January 28, 2013—Los Angeles, California—A motorcyclist died in a crash that was caused by a semi truck being driven illegally on the Arroyo Seco Parkway, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The Highland Park Patchreports that the motorcycle rider was ejected from his bike when the motorcycle collided with a big rig that cut him off. He was transported to an area hospital where he died.
The California Highway Patrol investigated the incident and stated that a 59-year-old male was riding his Harley Davidson in the number three lane at an undetermined rate of speed. The truck cut him off, causing him to crash into the off-ramp. It is illegal for semi trucks to use the Arroyo Seco given the size of the lanes. Authorities emphasized the importance of calling 911 if witnesses observe a big rig truck getting on the 110.
Restrictions on Highway Use May Lead to Liability
When a driver is performing an illegal action, negligence per se may apply if the driver causes injury to another person. In other words, when you are breaking the law, you may automatically be considered negligent even if you might have escaped liability under other circumstances.
This is important information for those who are injured in collisions caused by drivers who are breaking the law. If a driver is considered negligent, he or she may be liable for damages for your injuries, including medical bills, pain and suffering, and other costs.
In this case, the fact that the truck driver was using prohibited lanes could mean that the truck driver was behaving negligently. Of course, the driver also allegedly cut off the motorcyclist which would also constitute negligent behavior.
Big Trucks Involved in Crashes at Higher Rates than Other Vehicles
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there are approximately 4,300 fatal crashes involving large trucks per year and another 77,000 injury crashes. This represents 11 percent of all fatal crashes and four percent of all injury collisions. However, large trucks represent only three percent of all vehicles on the road at any given time. That means that big trucks are involved far more often, statistically, than cars in fatal and injury crashes.
The problem is actually more severe than even these numbers suggest. One reason that the percentage of injury victims in truck accidents is so much smaller than fatalities is because victims are far more likely to die in one of these crashes than to be injured. Furthermore, the victims most likely to be killed in such a crash are those in a passenger car or on a motorcycle rather than the driver of a large truck.
Victims who have been injured in a semi-tractor-trailer crash should contact a personal injury attorney immediately. There are laws in place that may allow you to collect damages such as costs of medical treatment, payment for your pain, suffering and emotional trauma, and even lost wages and increased living expenses as a result of your injuries.
This article is brought to you by Reiff & Bily in Philadelphia, PA. If you are in need of a Philadelphia personal injury lawyer, the attorneys at Reiff & Bily are among the top in the state. Contact them for a free consultation at (215) 246-9000
Disbarment is the temporary or permanent loss of a license to practice law, and removal of an attorney from the bar association in the state which he or she was licensed. An attorney disciplinary hearing takes place to determine whether the behavior exhibited by an attorney justifies disbarment.
The American Bar Association’s Rule of Professional Conduct 8.5 states that a lawyer is subject to disbarment, or any disciplinary action, under the rules of the jurisdiction where the lawyer is admitted to practice, regardless of where the lawyer’s conduct occurs. The conduct of an attorney which willfully disregards the interests of a client may result in disbarment. Such behavior can be exhibited in a number of different ways.
In most states, perjury and financial fraud are serious crimes that would qualify an attorney for disbarment. Attorneys who knowingly mismanage clients’ accounts, shuffle paperwork for financial gain, or engage in misappropriation of funds face severe penalties and the possibility of disbarment.
Gross personal misconduct that breaches the state’s rules of legal ethics can also justify an attorney’s disbarment. Each state has rules which govern attorney behavior and require that they avoid conflicts of interest and any number of other unethical practices. Some states will look into the social media accounts of attorneys who are under investigation in order to search for serious substance abuse and other personal misconduct. Non-financial moral misconduct does not often lead to disbarment because there are lesser punishments that are typically imposed instead. Such consequences are fines, censure and license suspension.
Finally, failure to comply with a state’s licensing requirements can disbar an attorney. The bar association will look at technicalities like payments and dues, as well as more serious requirements like the completion of continuing legal education.
Attorney disbarment is quire rare, but is encouraged in qualifying cases to promote lawyer-client transparency, and to ensure that clients receive the fairest of treatment.
The Sunshine State of Florida is home to warm weather and year-round parties that draw in hundreds of thousands of motorcyclists each year. Tragically, despite the good times, Florida sees more than 100,000 motorcycle accidents that cause injuries every year and over 2,000 that end fatally.
Daytona Beach, Florida hosts the second-largest annual motorcycle rally in North America, with a yearly turnout of approximately 500,000 motorcyclists and participation consistently increasing year after year. Although Bike Week death rates have been on the decline since 2006, Florida law enforcement is stepping up and taking action to prevent further Bike Week fatalities. After 2006 BIke Week saw 20 fatalities of both motorcycle participants and nonparticipants, the state authorities focused their priority on road safety. In 2010 the rally had an all-time low of highway fatalities, in 2011 three were killed and in this year’s Bike Week eight deaths were reported.
The traffic congestion of 500,000 riders and a party-like atmosphere join to create a dangerous environment. Impaired drivers and riders is the largest contributing factor in Bike Week multiple-vehicle collisions, while lack of experience is the number one cause of single-vehicle crashes.
Florida has no helmet law for riders over the age of 21, and in 2011 helmet use in the state was observed at 49.3%. Before 2008 motorcycle fatalities were on a steady increase, and since that year there has been a significant drop in both deaths and injuries. The implementation of Florida’s Motorcycle Safety Coalition and the new rider training requirements that were put into place in July 2008 significantly contributed to this decrease. Florida cites “increases in motorcycle endorsements” as another reason for the drop.
The Daytona Chamber of Commerce has listed the next Bike Week as March 8-17, 2013 and will be charging a nominal fee of $5 per vehicle per day.
This article is brought to you by the Daytona Beach personal injury attorneys of Politis & Matovina. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident do not hesitate to contact your local injury lawyer. They can help you recover compensation before your injuries and bills turn into a financial burden.
Daytona Beach, Florida hosts the second-largest annual motorcycle rally in North America, with a yearly turnout of approximately 500,000 motorcyclists and participation consistently increasing year after year. Although Bike Week death rates have been on the decline since 2006, Florida law enforcement is stepping up and taking action to prevent further Bike Week fatalities. After 2006 BIke Week saw 20 fatalities of both motorcycle participants and nonparticipants, the state authorities focused their priority on road safety. In 2010 the rally had an all-time low of highway fatalities, in 2011 three were killed and in this year’s Bike Week eight deaths were reported.
The traffic congestion of 500,000 riders and a party-like atmosphere join to create a dangerous environment. Impaired drivers and riders is the largest contributing factor in Bike Week multiple-vehicle collisions, while lack of experience is the number one cause of single-vehicle crashes.
Florida has no helmet law for riders over the age of 21, and in 2011 helmet use in the state was observed at 49.3%. Before 2008 motorcycle fatalities were on a steady increase, and since that year there has been a significant drop in both deaths and injuries. The implementation of Florida’s Motorcycle Safety Coalition and the new rider training requirements that were put into place in July 2008 significantly contributed to this decrease. Florida cites “increases in motorcycle endorsements” as another reason for the drop.
The Daytona Chamber of Commerce has listed the next Bike Week as March 8-17, 2013 and will be charging a nominal fee of $5 per vehicle per day.
This article is brought to you by the Daytona Beach personal injury attorneys of Politis & Matovina. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident do not hesitate to contact your local injury lawyer. They can help you recover compensation before your injuries and bills turn into a financial burden.
