over the course of the rally,” he said.

Other events at Party in the Pines include live music, guided rides through East Texas, cycle games, Joker Run and more.

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source: Longview News-Journal (Ferguson, 5/17)

Birthday crash almost snuffs 3 lives

A birthday celebration gone bad nearly cost the lives of three Bandera men during the early morning hours of Friday, April 27.

According to witnesses, Nancy Cruz, 28, of Bandera, was celebrating her birthday at the Longhorn Saloon on Bandera's Main Street. Shortly after midnight, Cruz left the bar and "drove her 1999 Mustang south on Highway 16 at a high rate of speed," preliminary Department of Public Safety reports state.

In the vicinity of the River Oaks Motel and Sonic, she apparently struck a motorcycle from behind and two pedestrians who were walking along the side of the road.

Cruz fled the scene, according to DPS reports.

Both pedestrians were air-lifted to University Hospital in San Antonio with serious injuries. The motorcycle rider was transported to Boerne Methodist by ambulance.

Cruz was arrested later in the day after turning herself in and, according to Bandera County Sheriff's Office arrest reports, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

According to Capt. Charlie Hicks at BCSO, "there may be possible additional charges, pending a completed investigation."

According to Hicks, a Texas Ranger assisted the DPS with the investigation. He was not able to confirm if the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) was conducting an investigation regarding Cruz's condition at the Longhorn.

The motorcycle rider, 18-year-old Dakota Bates, had left work at the Longhorn where he was reportedly helping with the karaoke and on his way home, traveling south on Main Street.

According to a close family member, Bates "is home and is recovering."
The two injured pedestrians were Claude "Cowboy" Beghly, 43, and Eric Armstrong, 29, both of Bandera.

Beghly had been released from the hospital by Monday, April 30.

According to Armstrong's father, Eloy Armstrong, the young man suffered from bleeding in the brain and a lacerated liver, among other injuries.

[click here if you've been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Texas]

"Eric and Cowboy were walking either to or from the Shell Station," said Eloy. "They had nothing to do with it, they were just innocent bystanders."

The father was referring to rumors flying around town that Cruz had left the Longhorn angry at a bartender who had asked her to leave, waited outside until the bartender got off work, and then ran over him. However, Bates was not working as a bartender.

As of late Monday afternoon, the younger Armstrong was still in intensive care, heavily sedated, but improving, his father said.

Cruz bonded out of jail on a $75,000 bond on Saturday, April 28.

BCSO dispatch records show the accident happening at 12:27 am.

The investigation into the accident is continuing under the direction of the DPS with assistance from the BCSO and the Texas Rangers.

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source: Bandera County Courier (Edwards, 5/3)

ETX authorities release surveillance video in fatal hit and run wreck

TYLER - East Texas authorities need help finding the person who hit and killed a Smith County motorcyclist.

Not only did someone hit him, but they dragged his bike for nearly a mile and then left the scene.

DPS says early Sunday morning, the driver of a dark-colored truck hit the motorcyclist on Highway 64 East, just six miles outside of Tyler.

Joey Allen took us to the place his friend Jacky Jonston died early Sunday. It's the same place the two met 13 years ago.

"I ran out of gas in front of his house one night on the bike, and I walked across the street," says Allen, "I asked him if I could borrow some gas and his wife, Sharon, she stuck her head out the door and said, 'You want some breakfast?' and we were friends ever since."

Jonston was 65-years-old and nicknamed "ZZ" by friends for his ZZ Top beard. Though, they say sometimes he was called grumpy, "He always had something to say about something and he was grumping about it," says Allen.

Allen runs Smith County Cycles and built the bike Jonston was driving. He says Jonston's wife had passed away and he was just starting to get out and about again.

"He was a member of our club for many years. He was a good guy, no doubt about it. He'd do anything for you if he had the means and ways to do it," says Allen.

In Valero gas station surveillance video, a truck can be seen pushing Jonston's motorcycle down the highway. That video is what little evidence authorities have to track down the driver. DPS says the truck slammed into the back of Jonston's bike just as he was turning in to his driveway.

[view surveillance video here]

"You can see where they came back on the right side of the road, and you can see the skid marks from his bike tires sliding all the way over the hill," says Allen.

"The unidentified vehicle continued on down the road, and at some point stopped, realized something and dislodged the motorcycle," says DPS trooper Jean Dark.

Allen says he's not a vindictive person, but he's angry and wants to know who did this to his friend.

"I really truly wish somebody could man up and say what they did because the real disgrace in it is not owning up to what you did," he says.

Allen has driven up and down the road looking for clues, and with his eyes peeled for the truck that could have killed Jonston.

Authorities are asking anyone who may have seen the wreck or noticed a dark blue or black Ford heavy duty truck with front-end damage to contact them.

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source: KLTV (Torre, 4/2)

2012 Spring Riding Season has Arrived

TAKE A BREAK & BEGIN 2012 IN THE HILL COUNTRY

It's finally here! Texas Rider Newspaper annouces events for 2012. Below you can find a few of the fun-filled events happening this year! For a full list, go to: www.TexasRiderNews.com or www.Bikerlawyer.com


Thunder in the Hill Country 2012 in Bandera, Texas.
March 29 - April 1, 2012
Held in Mansfield Park in Bandera. This is the 10th year for this great Texas Old School Texas Rally in the beautiful Texas Hill Country and Cowboy Capital of the World. This event includes, Live music, T-shirt contest, Biker Games, Burn-out Pit, Tattoo Contest, and much more! For more information contact: (409) 995-0073 or go to www.bikerralliesoftexas.com

Join the Biker Lawyers at the 2012 ROT Rally
Every year we here at The Cole Legal Group get excited because we know its time for the Republic of Texas Biker Rally in Austin, Texas.

June 7 -10th 2012
Thousands of our fellow biker brothers and sisters head to Austin early to settle in, as well as attend some ROT Pre-Parties. From concerts, celebrity appearances, attractions like the Tattoo Expo and the Vintage Bike Showcase, to the barbecue joints and official parade, the ROT Rally has something for every level of motorcycle rider and enthusiast.

RIDING IN TRAFFIC? TIPS TO STAY ALIVE!

It's a jungle out there! Ask any biker. Crowded streets and highways, drivers with cell phones, newspapers or screaming kids, you name it, it's out there. Here are some ideas on what to do:

• Trust your mirrors: Always include additional glance over shoulder.
• Never get between a vehicle and an offramp: last second exits can be fatal.
• Cover your brakes: Helps to minimize reach time.
• Be noticed: Ride with hi beam on and wear brightly colored gear.
• Power: Ride in a low gear for added acceleration.
• Traffic slowing? Staying left or right of the car in front give you an escape route.
• Scan traffic: Keeps you aware and in touch with your situation. No surprises!
• Left-turn treachery: Always approach oncoming traffic turning left with caution. Watch the car's wheels and driver's hands on wheel. Be ready if you see movement, especially 18-wheelers.
• Use an Escort: Let larger vehicles act as an escort through intersections. Also, wait on other traffic to escort you if your light turns green.
• Ride in open zones: Use your bike's power and maneuverability to ride in open zones in traffic. Riding with traffic can make you hard to see.

Last but not least, Pay attention and drive defensively! Your life could depend on it.

More Biker News at www.texasridernews.com

ASYTX Fundraiser Dinner and Dance to Help Injured Volunteer

AMARILLO -- A fundraiser dinner and dance for Hoss Lewman of Hardcore Motorcycle Ministry. The dinner is at 1401 West 8th street. All proceeds go to Hoss and his wife Stacey.

Cost is by donation.

Hoss was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident.

Hoss was very active with America Supports You Texas Welcome Home Rally's at the airport. He furnished the flags for the flag line when we greet and welcome home our military heroes.

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source: myhighplains.com (Wehmhoener, 2/24)

Michigan motorcyclist injured in 30-foot fall during stunt at Saginaw circus

Promising Michigan FMX motorcycle rider Josh Headford was in fair condition today, according to hospital staff, following a horrific accident while performing at a circus at the Dow Event Center’s Wendler Arena in Saginaw on Sunday.

• Video: (Warning! Contains some profane language).

Headford, 20, who is from Helps, collided with a cable in midair during a high-flying ramp-to-ramp routine at the Elf Khurafeh Shrine Circus, then plummeted about 30 feet to the ground. He is being treated at Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw and underwent surgery Monday.

"Doctors surgically repaired Josh's right femur and right elbow," Scott Murray, Headford's manager and friend, told the Free Press today, as he traveled from Green Bay, Wis., to be with Headford after performing in a monster truck show. "He also has a fractured scapular and wrist, but these should heal on their own."

Murray, a veteran FMX freestyle competitor, said the crash "was very unfortunate."

"We are quite upset about the whole incident," said Murray, who said Headford was standing in for another rider at the show. "It's very disturbing. He did eight shows during the week, and everything had gone spectacular. It wasn't his first go at this. It was his last performance, and Josh counted on the track crew to move the cable.

"Josh's recovery may take four to six months. He may have permanent damage to the elbow. He'll move forward, and his spirits are up, but the whole thing is unfortunate. We're weighing all our options right now and hope the Shrine Circus will do the right thing by Josh."

Headford told the Associated Press before his surgery that he will ride again. "It's all I do. It's how I make a living."

FMX athletes perform at the X Games, among other events. On Saturday night at the Palace of Auburn Hills, many of the world’s best FMX riders will take part in the “Nuclear Cowboyz 2012” tour stop, which features daring freestyle motocross aerial feats, set in a Disney on Ice-type extravaganza.

FMX stunts, like those in “Nuclear Cowboyz,” are choreographed and rehearsed but still very dangerous. FMX legend Jeremy Lusk died while competing in a freestyle event in February 2009 in Costa Rica, and Jim McNeil was killed in while practicing for an exhibition jump in November 2011 at Texas Motor Speedway. Neither event was associated with “Nuclear Cowboyz.”

X Games medal winner and veteran freestyle rider Mike Mason, who will take part in Saturday’s “Nuclear Cowboyz” show, said the element of danger is always there in performing freestyle jumps, flips and somersaults.

“You can’t take anything for granted,” Mason, 30, told the Free Press by phone today. “There is always risk involved in freestyle competition and related shows. You just have to minimize it. You must learn to trust those you work with.”

Headford, who was wearing a helmet and pads, told the AP the cable should have been lowered or removed by circus staff.

"As soon as I saw the cable, it caught my bike, and I went flying. That was pretty much it," said Headford, who lives in Menominee County in the Upper Peninsula. "It was like hitting a brick wall. I thought I was done -- but I'm not."

He said it wasn't his responsibility to check for the cable. Circus owner Brett Carden said it's a risky business.

"What are you going to change?" Carden told The Saginaw News. "These are professionals, and they're supposed to check everything and make sure it's good to go."

Dion Mason of Saginaw said he witnessed the crash with four children.

"We thought it was part of the show," Mason told the AP. "Then there was just shock and disbelief. We were just like everyone else. We couldn't see the extent of the injuries, but we were shocked."

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source: Detroit Free Press (Brudnell, 2/7)



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!

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)