Philadelphia Injury Attorney Blog

As an experienced defective and unhitched trailer lawyer with a specialty in motorcycle accidents and hit and run accidents, I noticed a “hat trick” of all three has recently occurred which tragically took the life of an innocent man. Michael K. Hull, age 48, was injured when a trailer became unhitched from a vehicle and traveled across two lanes into the path of his motorcycle. The unfortunate victim died of the catastrophic injuries approximately two weeks later. The operators of the vehicle towing the trailer left the scene of the accident and were charged for failure to stop, also known as hit and run. In addition they were charged with voluntary manslaughter. Evidently the trailer was stolen from a business and connected to their vehicle in an improper fashion. After the trailer crossed the median strip and Mr. Hull struck it, he was thrown off the motorcycle and landed in westbound lanes of traffic where he was struck by two other vehicles.

Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Michael K. Hull. They would be well advised to seek the services of an experienced hit and run lawyer with expertise in defective trailers and motorcycle accidents to fully investigate this claim to make sure that they receive proper compensation. The facts of this case represent the worse possible circumstances involving hit and run, defective trailers and motorcycle accidents which unfortunately took the life of a good, caring and innocent man.

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Defective Trailer/Trailer Hitches , Hit-and-Run , motorcycle accidents

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The Federal Highway Administration announced it will conduct an intensive study into the cause of the growing number of motorcycle accidents on American roads. Nearly 5,300 motorcycle riders died in highway crashes in 2008 in America, representing 14% of all deaths and there were 96,000 additional injuries. Between 1997 and 2008, motorcycle fatalities jumped from 2,116 to 5,290, a 150% increase according to the transportation department’s fatality analysis reporting system. In 2008 alone, deaths from motorcycle crashes rose by 2.2% while fatalities from crashes involving other vehicles declined. NHTSA announced it was considering new safety features on motorcycles such as anti-lock brakes as motorcycles with optional anti-lock brakes sustained a 28% lower fatality rate.

The Philadelphia motorcycle accident law firm of Reiff and Bily is committed to protecting the rights of motorcyclists. If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident, contact one of our experienced Philadelphia motorcycle accident lawyers for a free no obligation consultation to fully evaluate your rights and options at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: motorcycle accidents

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Last week, I had the occasion to spend four days in the mountainous upstate region of Pennsylvania in the early days of Fall and saw what was not an uncommon sight. A caravan of bikers traveling north on Interstate 81 finally coming to rest at a popular roadside restaurant guzzling down a few cold beers after a lengthy ride from the city. Not only does drinking not go well with the use of a motorcycle, what these motorcyclists did not take into account is the increasing number of deer on mountainous roads and the increasing number of motorcycle/animal crashes.

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, there is a deer/vehicle crash approximately ever 8 minutes, often resulting in a catastrophic injury or fatality. Recently an accident occurred in Pennsylvania where a motorcycle rider struck a deer, lost control of the motorcycle and skated into the oncoming lane of northbound traffic where he was hit by an approaching car and killed. According to sources, Pennsylvania is the number one state in vehicle/deer collisions. Obviously, a disproportionate number of these crashes involve fatalities to motorcyclists. In winter months when roads are salted, deer are attracted to the salt licks.

When operating a motorcycle, one should be highly cautious at night and pay attention in wooded and mountainous areas. Deer often travel in groups. If you see one, there is generally a herd nearby. Dusk and evening hours are more active with deer crossings. Months noted prominently for deer collisions are late September through November with a smaller peak from May to June. It is important to have good powerful driving lights on the motorcycle when driving down dark highways at night. As always, it is extremely important to wear protective gear because as with other crashes, chance favors the prepared man.

The Philadelphia motorcycle accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily are committed to promoting motorcycle safety. If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident, please call one of our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily for a free consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: motorcycle accidents

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On Monday, September 21, 2009, the operator of a motorcycle whose female passenger was ejected from the rear seat and thrown over the railing of a highway bridge into the Schuylkill River was charged with vehicular homicide in her death. According to police and prosecutors, Julian Tyrone Mansfield, 21, was speeding on a stolen motorcycle when he hit the rear of a car while trying to pass it on the right side of Route 202, Dannehower Bridge, on the night of June 23rd. Unfortunately, his passenger Ryan Bonita Banjomin of Norristown flew off the bike, over the side of the bridge, suffering fatal injuries in the fall and her body was later recovered from the river.

Of course our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Ryan Bonita Banjomin but this case calls to question the issue of how well a passenger on a motorcycle knows the driver. In this case, the operator of the motorcycle was charged with vehicular homicide, driving with a suspended license and other offenses.

Just last week, I had another consultation with another client who was catastrophically injured while also the passenger on a motorcycle. In her particular case, she had no idea that the operator had little or no experience operating a motorcycle. The operator, in fact, was intoxicated at the same time.

Continue reading "How Well Do You Know The Driver Of The Motorcycle You Are A Passenger On? - Your Life May Be in Extreme Danger" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: motorcycle accidents

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Over the past few years not surprisingly many older and affluent riders have purchased motorcycles. Many of these self proclaimed “masters of the universe” go out and purchase the biggest and “best” bike that they can afford and too often take the highways with very little or no experience on a smaller bike let alone a larger and unwieldy motorcycle.

Over the past 10 years, motorcycle fatalities and catastrophic injury have been increasing at a more than nominal rate. According to NHTSA, in 2007 5,154 motorcyclists died in crashes, up 6.6% from 4,837 in 2006. Now motorcycle fatalities are at their highest level since NHTSA began collecting data in 1975. From 1997, an historic low, to 2007 motorcycle fatalities rose 144%. According to NHTSA research, older motorcyclists now account for more than half of all motorcycle fatalities. Obviously, motorcycles are by their nature less safe than an automobile or other closed vehicle. Operating a motor vehicle requires a different combination of physical and mental skills.

Continue reading "Dramatic Increase In The Number of Deaths Among Motorcyclists Aged 40 And Older – Philadelphia Motorcycle Lawyer Weighs In On Preventative Safety" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: motorcycle accidents

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The experienced Philadelphia motorcycle accident attorneys of Reiff and Bily call your attention to a fact that all too often goes unnoticed by all too many motorcycle riders. Motorcycle tires, like any other tire, deteriorates over time. Environmental factors such as heat, ultraviolet light, oxygen and other factors cause tires to harden as they get older. Many times cracks develop. Older and harder tires also may not conform to the road as well as a newer, softer tire and this affects the traction or grip creating a dangerous situation particularly on slick or wet highways.

A condition known as dry rot in the tires generally occurs with older tires and bikes that have been left outdoors in the elements and not used or covered during extended periods of storage. Though motorcycle tires are relatively expensive, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that they are the most critically important element to safety on a motorcycle. As motorcycle season gets into full swing, it is important to have your tires examined or inspected by a qualified mechanic or expert. It is also important to perform your own self inspection regarding the tread. If your tread is less than one milimeter deep, the tires should be replaced. If your tire is bald or has minimal tread, there is a good chance that trouble lies ahead when you are operating on a slick highway or executing a turn or accident avoidance maneuver. It is also important that the tires of your motorcycle be properly inflated and not overloaded as it increases the risk of tire failure which most likely will result in serious and catastrophic personal injury or fatality, not to mention property damage. Many times a tire failure is noticeable to the rider of the motorcycle by a vibration, bump or irregular wear. If you find yourself driving on a motorcycle that has a blowout or sudden tire failure, experts recommend that you slowly decrease the amount of throttle, hold the handlebars firm and steer to maintain your lane position. Gently apply your brakes and pull over to a spot where you can safely stop the motorcycle. It is always important to follow the tire manufacturer and motorcycle manufacturer’s recommended air pressure and maintenance and inspection schedule for both motorcycle tires. As an experienced motorcycle rider, I check my pressure before every motorcycle ride.

Continue reading "Microscopic Cracks In Motorcycle Tires - A Hidden But Well Known Cause Of Tire Failure Often Resulting in Catastrophic Injuries" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Catastrophic loss , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death , motorcycle accidents

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In Philadelphia, spring is upon us and so is the increase of motorcycle ridership on our streets and highways. Like clockwork every spring, the experienced Philadelphia motorcycle accident law firm of Reiff and Bily receives phone calls from motorcyclists who are seriously injured and unfortunately, from the families of some individuals who were killed as a result of a motorcycle accident.

Statistics reveal that motorcyclists are about 16 times more likely than those in passenger vehicles to die in a motor vehicle crash and about 3 to 4 times as likely to be injured. This morning I had the occasion to meet with a client who was driving his motorcycle rightfully down a street in Philadelphia when another vehicle negligently ran a stop sign and crashed into him causing a catastrophic injury. Yesterday, I was made aware of another situation involving the death of a motorcyclist who had only been on a motorcycle a few times.

Many factors contribute to motorcycle crashes and one of the most common factors can be operator inexperience and the operator’s failure to appreciate the limitations of the bike. Statistics reveal that over 1/3 of multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes result from another motorist turning into the path of the motorcycle. Recently, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell signed a bill repealing the state’s motorcycle helmet law. Senate Bill 259 repeals a helmet law for riders over age 21 with two years of riding experience or a rider education course while riders under age 21 are still required to wear a motorcycle helmet. Motorcycle helmet laws are highly political and hot topics of debate throughout the United States and Pennsylvania emergency physicians and hospitals have asked the State Legislature to reenact the state’s mandatory motorcycle helmet law.

Continue reading "Motorcycle Drivers Beware Of How Awful People Drive Everyday" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Catastrophic loss , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death , motorcycle accidents

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Automobile safety and motorcycle safety during the holiday season is a growing concern. Roadways are more crowded with drivers heading to shopping malls that are easily distracted as well as people coming from holiday parties who may be driving under the influence. With economic downturns, more and more people are turning to motorcycles as their primary mode of transportation. The Philadelphia motorcycle accident and car accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily offer the following tips that could improve your level of safety

Continue reading "MOTORCYCLE SAFETY DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: motorcycle accidents

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According to a recent article published by the New York Times on Sunday, October 26, 2008, so many members of the armed forces have been dying on motorcycles and sports bikes like the Ninja that the Navy and Marines have made special training mandatory. In just one weekend in September, the Navy lost four men in sport bike accidents.

As I have noted before in my blog, you can go out and purchase a motorcycle from a showroom floor without even having a motorcycle license to buy it or without having any special training. Some of the Ninja bikes will attain speeds of almost 200 mph. In the last 12 months, 50 of 58 sailors and marines killed on motorcycles were operating on such said sports bikes which are much faster than their cruiser counterparts. The Army also lost 36 soldiers on sport bike accidents in the same time period.

In just the last month in our law practice, which specializes in catastrophic personal injury accidents with an emphasis on motorcycle accidents, we noticed a tremendous amount of accidents with people under age 30 who are first time purchasers and have limited experience riding motorcycles. According to Tracy Martin who runs a private riding program aimed at high performance motorcycles, Air Force safety officials predict the military person most likely to die next is a male under the age of 25, working in maintenance, who has a sport bike and owns it less than a month. A direct correlation with those individuals represented by our law firm over the past 25 years. (New York Times article)

Continue reading "US MILITARY FORCES MAKE SPECIAL TRAINING MANDATORY FOR MOTORCYCLE RIDERS - PHILADELPHIA MOTORCYCLE LAWYER, JEFFREY REIFF, SALUTES THESE EFFORTS" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Catastrophic loss , Personal Injury , Product Liability , Wrongful Death , motorcycle accidents

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Although many states define a motorcycle as a motor vehicle, motorcycles by their design offer many safety issues with the driver. Motorcycles offer very little protection to riders in the event of a crash or collision, often leading to severe injuries and fatalities. Many safety devices are available for purchase from motorcycle manufacturers or after market. It is important to consider such safety devices that (1) increase the visibility of motorcycles to other traffic such as activation of headlights; (2) installation of crash bars to help reduce lower leg injuries; and (3) the installation of ABS braking systems to enhance the motorcycle’s breaking performance in stopping situations. Most importantly is the knowledge that operating a motorcycle safely in traffic requires special skills and knowledge.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania maintains a motorcycle safety program which teaches the operator the basic skills necessary to operate a motorcycle. All Pennsylvania drivers should take advantage of the opportunity to read the motorcycle operator’s manual published by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as well as take the Pennsylvania motorcycle safety program. Additionally, while riding the motorcycle, one should wear proper protective clothing and head gear, ride within your limits, obey the law and “share the road” with other highway users. You should always wear a helmet designed to meet DOT and State standards. Helmets with a label from Snell Memorial Foundation gives you an added assurance of quality. Make sure that the helmet fits snugly all the way around and has no obvious defects such as cracks, loose padding or frayed straps. Whatever helmet you choose to wear, make sure it is securely fastened on your head when you ride.

Since 1979 the Pennsylvania motorcycle accident lawyers and the Philadelphia personal injury lawyers at Reiff and Bily have represented many motorcyclists who have been seriously injured or killed in motorcycle accidents in Pennsylvania and throughout the country.

Continue reading "PHILADELPHIA MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER, JEFFREY REIFF, OFFERS TIPS ON HOW TO REDUCE YOUR CHANCE OF INJURY OR DEATH WHILE OPERATING A MOTORCYCLE" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Catastrophic loss , Personal Injury , motorcycle accidents

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