Vancouver BC Personal Injury Lawyers - Stephens and Holman

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Types of Motorcycle Accidents

Due to the relatively minimal protection provided by motorcycles, injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents can be very serious and potentially result in death. The unique nature of the vehicle also offers motorcyclists a variety of ways to become involved in an accident.

The majority of motorcycle accidents are caused by another vehicle not paying attention or failing to give the motorcycle the right of way. Often a vehicle will either rear-end the motorcyclist or turn right in the path of a motorcycle. Even if the motorcyclist is able to avoid a collision, it is likely he will crash on the side of the road as a result of being forced to swerve out of the way.

While three quarters of motorcycle accidents are caused by another vehicle, there are still many instances where the motorcycle is the only vehicle involved in the accident. Defective equipment and unsafe road conditions are some of the main causes of these accidents.

The growing popularity of off-road bikes has led to an increase in the number of accidents involving these types of motorcycles. Unmarked obstacles on trails can frequently cause these serious accidents. Sometimes these obstacles are natural, such as a boulder or a large branch blocking the trail. However, there are instances where property owners will put up ropes or chains to prevent motorcycles from riding on the trail. Frequently, riders will not notice these obstructions until it is too late, resulting in severe injuries that could easily have been avoided if the property owner had been responsible and marked the obstructions with a warning sign.

Motorcycle injury claims are very complicated. Often, you may need to prove that the accident was caused by a driver when there was no collision or by the fault of a negligent property owner. Frequently, insurance companies will try and offer you an unfairly low settlement.

In order to ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries, it is important to be represented by an lawyer experienced in the nuances of motorcycle accident litigation. At Stephens & Holman, we have the experience needed to provide you with the best results for your motorcycle accident lawsuit.

Please contact our Vancouver, British Columbia motorcycle accident lawyers today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

posted by Anonymous at 9:56 AM

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

A Special Exemption to Motorcycle Helmet Laws

For decades, Canada has demonstrated a strong motorcycle safety record, mainly due to the many safety regulations the government imposes on its motorcycle riders. Canada enacted mandatory helmet laws for all motorcycle riders as early as the 1960's. As a result, the number of serious injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents has been much less than in other countries without such stringent helmet laws.

However, in recent years, an interesting exemption to these helmet laws has been granted by the Canadian government. Many Sikhs living in Canada have voiced strong objections to the helmet laws, claiming that helmets would prevent them from wearing their turbans while riding their motorcycle. Wearing a turban is a fundamental demonstration of faith for Sikhs.

In the case Dhillon v. British Columbia, the court ruled that defending the religious rights of Sikhs to honor their tradition of wearing turbans trumps any safety precautions that inspired Canada's helmet laws. As a result, Sikhs are now allowed to leave their helmets at home in order to ride their motorcycles with a turban on their head.

Despite strict helmet laws and other safety regulations, motorcycles remain one of the most dangerous types of motor vehicles on the road. The risk of serious injury in a motorcycle accident is far greater than with other vehicles.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you need to make sure that you receive proper compensation for your injuries. At Stephens & Holman, our lawyers will aggressively fight to ensure that you receive what is rightfully yours.

Please contact our Vancouver, British Columbia motorcycle accident lawyers today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation for your motorcycle accident claim.

posted by Anonymous at 12:25 PM

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