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2019-personalinjury

Collision with deer can prove fatal for motorcyclists

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Collision with Deer Can Prove Fatal for Milwaukee Bikers

On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Friday, October 12, 2012.

It’s dark, you are focused on the road ahead, but your mind drifts into the comfortable lull associated with highway traveling as you listen to the radio. A flash of something, you don’t know what, streaks across your vision and you slam the breaks, or swerve your steering wheel in an attempt to dodge the creature. Too late, you slam into the deer. This is a relatable and familiar scene for many Milwaukee residents.

We do have a significant population of deer here in Wisconsin. While it is always important to remain alert for deer, it is especially important now that it is mating season and the creatures are on the move. Typically, Wisconsin drivers want to avoid them because of the damage striking a deer can have on their car. Rarely do Wisconsin drivers worry for their lives at the prospect of encountering a deer. However, collisions with deer can be fatal, particularly for motorcyclists.

According to one AAA spokesperson, motorcyclists need to be especially alert, “Because they are riding on two wheels, motorcycle riders and their passengers are especially vulnerable when they smash into a deer. Such motorcycle-deer strikes can be frightening and even fatal.”

Whether it is a collision with a deer or an inattentive driver, motorcyclist can stand to befall catastrophic injury. Being thrown from a motorcycle can mean that the operator suffers minor scrapes and bruises, or is rendered paralyzed by a spinal injury. In the worst of scenarios, death can result. If a Milwaukee motorcyclist is seriously injured by another driver, there is recourse available to them in some instances. If you need legal representation following an accident with a deer, contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. for a free consultation.

Source: The Washington Post, “Deer take a fatal toll on motorcyclists,” Ashley Halsey III, Oct. 8, 2012

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The Dangers of Being a New Motorcycle Driver in Milwaukee

No matter how experienced a motorcyclist is on their bike, no biker is immune to the potential danger of motorcycle accidents. This is especially true for those individuals just learning to ride. According to the Highway Loss Data Institute, new riders are four more times likely to get in an accident in their first 30 days of riding than in their entire second year.

The Institute’s CEO says that for most people, riding a motorcycle is a complex task requiring at least a half-dozen steps including shifting gears, feathering the throttle, releasing the clutch, braking and watching for traffic. The study showed 22 percent of nearly 57,000 collision claims from 2003 to 2007 occurred in the first month after the insurance policy took effect. The numbers began to gradually drop after the second month, according to the Republic.

No amount of training bikers receive while learning to ride may be enough to reduce the risk of accidents. One safety study suggests that licensing courses that fast-track the time it takes to get on the road don’t lower crash risks and but could potentially raise them.

A representative with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety admitted that some training courses actually contradict the idea that they reduce the likelihood of accidents. For example, research has shown that collision claim frequency among graduates of state-required training programs for riders under 21 was actually 10 percent higher than states without those requirements.

Federal data shows more than 5,000 bikers died in motorcycle accidents in 2008, which is twice the amount compared to the previous decade.

Source: The Republic, “Motorcycle crash risk drops sharply after the first month on the road,” Michael Virtanen, April 15, 2012

If you need legal representation following an accident with a motorcycle driver in Milwaukee, contact a Milwaukee motorcycle accident attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. for a free consultation.

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Janesville Man Seriously Hurt in WI Motorcycle Collision with Deer

On behalf of Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Monday, April 23, 2012.

Earlier this month, a man was severely injured after his motorcycle collided with a deer in Rock County. According to law enforcement, the driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the Wisconsin motorcycle accident. The man sustained severe head trauma and had to be transported by helicopter to the hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.

Motorcycles are popular in Wisconsin, but they are also dangerous. Riding while intoxicated only makes it worse. While driving any vehicle under the influence is dangerous, there is more inherent risk when driving drunk on a motorcycle. A rider has little protection from impact during an accident, which results in more serious injuries than would be sustained in a car collision.

Always play it safe when riding a motorcycle; either sober up before going to the next destination or find another way to get where you need to go.

Drunk driving delays reaction time and makes it harder to avoid obstacles. This is a particularly acute problem in Wisconsin, where deer in the road are an everyday fact of life. Hitting a deer, even at lower speeds, has the potential to cause debilitating injuries.

If you are going to be riding in an area with lots of deer, travel at safe speeds and employ defensive driving techniques. Installing extra headlights or putting a high-wattage bulb into the main light can make it easier to see deer from a distance. If you see deer in the road, flashing your lights can get them to move.

Of course, wearing a helmet and proper protective gear can go a long way to keep you safe in the event of a collision.

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Janesville Man Severely Injured in Suspected OWI Crash,” April 7, 2012.

If you need legal representation, contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. for a free consultation.

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