Council Bluffs Personal Injury Lawyer - Motorcycle Accidents

Elk Horn, Iowa Motorcycle Rider Dead Due to Inattentiveness of SUV Driver - Could Faster D.O.T. Response Have PREVENTED THIS Accident

Craig Kelley — Fri, 23 May 2008 12:32:45 GMT

Ross Boeck will NEVER know if faster response by our own Federal Government would have saved his life. The City of Harlan, Iowa has been waiting since LAST year for response on their Petition to the Department of Transporation (DOT) to put in a four-way stop sign at the intersection where Mr. Boeck was killed, according to news reports.

Ironically, the week PRIOR to this horrific accident, the city received notice from the DOT that it had been approved for a four-way stop at the intersection, and DOT crews were on scene a few days before the accident surveying the intersection for where to put stop signs and power to flashing red lights, which would most likely have lessened the speed of the impact due to the negligence of Shannon Bartley, who pulled out in front of Mr. Boeck.

Our tax dollars at work!

Make it a GREAT AND SAFE MEMORIAL Day Weekend!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Craig Kelley

"HOW TO PROPERLY INSURE YOUR MOTORCYLE" Presented to Offutt Riders' Association Group

Craig Kelley — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:19:00 GMT

Spring is here. As such, riding season will so be back in full swing!.

You should have proper COMPREHENSIVE UMBRELLA insurance coverage on your motorcycle, as well as your home or your car. Last week, I presented this important information to the Offutt (Air Force Base Motorcycle) Riders' Association, a new Chapter of the Gold Wing Touring Association, and explained the importance of maintaining proper motorcycle insurance coverage, This presentation can also be found on our Firm website. Proper insurance coverage is crucial for your safety and the security of your family's future.

Feel free to call me to discuss your individual insurance situation and needs, or to schedule my "HOW TO PROPERLY INSURE YOUR MOTORCYCLE" presentation for your motorcycle-riding Chapter or group. I have given this presentation all over western Iowa and the entire state of Nebraska, and it is a very enlightening 30 minutes.

Keep riding and be safe IN THE WIND!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Craig Kelley

Naitional Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month Campaign to Start the End of this Week

Craig Kelley — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 01:28:00 GMT

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has designated May, 2008, as NAtional Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Tne NHTSA has also developed a Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month Planner for 2008 that includes marketing ideas and earned media tools that you can use to support your Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month initiatives.

The materials all carry the tagline, "Share the Road with Motorcycles" to remind drivers to be cognizant of motorcycle riders at all times including the busier riding season. This tagline is similar to that being used in many states for 2008. The planner also includes information to remind motorcyclists that they must always follow the rules of the road, be alert to other drivers, and should always wear protective gear.

The 2008 Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month Planner can be found on NHTSA’s Web site. Visit the site today and do your share to help increase awareness of motorcycles on our roads!

And Remember, if you are a new rider, or have recently switched to a larger and different style of motorcycle, take a Motorcyle Safety Foundation-approved Rider Course to make sure that you will be safe for 2008 and beyond.

May will also be Motorccyle Safety Month in Iowa. Check out the events at: http://www.dps.state.ia.us/commis/pib/Releases/2004/motorcycle_safety_2004.htm

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Craig Kelley

Nebraska State Harley Owners' Group Rally Set in Fremont in 2008

Craig Kelley — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 01:13:00 GMT

Head to Fremont, NE for the 2008 Nebraska State H.O.G. Rally during Memorial Day Weekend May 23rd-25th.

This area is rich in history and beautiful surroundings. Your days will be filled with fun rides and lots of activities! While you're in the area, why not visit the May Museum and Historic Downtown; or take a ride on the Fremont Dinner Train. Shoppers
will find antiques, the Fremont Mall and farmer's markets. You'll have many attractions and entertainment options available to you during your stay.

Register early, bring your friends, and join your H.O.G. family in Fremont for a rally to remember!

For more info vist the Nebraska State Rally website.

ALL motorcyclists, remember to ride safe until the roads get cleaned of sand and gravel, and the potholes all get filled. We don't want any spring accidents due to these bad road condition factors

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Craig Kelley

Deer Cause Another Motorccyle Accident Fatality in Iowa

Craig Kelley — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:20:58 GMT

!@#$%& Deer! The Gazette Online reports another deer accident.

As an avid motorcyclist, I hate 'em. They cause me, an experienced rider, to avoid dawn and dusk (when they move), which is a real bummer if you like to ride your motorcycle to work.

In these times of high gas prices, more and more people will, and anywhere there is trees and water and dawn or dusk, you will have moving deer, moronically running out in front of loud motorcycles that they can easily hear and see.

I am long-time seasoned rider, and deer are the only real fear I have on the bike, as they are the biggest factor outside of my control. Ride when it it light out, and you take away virtually all of the danger, but that just isn't always possible. RIDE SAFE IN THE WIND!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Craig Kelley

Another Failure to Yield Motorcycle Fatalities Accident

Craig Kelley — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:06:56 GMT

Occurred last night in East Central Iowa, as reported in the Newton (IA Daily News:

Local authorities are investigating an accident that killed a Newton woman and a Des Moines man Wednesday night after a van collided with their motorcycle just west of Baxter on Highway F17.

Officials said 46-year-old David Alan Johnson and 45-year-old Tammy Jo Lemon died at the scene of the accident, according to a news release issued by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office this morning.

Emergency medical personnel from Baxter and Newton and Jasper County deputies responded to a report received at 8:29 p.m. Wednesday of an accident with injuries at the intersection of Highway F17 and West 100th Street North, located about four miles west of Baxter. According to the news release, the driver of the van — 64-year-old Earl Regis Glover of Colfax — allegedly failed to yield at the intersection and struck the motorcycle Johnson and Lemon were riding.

Glover, who had minor injuries, was transported to Skiff Medical Center in Newton for treatment and then was transported to the Jasper County Jail on a charge of failure to yield upon entering through highway. He posted bond and was released.

The accident remains under investigation, and the sheriff’s office has requested assistance from the Iowa State Patrol in the technical accident investigation, according to the news release.

SUMMARY: Midwestern cars have had SIX months to get used to NOT looking for OR at motorcycles while driving. If you driver a cager (motorcyclist slang for cars), please heighten your senses. If you ride a motorcycle (or bicycle), please do the same!!

Be safe IN THE WIND.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Craig Kelley

Iowa State Bridges Among Worst in Nation

Craig Kelley — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:43:16 GMT

A Washington-based non-profit transportation research group (TRIP) has determined that 622 Iowa bridges are one point away from being structurally decifient. Among the worst in the state are two Sioux City bridges. According to TRIP, 21% of of the stae bridges are deficient with another 6% qualifying as functionally obsolete. Repairing or replacing the defective bridges would cost the state roughly $257 million per year. There are only three other states ranked worse than Iowa in the study.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Craig Kelley

Missouri Proposes Helmet Legislation

Craig Kelley — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:13:43 GMT

Missouri currently has a law requiring helmets for all riders, however, the proposed Senate bill 1067 would allow riders age 21 or older to make the decision of whether or not to wear a helmet. Helmets would remain mandatory for highway riding. If the bill passes, Missouri will be the 31st state to pass age-related legislation regarding motorcycle helmets. There are currently five bills in the house and senate dealing with motorcycle safety.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Craig Kelley

Motorcycle Insurance Presentation at Ducati Omaha

Craig Kelley — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:01:16 GMT

Spring is just around the corner. As such, riding season will be in full swing before we know it. You should have proper insurance coverage on your motorcycle, just as you would insure your home or your car. I will be presenting information to the Desmo Omaha Ducati Owner's Club regarding the importance of maintaining proper motorcycle insurance coverage on Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. at The Fox and The Hound, 178th & West Center Road. This presentation can also be found on our firm website. Proper insurance coverage is crucial for your safety and the security of your family's future. Keep riding and be safe!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Craig Kelley

Nebraska Kills Helmet Law Repeal Bill

Craig Kelley — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:48:03 GMT

Across the river, efforts to repeal the Nebraska mandatory helmet law (LB 253) have failed. The proposed bill offered a partial repeal to the current law. The proposal would have required bikers under 21 to wear helmets but would have allowed older riders to go without a helmet if they had passed an approved safety course. Iowa is one of only three states with no helmet requirement.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Craig Kelley