Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents and Prevention
Motorcycle accidents are not more frequent than other types of accidents, but they are just as serious and should never be excluded from the ranking. The truth is, motorcyclists should always be aware of the ways that they can protect themselves from a terrible accident on the roadways. This includes understanding the most common ways that motorcycle accidents happen and how they can be prevented. Head-on Collisions: 56% of motorcycle accidents involve a motorcyclist and another vehicle. In 78% of these cases, the car will strike the motorcycle from the front. This can be devastating and, often times, can be fatal to the motorcyclist. Left-Hand Turn Accidents: When cars make left-hand turns, motorcyclists are put in one of the most dangerous situations. The car will typically strike the motorcycle when they are going straight through an intersection, passing the car, or trying to overtake the car. Being that motorcycles are small in size, they are less visible to a turning vehicle and, as such, are more likely to be involved in an accident than two cars. In most of these cases, the vehicle driver is found to be at-fault unless the motorcyclist was speeding. Lane Splitting: If a motorcycle drives between two lanes of stopped traffic, lane splitting occurs. There is usually a close proximity of cars to the motorcycle and cars will not anticipate that a motorcycle will be passing them. Either the motorcyclist or the driver of the vehicle could be found at fault for these accidents. Speeding and Alcohol Use: Almost half of the accidents that involve a single motorcycle are due to speeding or alcohol use. Motorcycles do not offer much in ways of protection to a rider, which is why the results can be deadly. Road Hazards: Hazards on the roadways cause many of the accidents that happen for motorcyclists. Motorcycles are very small, which also makes them unstable in many ways. They could run over potholes, dead animals, slick pavement, and much more. These can all pose serious threats to a motorcyclist. Safety Tips for Motorcyclists Do you want to know how to keep yourself safe? When you receive your motorcycle license, you are agreeing to the rules of the road and understanding for your particular vehicle. However, everybody can use a refresher. Here are some safety tips that you should always remember if you own a motorcycle: You should always have appropriate motorcycle attire. This includes a helmet, bike jacket, gloves, and more. You can prevent a more serious accident and injuries if you have the right equipment for the job. You should never speed, race on the highways, or ride after you have consumed alcohol. When you are making turns with your motorcycle, always be sure that you are keeping a proper eye out for hazards. Always use your own safe driving skills. Be careful of any road conditions that could cause you to lose control or lose sight of what matters on the road. Use horns in case of alarming or bad road conditions. Do you have a motorcycle accident case and believe that somebody else was at fault for your injury? Do you want to speak to an attorney who has experience in motorcycle accidents? Give us a call today and we will help you with your case.
Employees’ Rights to Report Workplace Injuries
Recently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has made anti-retaliation provisions in an injury and illness tracking rule to conduct outreach and provide educational materials for employers. However, in recent times they have announced that they will be delaying this enforcement to November 1, 2016 from the original August 10, 2016. This is important because these helpful rules will require employers to inform workers of their right to report work-related injuries and illnesses without being retaliated against. They will also be implementing procedures for reporting injuries and illnesses that are reasonable under many circumstances. OSHA has been working with many workplaces since the 70s to ensure that employers provide safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. This is not the first time that OSHA has taken action to ensure that workers are being kept safe. In fact, Section 11 of the OSH Act prohibits discrimination entirely when an employee wants to report an injury or illness. It has been decided that reporting a work-related injury or illness is an employee right and that retaliating against that employee for their injury is full discrimination. This rule has been invited into the system because employees could be put at risk if they do not feel free to report injuries in the workplace. More lives could be at risk and more fatalities could result. If employees do not feel free to report, then they may not receive proper medical attention or workers’ compensation benefits that they are entitled to. Unfortunately, OSHA finds many cases of employers who have discouraged against reporting and could be seen as unlawful discrimination. For instance, they have taken many reports of employers who have taken disciplinary action as a result, falsely accused an employee of causing their own injuries, or established programs of incentives for employees who do not report injuries. What to do if You Suspect Retaliation OSHA has implemented many programs and regulations to tackle retaliation before it even begins, and help employees feel like they can report all injuries within the workplace. So what happens if you feel like you have been retaliated against? The first step you should take is to try and talk to your supervisor or a human resources representative about the reasons behind the suspected retaliation. There may actually be a good explanation behind why this has occurred. Yes, you may have reported an injury and have been switched to another shift, but this does not always cry retaliation – suppose that your employer switched you because there was another opening there for you. If there is no legitimate explanation and you still suspect retaliation, then you can voice your concern that you are being retaliated or discriminated against. Many employers will deny this. This is why you should point out all the reasons why you are being discriminated against and ask that it stop immediately. If they are not willing to admit that they are in the wrong, you can then take your concerns to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), of course with the help of an experienced attorney. At RAWA Law Group, we care about your case and can help you in the event that you are being discriminated against. Give us a call today.