Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyer - Motorcycle Accidents

Maricopa County Loses a Fine Judge

Staff Writer — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 10:53:11 GMT

Today we mourn the loss of a Judge with the Juvenile Division of the Maricopa County Superior Court. Judge John Gaylord was appointed to the Maricopa County Superior Court in 2000 and for the past three years was assigned to the Juvenile Court facility in Mesa. I never had an opportunity to appear in front of Judge Gaylord in the Juvenile Court. However, I know that Judge Gaylord had an outstanding reputation for fairness and compassion. Attorneys I know who appeared in front of him always held a high regard for his professionalism. He also was very active in the community and set a shining example of a model jurist in our state.

Tragically, Judge Gaylord

was killed yesterday evening when his motorcycle was hit by an out-of-control vehicle pulling a trailer.
Judge John M. Gaylord died at the scene of the crash. The Department of Public Safety says his 2005 Harley-Davidson was northbound on State Route 79 outside Florence when the driver of a southbound Land Rover pulling a boat crossed into his lanes.

I am sure that he will be missed by friends, family and colleagues alike and am truly sorry to not have had the privilege of appearing in his court. Maybe Judge Gaylord's tragic passing will reinforce the notion that roadway safety advocates should not ignore motorcyclists. Motorcycle safety has been a controversial topic lately. Notwithstanding this controversy, this topic should not be overlooked on Arizona roadways. Automobiles, trucks and motorcycles all share our state's roads and freeways. In light of so many tragic motorcycle accidents and in spite of the safety controversy, the Department of Transportation, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, the Federal Highway Administration, other safety organizations and drivers alike must all ensure that drivers look out for motorcycles when driving, and freeway planners must consider motorcycle safety when considering roadway expansion or new construction. Our sincere condolences on the loss of Judge Gaylord. Maybe his high profile passing will help reinforce the importance of motorcycle safety to the driving public and to roadway safety engineers.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Staff Writer

Recent Tribune Article Discusses Motorcycle Safety

Staff Writer — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 11:15:44 GMT

The East Valley Tribune recently published an article highlighting a twenty-two percent increase in fatal motorcycle accidents in the past year in Arizona. According to the Tribune,

Overall, the number of fatal Arizona motorcycle collisions doubled from 2001 to 2005, and transportation officials say they are particularly concerned about a surge in driver deaths in the 45-to-54-year-old age group.
Deadly motorcycle crashes increased at 10 times the rate of other vehicular deaths between 2004 and 2005, with more than half involving motorcyclists age 35 and older. Those statistics differ significantly from crash data for other vehicle types, in which older drivers died at a far lower rate.

These statistics seem to suggest that older motorcyclists are not adequately trained and are prone to collisions. However, shouldn't we also look to the increasing number of drivers on Arizona roadways as another reason for the increasing number of collisions? Also, problems associated with cellphone use and driver inattentiveness could be a contributing factor to both auto and motorcycle collisions. Recent studies suggest that cellphone use while driving can be as distracting as alcohol impairment leading to serious auto accidents. Before we start blaming only motorcycle riders for inadequate training on Arizona roadways, shouldn't we also look to distracted drivers who may not pay careful attention to the roadway and cause accidents with motorcyclists? Operating a vehicle on our roadways involves a partnership between the driver and everybody else on the roadway. Shouldn't everybody who drives take safety seriously and drive defensively whether or not you ride a motorcycle, a car, an SUV, a van or a commercial truck. What do you think? Are motorcyclists unfairly singled out in this article? I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Staff Writer

Arizona Reports Sharp Rise in Motorcycle Crash Fatalities

Staff Writer — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 23:22:13 GMT

An article in the Arizona Republic, citing statistics provided by the the Arizona Automobile Association and Department of Motor Vehicles, provides a sobering look at motorcycle safety in Arizona. According to the Arizona Republic article,

Motorcycle-crash fatalities have risen sharply in Arizona, with 146 riders and passengers killed during 2005. That compares with 118 deaths in 2004 and 75 in 2001, according to statistics from AAA Arizona and the state Motor Vehicle Division.

Riding a motorcycle has never been more popoular recently. Recent gas price spikes have only added to the popularity. Unfortunately, while motorcycle use has increased, so has traffic volume.

"There are more people riding motorcycles today, while streets are becoming more and more congested," said Detective Walter Olsen of the Phoenix police's Traffic Education and Safety Unit. "If you put more cars and more motorcycles on the road, there will be more people killed."

While you may get substantially better gas mileage riding a motorcycle in Arizona, be warned that you need to take extra precautions riding a motorcycle these days. Drive defensively and keep in mind that sharing the road with cars and trucks unfortunately also means that you have a higher risk of getting hit.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Staff Writer

Motorcycle Accidents Run Rampant

Staff Writer — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 11:08:03 GMT

Could one of the costs of gas price hikes be more motorcycle accidents? According to a report in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, many fed-up auto owners are taking to riding motorcycles to save on fuel. We may see more and more motorcycles on the road, as well as more motorcycle accidents.

Arizona is a beautiful state to enjoy the open road from a motorcycle, but riding a motorcycle can also be dangerous. Riders should use proper safety precautions, such as wearing a helmet, taking a motorcycle safety class and making a practice of 100% focus while operating a motorcycle. Drivers of automobiles are not always aware of motorcyclists.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Staff Writer