A Lake Butler man was killed in Columbia County Thursday afternoon when he drove his motorcycle into a car that had stopped in front of him to make a turn, reported the Florida Highway Patrol.

Dead is Marshall E. Palmer, 64, according to an FHP media release.

The accident occurred about 1:50 p.m. on U.S. 441 at County Road 349. According to FHP, Palmer was driving his 2006 Harley-Davidson motorcycle south on U.S. 441 behind a 1997 Nissan Sentra driven by Andre C. Copeland, 27, of Lake City.

Copeland was stopped in the southbound lane waiting to turn left into North Florida Livestock, FHP reported. Palmer attempted to slow down to avoid a rear-end collision but instead went down onto his right side, FHP said.

Palmer, who was wearing a helmet, was thrown from the motorcycle and hit the trunk of Copeland’s car. The motorcycle slid underneath the car.

Palmer was taken to Shands at the University of Florida while Copeland was not injured, FHP said.

The Shake Law Firm is home to Florida’s best personal injury lawyers. Our team of Miami personal injury lawyers, having worked together and in the field for many years, is experienced in handling all accidents on the road. Call us at (305)937-0191

PENSACOLA — A 40-year-old man was killed Wednesday when his motorcycle hit the side of a vehicle.

Michael Shane Walker of Pensacola was speeding as he drove eastbound on State Road 298 around 4:50 p.m., according to a Florida Highway Patrol press release.

Dominic Stephen Delucchi, 19, of Pensacola, was stopped on 49th Avenue at a stop sign.

He turned onto State Road 298. Delucchi was traveling southbound turning on the road when Walker hit the side of Delucchi’s 2009 Cavalier Chevrolet.

Walker was ejected from his 2001 Harley Davidson Sportster. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Walker was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Alcohol is not considered a factor.

Walker’s vehicle sustained around $8,000. Delucchi’s vehicle sustained around $10,000.

Charges are pending.

The Florida Highway Patrol says a Port Orange man died in an accident in Daytona Beach Sunday afternoon. Sgt. Kim Montes says 56-year-old William Lee Hughes was northbound on his motorcycle on Tomoka Farms Road at International Speedway Boulevard, when a westbound car allegedly ran the traffic light at International Speedway Boulevard. Troopers say Hughes’ motorcycle struck the left-front fender of the car, driven by 31-year old Lakecia S. Harris of Deland, and Hughes was thrown from the motorcycle. The Florida Highway Patrol says alcohol was not a factor in the accident, and that the driver of the car received minor injuries. Troopers also say charges are pending.

The accident closed west-bound International Speedway Boulevard at Tomoka Farms Road Sunday afternoon while troopers conducted their investigation. Traffic coming from Daytona Beach on Speedway was detoured north on Tomoka Farms Road by Daytona Beach Police during the accident investigation, and traffic southbound on Tomoka Farms Road was turned around or detoured through the McDonald’s parking lot just before International Speedway Boulevard.

The Shaked Law Firm is Florida’s premier motorcycle injury attorney team. We litigate all types of auto accidents but assure that our team of south florida motorcycle injury attorneys are the bets choice for you.

Requiring safety helmets saves lives, reduces injuries

The grim facts:

Deaths from motorcycle crashes had more than doubled in the past decade – from 2,294 in 1998 to 5,290 in 2008 — Another 96,000 people were injured in motorcycle crashes in 2008.

Although there was a decline in 2009, 4,462 motorcyclists, or an average of 12 motorcyclists everyday, were still lost! Another 90,000 motorcyclists were injured.

The number of motorcycle deaths in 2009 is more than double the total number of people killed in 2009 in all aviation, rail, marine and pipeline accidents combined.

Head injuries are a leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes.

Motorcyclists who crash without a helmet are three times more likely to have brain injuries than those wearing a helmet.

In addition to the tragic loss of life, the economic cost to society is enormous. In 2005, motorcyclists without helmets were involved in 36 percent of all motorcycle crashes, but represented 70 percent of the total cost of all motorcycle crashes – $12.2 billion.

Medical and other costs for unhelmeted riders involved in crashes are staggering, estimated at $310,000 per crash-involved motorcyclist. That’s more than four times the overall cost of accidents involving helmeted riders.

Helmets save lives

DOT-compliant helmets (DOT FMVSS 218) are extremely effective. They can prevent injury and death from motorcycle crashes.

Wearing a helmet reduces the overall risk of dying in a crash by 37%.

In addition to preventing fatalities, the use of helmets reduces the need for ambulance service, hospitalization, intensive care, rehabilitation, and long-term care as a result of motorcycle crashes.

Wearing a helmet does not increase the risk of other types of injury.

Motorcycle helmet laws

20 states, D.C., and 4 territories require all riders and passengers to wear helmets; 27 states and 1 territory have partial laws requiring minors and/or passengers to wear helmets; currently 3 states, Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire have no helmet use requirement.

States that have repealed laws requiring all riders and passengers to wear helmets have seen dramatically lower helmet usage rates and significant increases in deaths and injuries.

Partial laws do not protect younger riders. Only universal helmet laws significantly reduce fatality rates for riders aged 15-20.

What should you know and do?

When you ride a motorcycle, always wear a helmet – even when traveling short distances. Whether your ride will be long or short, at highway speeds or neighborhood cruising, a helmet is the only way to protect your head if a crash occurs. And, make sure that anyone who rides with you also wears a helmet.

Make sure your helmet meets the federal safety standard (DOT FMVSS 218) by checking for the ―DOT‖ sticker on the back of the helmet. Novelty (non-compliant) helmets offer little protection in a crash.

Talk to or write your local and state legislators and urge them to require that all motorcycle riders and passengers wear FMVSS 218-compliant helmets.

Need more information?

Visit the NTSB Web site: www.ntsb.gov

Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers reported a traffic accident involving two motorcycles occurred at approximately 12:30 a.m. Motorcycle driver David S. Cross, 38, was allegedly northbound on a roadway near Bonita Street when he attempted to pull into Thomas Drive. Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful in doing so. An eastbound motorcycle operated by Corey A. Thompson was traveling on Thomas Drive and consequently smashed into Cross’ northbound bike.

Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel were seemingly dispatched to the scene of the motorcycle wreck to rush the injured to area hospitals for treatment. Cross was taken to Bay Medical Center in serious condition. Thompson was also transported to Bay Medical Center but listed in critical condition. A passenger riding on Cross’ motorcycle, 24-year-old Laura Allen, suffered critical injuries and was taken to Gulf Coast Medical Center. Thompson’s bike passenger, 30-year-old Shawna Nicole Kelsey, was taken to Gulf Coast where she was listed in serious condition.

None of the motorcycle accident victims were wearing helmets at the time. Investigations into the injurious motorcycle collision are expected to be underway.

Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) authorities stated 28-year-old motorist, Timothy Freitas, was traveling westbound on Nine Mile Road when he attempted to make a left turn onto Scenic Highway. Upon doing so, his pickup truck drove into the path of an eastbound motorcycle. The pickup truck and motorcycle collided, ejecting 45-year-old motorcyclist Gary Warrington and his 34-year-old passenger Amber Bixler. Bixler reportedly landed in the bed on the truck after being thrown from the bike.

While emergency medical personnel responded to the scene to transport those injured to area hospitals, Warrington was killed in the motorcycle wreck. Bixler was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition. Neither Warrington nor Bixler were wearing helmets at the time. Freitas did not suffer any injuries in the pickup truck-motorcycle crash.

It was not stated if any controlled substances and/or speed appeared to be factors in the collision. FHP troopers are expected to continue their investigation into the fatal motorcycle-involved accident.

Daniel Casey, on behalf of his wife Sandra Casey, sued Palm Beach County resident Keith A. Deyo under the state’s wrongful death act, seeking at least $15,000 in damages, papers filed in Martin County circuit court show.

Sandra Casey, 59, died Dec. 30, 2007 after a pick-up truck hit the motorcycle she was riding as a passenger on the State Road 710 bridge in Indiantown, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Casey was ejected from the motorcycle in the hit-and-run accident.

In his lawsuit, Daniel Casey claimed Deyo, who owned the 2001 Harley and allowed Casey to operate it, failed to properly maintain the bike’s brake and rear turning lights. The defective lights, the suit alleged, prevented the truck’s driver from detecting the couple was preparing to make a right turn just before impact.

The Harley was struck from behind and the couple were dragged under the truck before the driver fled the scene, leaving the Caseys on the side of the road.

The United States Automobile Industry recently enjoyed its 100th birthday. However, with the convenience of the automobile also came hazards. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the United States now has over 205,000,000 registered motor vehicles. By the late 1990′s, there were over 183,000,000 licensed drivers in the United States.

In 2002 alone, there were an estimated 6,316,000 car accidents in the United States of America. There were about 2.9 million injuries resulting from those accidents, and approximately 42,815 people were killed in auto accidents in 2002. An average of approximately 115 persons die each day in motor vehicle crashes in the United States. This means that a death occurs every 13 minutes.

It is usually a misconception that victims of automobile accidents do not need attorneys. Until the victim of an automobile accident retains an attorney, the insurance company knows that the person they are dealing with is not currently prepared to take his or her case to court and is unlikely to offer fair compensation.

Today, given the horrendous stigmas associated with exercising one’s legal right – especially when insurance companies routinely offer little or nothing for an accident unless the injured party has retained counsel – it is not uncommon for many victims injured in car accidents to attempt to negotiate directly with the insurance carrier themselves. In most instances, the individual is first met with feigned concern by the carrier, who then steadfastly proceeds to build a case against him/her.

Insurance companies routinely work with a select group of doctors who, unfortunately, tend to reach the same conclusions in virtually all cases, to wit: that little or no injury has been sustained. Obviously this is not the case where catastrophic injury has occurred, but even then, causation for the injury is often disputed, as is extent and need for future care. In short, the unwary injured victim of a car accident attempting to negotiate with the insurance carrier on his/her own soon learns the stark reality: insurance companies are in the business of taking premium dollars, not paying claims. By the time the carrier is done with you, it will have a recorded statement regarding cause of the accident, it will have had you examined by “their” doctors, and it will be in a position to justify why your claim is worth relatively little. Do yourself a favor; avoid this scenario at all costs.

Demonstrative evidence employed by The Shaked Law Firm in Auto Accident case. Aerial photographs are routinely commissioned in order that the jury visualize the accident scene

Unfortunately, there are over 40,000 fatalities each year as a result of automobile accidents. Over 3,500,000 injuries are sustained as a result of over 6,500,000 crashes that occur in the United States each year.

It probably comes at no surprise that rear-end collisions (whiplash accidents) are the most common vehicle collisions. Each year, well over 2,500,000 whiplash accidents are reported. Frontal collisions, rollover accidents, side impacts are all too common.

While it is difficult to generalize, each type of accident can produce different types of injuries. As we are increasingly learning, even low speed impacts can cause significant injury.

Today, it is difficult to find jurors who have not been individually involved in some type of automobile accident, or who do not know someone who has. Juror’s experiences often pre-dispose their views on automobile accidents, the injuries resulting therefrom, and the lawsuit that ultimately must be pursued by those injured during an automobile accident. Insurance companies have likewise done much to taint prospective jurors’ attitudes about those who pursue lawsuits for injuries sustained in automobile accidents.

Accordingly, the Shaked Law Firm does much to overcome juror bias. During trial, the Shaked Law Firm often utilizes biomechanical engineers to professionally demonstrate the awesome force involved upon the body, even in low speed impacts. Accident reconstructionists are utilized to re-enact the accident. Medical specialists provide the jury with appropriate information about the injuries sustained, and the probable residual impact of those injuries. In short, the Shaked Law Firm takes the necessary steps to properly present the auto/auto, auto/pedestrian, rollover, singular vehicle accident, and big rig/auto case.

If you or a loved one have been involved in a vehicular collision, the Shaked Law Firm stands ready to assist you with your legal needs. With focus on the handling of those catastrophically injured, and those sustaining the loss of a loved one, the Shaked Law Firm is ready to assist you when you need it the most.

If you or someone you know has been injured

as the result of an auto accident or car crash,

you need the assistance of The Shaked Law Group.

Call 877-LAW-0080

today to speak with a Florida Personal Injury Attorney.

1. Approximately three-fourths of these motorcycle accidents involved collision with another vehicle, which was most usually a passenger automobile.
2. Approximately one-fourth of these motorcycle accidents were single vehicle accidents involving the motorcycle colliding with the roadway or some fixed object in the environment.
3. Vehicle failure accounted for less than 3% of these motorcycle accidents, and most of those were single vehicle accidents where control was lost due to a puncture flat.
4. In the single vehicle accidents, motorcycle rider error was present as the accident precipitating factor in about two-thirds of the cases, with the typical error being a slide out and fall due to over braking or running wide on a curve due to excess speed or under-cornering.
5. Roadway defects (pavement ridges, potholes, etc.) were the accident cause in 2% of the accidents; animal involvement was 1% of the accidents.
6. In the multiple vehicle accidents, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle right-of-way and caused the accident in two-thirds of those accidents.
7. The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents
8. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision.
9. Deliberate hostile action by a motorist against a motorcycle rider is a rare accident cause
10. The most frequent accident configuration is the motorcycle proceeding straight then the automobile makes a left turn in front of the oncoming motorcycle.
11. Intersections are the most likely place for the motorcycle accident, with the other vehicle violating the motorcycle right-of-way, and often violating traffic controls.
12. Weather is not a factor in 98% of motorcycle accidents.
13. Most motorcycle accidents involve a short trip associated with shopping, errands, friends, entertainment or recreation, and the accident is likely to happen in a very short time close to the trip origin.
14. The view of the motorcycle or the other vehicle involved in the accident is limited by glare or obstructed by other vehicles in almost half of the multiple vehicle accidents.
15. Conspicuity of the motorcycle is a critical factor in the multiple vehicle accidents, and accident involvement is significantly reduced by the use of motorcycle headlamps (on in daylight) and the wearing of high visibility yellow, orange or bright red jackets
16. (Note: the statistics which have just been released here in Australia – August 1996, DO NOT SHOW that “Lights on” legislation has worked!)
17. Fuel system leaks and spills were present in 62% of the motorcycle accidents in the post-crash phase
18. This represents an undue hazard for fire.
19. The median pre-crash speed was 29.8 mph, and the median crash speed was 21.5 mph, and the one-in-a-thousand crash speed is approximately 86 mph.
20. The typical motorcycle pre-crash lines-of-sight to the traffic hazard portray no contribution of the limits of peripheral vision; more than three- fourths of all accident hazards are within 45 degrees of either side of straight ahead.
21. Conspicuity of the motorcycle is most critical for the frontal surfaces of the motorcycle and rider.
22. defects related to accident causation are rare and likely to be due to deficient or defective maintenance.
23. Motorcycle riders between the ages of 16 and 24 are significantly over-represented in accidents; motorcycle riders between the ages of 30 and 50 are significantly under represented
24. Although the majority of the accident-involved motorcycle riders are male (96%), the female motorcycle riders are significantly over represented in the accident data.
25. Craftsmen, laborers, and students comprise most of the accident-involved motorcycle riders
26. Professionals, sales workers, and craftsmen are under represented and laborers, students and unemployed are over- represented in the accidents.
27. Motorcycle riders with previous recent traffic citations and accidents are over represented in the accident data.
28. T he motorcycle riders involved in accidents are essentially without training; 92% were self-taught or learned from family or friends
29. Motorcycle rider training experience reduces accident involvement and is related to reduced injuries in the event of accidents.
30. More than half of the accident-involved motorcycle riders had less than 5 months experience on the accident motorcycle, although the total street riding experience was almost 3 years
31. Motorcycle riders with dirt bike experience are significantly under represented in the accident data.
32. Lack of attention to the driving task is a common factor for the motorcyclist in an accident.
33. Almost half of the fatal accidents show alcohol involvement.
34. Motorcycle riders in these accidents showed significant collision avoidance problems
35. Most riders would over brake and skid the rear wheel, and under brake the front wheel greatly reducing collision avoidance deceleration
36. The ability to counter steer and swerve was essentially absent.
37. The typical motorcycle accident allows the motorcyclist just less than 2 seconds to complete all collision avoidance action.
38. Passenger-carrying motorcycles are not over represented in the accident area.
39. The driver of the other vehicles involved in collision with the motorcycle are not distinguished from other accident populations except that the ages of 20 to 29, and beyond 65 are over represented
40. Also, these drivers are generally unfamiliar with motorcycles.
41. The large displacement motorcycles are under represented in accidents but they are associated with higher injury severity when involved in accidents.
42. Any effect of motorcycle color on accident involvement is not determinable from these data, but is expected to be insignificant because the frontal surfaces are most often presented to the other vehicle involved in the collision.
43. Motorcycles equipped with fairings and windshields are under represented in accidents, most likely because of the contribution to conspicuity and the association with more experienced and trained riders.
44. Motorcycle riders in these accidents were significantly without motorcycle license, without any license, or with license revoked.
45. Motorcycle modifications such as those associated with the semi-chopper or cafe racer are definitely over represented in accidents.
46. The likelihood of injury is extremely high in these motorcycle accidents-98% of the multiple vehicle collisions and 96% of the single vehicle accidents resulted in some kind of injury to the motorcycle rider; 45% resulted in more than a minor injury.
47. Half of the injuries to the somatic regions were to the ankle-foot, lower leg, knee, and thigh-upper leg.
48. Crash bars are not an effective injury countermeasure; the reduction of injury to the ankle-foot is balanced by increase of injury to the thigh-upper leg, knee, and lower leg
49. 38.The use of heavy boots, jacket, gloves, etc., is effective in preventing or reducing abrasions and lacerations, which are frequent but rarely severe injuries.
50. Groin injuries were sustained by the motorcyclist in at least 13% of the accidents, which typified by multiple vehicle collision in frontal impact at higher than average speed.
51. Injury severity increases with speed, alcohol involvement and motorcycle size.
52. Seventy-three percent of the accident-involved motorcycle riders used no eye protection, and it is likely that the wind on the unprotected eyes contributed in impairment of vision which delayed hazard detection.
53. Approximately 50% of the motorcycle riders in traffic were using safety helmets but only 40% of the accident-involved motorcycle riders were wearing helmets at the time of the accident.
54. Voluntary safety helmet use by those accident-involved motorcycle riders was lowest for untrained, uneducated, young motorcycle riders on hot days and short trips.
55. The most deadly injuries to the accident victims were injuries to the chest and head.
56. The use of the safety helmet is the single critical factor in the prevention of reduction of head injury; the safety helmet which complies with FMVSS 218 is a significantly effective injury countermeasure.
57. Safety helmet use caused no attenuation of critical traffic sounds, no limitation of pre crash visual field, and no fatigue or loss of attention; no element of accident causation was related to helmet use.
58. FMVSS 218 provides a high level of protection in traffic accidents, and needs modification only to increase coverage at the back of the head and demonstrate impact protection of the front of full facial coverage helmets, and insure all adult sizes for traffic use are covered by the standard.
59. Helmeted riders and passengers showed significantly lower head and neck injury for all types of injury, at all levels of injury severity.
60. The increased coverage of the full facial coverage helmet increases protection, and significantly reduces face injuries.
61. There is not liability for neck injury by wearing a safety helmet; helmeted riders had less neck injuries than unhelmeted riders
62. Only four minor injuries were attributable to helmet use, and in each case the helmet prevented possible critical or fatal head injury.
63. Sixty percent of the motorcyclists were not wearing safety helmets at the time of the accident
64. Of this group, 26% said they did not wear helmets because they were uncomfortable and inconvenient, and 53% simply had no expectation of accident involvement.
65. Valid motorcycle exposure data can be obtained only from collection at the traffic site
66. Motor vehicle or driver license data presents information which is completely unrelated to actual use.
67. Less than 10% of the motorcycle riders involved in these accidents had insurance of any kind to provide medical care or replace property.

Determining who is legally responsible in a traffic accident depends upon the carelessness, among other factors, of the alleged wrongdoer.  In freeway and highway traffic accidents, state traffic laws, like the Florida Motor Vehicle laws, provide the rules of the road.  Violating these rules and then causing a collision could create a rebut-able presumption of negligence – aka negligence per se – and ultimate liability. In many situations, car operators could be liable for a traffic accident even if they were driving at or below the posted speed limit, or otherwise obeying the laws of the state. This is because, for example, a “safe” speed and not the posted speed is what is required for a responsible driver. Another example would be foggy conditions, or cases where the sun is in the car driver’s eyes, impairing visibility.

These conditions would require extra care and caution when driving on the road, like pulling over to the curb when safe, or driving slower.

Find Your Florida Motorcycle Attorneys Now!

At the Shaked Law Firm, Miami Injury Lawyers, our staff of seasoned personal injury lawyers litigate freeway accidents and highway accidents throughout Florida, with local attorneys in Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. These include injuries to riders of motorcycles.

Injuries from Motorcycle accidents are not the same as those in an enclosed passenger car with seat-belts and airbags. In fact,they are not even close. Motorcycles are usually two wheeled vehicles that will usually eject the rider in a high speed crash, or low speed crash. Even pads and helmets do little to protect the motorcycle riders in a crash. This can leave the rider with a ruptured disc, a serious brain injury, or even result in wrongful death. Because we are motorcycle attorneys with vast knowledge of tort laws, we can help guide you through the legal quagmire that other motorcycle accident attorneys either don’t have the time, or the desire to take on when valuating your damages claims.

 The local attorneys at the Shaked Law Firm are experienced trial and injury attorneys who will aggressively litigate your case to make sure you recover the maximum damages allowable under the law. These damages include, monetary compensation for mental and physical pain and suffering. Our experienced staff of legal professionals know exactly what we need to do in order to maximize the value of your case. Your medical doctors and hospitals need to be paid for and the wrongdoer should be forced to pay under our tort system.

This avoids self help, like the days of the wild west. In a civilized society such as ours, the evil doer pays for his/her neglience in money damages, i.e., a settlement or jury trial. We work with the very best and most talented experts to investigate your case and learn the finer points of your individual fact
patterns.

buy amoxicillin without prescription left;”>Our legal team has vast legal knowledge of the anatomy of motorcycle accidents. You should know your legal rights if you have injured yourself while riding a motorcycle. Don’t guess at the value of your case!

If you have been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Miami or Broward County, our attorney hot-line is available 24 hours for your telephone call at (877) LAW-0080, (305) 937-0191 or e-mail. We will provide you with a free consultation.  We are experienced motorcycle accident injury attorneys who can help you. Our law firm litigates personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. If we do not recover for you, we don’t charge you a fee.

Please visit our website dedicated to motorcycle riders (www.personalinjuryrider.com) to read more about about our experienced motorcycle attorneys, our Motorcycle Accident Articles, Motorcycle Accident Resources; and learn about the anatomy of these accidents and how to file a motorcycle insurance claim.