Happenings | Michael Padway, Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Scooter Injuries Continue to Climb

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:10:35 -0500

Scooters Compared to Motorcycles for SafetyOuch!! Motorcycle and scooter injuries and deaths continue to climb. I am getting more and more calls form seriously injured scooter riders, in addition to the motorcycle accidents that continue to occur.

Recent statistics are reflecting that while 46% of the accidents are single vehicle accidents, 54% (substantially more) of the accidents involve two vehicles.

The cause of most of these? You guessed it. Car cuts off motorcycle. Car cuts off scooter. Car makes left in front of motorcycle. Car makes left in front of scooter. Car changes lane into motorcycle. Car changes lane into scooter. On and on it goes.

Scooters will fall over when they hit holes in the road that a motorcycle, with a larger wheel, will go over. Scooters will lose control on holes that a motorcycle's suspension will handle. Scooters can't always accelerate out of the way of a car or truck, where a motorcycle has a better chance of doing so. The exhaust noise of a motorcycle is potentially something that can alert an otherwise oblivious driver to the presence of a motorcycle.

Motorcycles go faster, and encourage faster speeds, which results in single vehicle accidents when taking a curve too fast.

In any case, the statistics keep getting worse, as more riders get hit by more cars and trucks. Little or nothing is being done to make drivers more aware of motorcycles and scooters. You have to hope that the increase in riders will make this more common, and that alone may help car and truck drivers to be more aware. As they begin to expect a scooter or motorcycle to be there, they may be more aware of riders on the road.

Scuderia West Big Weekend

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:28:45 -0500

Lots of Activity, Vendors, BarbequeScuderia West had a big blowout Saturday, with manufacturer's representatives from Alpinestar, fitters from Vanson, and even barbeque for hungry shoppers, who also got discounts on merchandise.

Kim van der Sleesen from Vanson was fitting and overseeing repairs, with Amy from Scuderia. Scott Link from Alpinestar was very informative on anything having to do with Alpinestar gear.

I bought a pair of Aplinestar boots, and brought two of my Vanson jackets in to have alterations made. (No, not let out, thank you). I am always amazed at the amount of time that surrounds Vanson products in terms of service.

Anyway, with everyone complaining about the recession, it was a real pleasure to see lots of activity. Scuderia West is a great shop, and they deserve our support.

How to Buy a Motorcycle Helmet

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:04:12 -0400

SHARP Ratings Out for Many Makes/Models in EuropeOne thing we all do in California (and almost all do in other states) is buy a motorcycle helmet. Interestingly, there is almost no information out there on how this should be done.

In the UK, there is a newer and more comprehensive study of helmet performance. Instead of the old system, which measures damage to the helmet, the SHARP program measures how much impact is absorbed. Helmets are rated on a scale of one to five stars, so that you can know what you are buying.

Although in many cases the helmet models (or designations) are different, it is well worth looking at the SHARP results before buying a helmet. For one thing, there is a striking disconnect between price and performance in most cases.

Helmet outer shells need to be hard to distribute the force of a blow. The harder, the better. Polycarbonate is the cheapest and the worst, fiberglass in between, and carbon fiber the hardest, and therefore, best (but most expensive).

The liner should be dual density foam, because the foam should be a soft as possible, but not so soft it compresses all the way to the liner. If too dense, it won't compress enough. Therefore, the best way to balance the density seems to be different density foams.

Another important feature is that there be protection on the inside of the chin bar. Almost 40% of impacts to the helmet are in the area of the chin bar, so it needs to be padded. Further, this area is opposite the neck, so you don't want unnecessary transmission of force to the neck. Remember, there is no bone connecting the head to the spine, so this is a structural weak spot in the body.

This discussion should narrow down the choices. You want a full face helmet, from a manufacturer with good SHARP ratings, preferably in a model that got a 5 star rating. Otherwise, get a model that is the same as one with a 5 star rating.

Next, make sure the fit is snug, and that you can fasten the chin strap reasonably tight. The helmet can't do its job if it flies off. Try to find a helmet that fits the shape of your head.

Of course, the more comfortable the helmet is, the easier it is to wear, and the more attention you can pay to other things.

Last, go for good graphics, provision for sound equipment, and whatever else floats your boat.

I'll keep re-visiting this important topic from time to time. Your brain depends on the right choice.

Lastly,