Attorney Fran Haasch
November 2008 Newsletter
www.LawFran.com

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to our November Newsletter.  Another event filled weekend just passed and, again, I was amazed at the power of our biker community.  Sunday was the 9th Annual Leigh Nolan Memorial Event at Quaker Steak and Lube.  We donated a 2006 Harley-Davidson 35^th Anniversary Super Glide which was raffled off and won by Bobby Calcorzi.  We (our biker community) raised a record $30,000 for UPARC and had a great time doing it.  A big thanks to chairman Roger Reed, Ron Galletti from Born To Ride and Full Throttle for making it the most successful Leigh Nolan/UPARC fundraiser, yet.  Check out the event pictures by going to lawfran.com or clicking here.

Many of you signed up for the newsletter at the West Coast Bike Rally over the weekend of October 10th-12th. This event was over the top; 3 days of beautiful bikes, great music and food, and a chance to check out the unbelievable Tampa Bay Storm bike built by Vinnie and Cody of V-Force customs. The Vietnam Vets Tribute Bike that won “Best of Show” was one of the most awe-inspiring custom bikes I have ever seen. Check out the event pictures by going to lawfran.com or clicking here.

Event season is in full swing.  The Palm Harbor 6^th Annual Bike Fest is on November 22^nd from 12-8pm; our firm will be sponsoring the Bike Show with Reverend Jim.  The Biff Burger 12^th Annual Toys for Tots Benefit bike show will be on December 13^th.  Last year’s benefit was the largest independent donation to Toys for Tots in the entire United States!!!  We will be at Grass Flats, 12924 49^th St. N, this Friday and Biff Burger, 3949 49^th St. N, on Saturday.  We will also be at a new event (for us) this Saturday at the Fun Bike Center, www.funbikecenter.com, in Lakeland.  The Fun Bike Center has their Bike Night the 2^nd Saturday of every month.

With many thanks,

Attorney Fran Haasch
Palm Harbor

A Motorcycle Option to Consider

Usually when you go shopping for a new bike there are a few things you base your decision on.  Color, power, weight, price, and street credibility are all crucial players on whether or not you buy a bike.  However, after a recently published study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), antilock (ABS) brakes may be another option worth looking at. 

This study was a collaboration between the IIHS, which studied the fatal accidents, and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), which analyzed insurance claims.  According to the report, “[b]oth the frequency of crashes for which insurance claims are filed and the rate of fatal motorcycle crashes go down among bikes with antilock brakes.” 

While we all like to think that we have the braking skill of Valentino Rossi, the truth of the matter is that we do not.  The braking potential of most motorcycles is far greater than the majority of riders can utilize, however, squeeze a little too hard and you can find the pavement in a multitude of ways.  This is where antilock brakes come in.  If the system senses a potential lockup, it automatically eases up on the brakes to restore traction and then reapplies the brakes.  The beauty of the system is that it senses lockups and reacts much quicker than a human ever could.  Thus, saving us the heartache (or headache) of a low-side, high-side, or turning end over end.   

So what does the statistical data have to say about all of this?  According to the study, there was a 21 percent decrease in insurance losses for antilock brake equipped motorcycles.  This decrease was due to a 19 percent lower claim frequency in motorcycles with ABS systems.  Additionally, motorcycles with the ABS systems saw a drop in fatal crashes by a considerable 38 percent.

Brands offering motorcycles with antilock brake systems include BMW, Can-Am, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Moto Guzzi, Suzuki, Triumph, and Yamaha.  Even though these ABS systems may add up to four figures or more to the final price tag, the potential safety advantages could prove to be very persuasive. 

GPS Technology Making Motorcycles Safer

In the constant search to make motorcycling safer, riders may be looking to some tech savvy GPS based systems to improve survivability.

The first system is a GPS navigation unit manufactured by The Tracking Corporation.  This new system for motorcycles is called MicroTRAKgps and features a new technology called Bikedown.  Bikedown comes in to play as soon as a rider is involved in an accident.  While we hope to never have to use it, Bikedown will automatically notify a call center of the accident location, along with providing the fallen rider’s contact information.  This system could really pay dividends in the event a rider is rendered unconscious.  When fatal injuries are sustained, getting much needed emergency help in an expedient manner is critical.

The second piece of technology to keep an eye out for is being introduced by Honda.  As I mentioned in last months newsletter, the majority of motorcycle accidents are caused by drivers violating the right of way of motorcyclists because they failed to detect them.  This is where Honda’s system comes in. 

At the CAR 2 CAR Communication Consortium, held in Europe, Honda demonstrated a new GPS based system.  The system essentially senses other vehicles on the road using the GPS positioning data and then warns drivers of potential collisions, allowing time for accident avoidance. 

Leave it to a leading motorcycle powerhouse like Honda to go out on a limb and develop life saving technology that could potentially change the face of motorcycling as we know it.  Maybe one day we will be able to say good riddance to the ever popular statement,
“I never saw him coming.” 

A Plea to Motorcyclists Everywhere

When I drive in a car, one of my biggest concerns is the safety of motorcyclists that I come across during my trip. The other day, while turning on to 49th street, I was horrified when a motorcyclist flew past me while splitting lanes in order to make the light. As he wedged in to make the turn he was almost caught between the median and a small truck making the turn. At the last second, the driver of the truck noticed the rider and widened his turn in order to allow the motorcycle to fit. After we all completed our turn, the truck driver began yelling expletives as the rider, who in turn shrugged and sped off. In retrospect, the rider would have made the light without splitting lanes and almost causing an accident.

Motorcyclists already have enough stacked against them in terms of dangers while riding. Indifference to your own safety can never be tolerated. Every time I do research for this newsletter, I have to sort through endless amounts of headlines stating that a motorcyclist was killed.

With ideal weather and the holiday season rapidly approaching, please ride safely. While you are riding, do not place the amount of time it takes you to complete the trip at the top of your priority list. Instead, simply focus on completing your trip in one piece.
 

 http://www.LawFran.com

http://www.LawFran.com/Events.htm