Two San Diego-area motorcycle dealers were fined a combined $180,000 from the California Air Resources Board

Both dealers sold dozens of off-road motorcycles illegally converted to made into what they called street-legal models, the regulatory agency announced Monday.

GP Motorcycles of San Diego and Moto Forza will each pay $90,000 in fines, according to CARB.

ARB investigators following up on a tip received in 2006 confirmed that GP Motorcycles and Moto Forza were selling Husqvarna off-road motorcycles illegally converted to street-legal models.

According to the ARB, many of the bikes were outfitted with so-called “street legal” kits, which are illegal in California.

“Companies that deliberately flout the law are often assessed higher penalties,” said Mary Nichols, who heads the CARB board. “Playing by the rules from the start is the most cost-effective, smart business plan any company can follow.”

For more information please visit: http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2009-08-31/news/environment/motorcycle-dealers-fined-for-selling-converted-illegal-off-road-bikes

Poker Run Bikers to travel Florida Keys' Overseas Highway for charity

Motorcyclists from throughout the United States are to travel one of America’s most scenic highways to raise money for charity during the 37th annual Key West Poker Run, set for Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 17-20.

Riders on up to 10,000 bikes are expected to traverse the Overseas Highway (U.S. Highway 1), the 113-mile roadway from mainland Florida to Key West that features 42 bridges and long vistas of breathtaking open water.

For more information please visit: http://www.examiner.com/x-9092-Florida-Travel-Examiner~y2009m8d31-Poker-Run-Bikers-to-travel-Florida-Keys-Overseas-Highway-for-charity

If you've been involved in a motorcycle accident please call our office 24/7 for a free case evaluation. 1-866-LAW-FRAN - for more information please visit http://www.lawfran.com

Authorities say a Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue truck headed to a car fire on Florida's Turnpike in Palm Beach Gardens collided with a motorcycle

The Florida Highway Patrol reports that the Thursday morning crash sent the motor rider to the hospital several lanes of traffic to be closed for a couple hours.

A Fire-Rescue spokesman reports that the truck was making a U-turn across a median when the crash occurred.

The motorcycle's driver, 43-year-old Dennis Donahue, was wearing a helmet and safety glasses. His injuries were considered serious but not life-threatening.

The driver of the truck, William Bassett, sustained minor injuries.

The FHP report says the truck's emergency lights were on.

For more information please visit: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/1206183.html

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum Offers Free Admission on Smithsonian Magazine's 5th Annual Museum Day

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is pleased to announce that on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame museum will participate in the fifth annual Museum Day, presented by Smithsonian magazine.

A celebration of culture, learning and the dissemination of knowledge, Smithsonian's Museum Day reflects the spirit of the magazine, and emulates the free-admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution's Washington, D.C.-based properties. Doors will be open free of charge to Smithsonian magazine readers and Smithsonian.com visitors at museums and cultural institutions nationwide.

Last year, upward of 200,000 people attended Museum Day, with all 50 states plus Puerto Rico represented by more than 900 participating museums, including 84 Smithsonian affiliate museums. This year, the magazine expects to attract over 1,000 museums.

For more information please visit: http://www.whowon.com/sResults.asp?SanctionID=186&StoryID=277107

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The biggest U.S. motorcycle maker plans to start sales in India from next year

Harley will import the motorcycles, accessories and riding gear for sale in India, the Milwaukee-based company said in an e-mailed statement today. The company has set up an Indian unit in Gurgaon, near New Delhi.

The company will initially set up dealerships in cities including Mumbai and New Delhi as it aims to tap demand from the affluent for models such as Fat Boy and Cross Bones cruisers, which can cost more than $40,000 in the U.S. when customized. Harley’s second-quarter U.S. sales fell 35 percent amid rising unemployment and a recession.

For more information please visit: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=axW8yG0eRucc

If you've been involved in a motorcycle accident please call our office 24/7 for a free case evaluation. 1-866-LAW-FRAN - for more information please visit http://www.lawfran.com

Labor Day travel in Florida likely to be down 22 percent according to AAA

AAA has been releasing travel projections before each major holiday for more than 20 years. This year AAA determined the decline in likely travelers was the result of when Labor Day appears on the calendar. Labor Day falls on September 7, the latest possible date for the national holiday that was set for the first Monday in September to honor American workers. The last time Labor Day fell on Sept. 7 was in 1998.

According to AAA travel analysts, the decline in the number of people expected to travel during the last three day weekend of the summer is due in large part to public school calenders. Virtually all public schools and most private schools - especially in Florida and other southeastern states - will have opened for the academic year before the holiday weekend. However, in other regions many schools do not open until the Tuesday after Labor Day.

AAA’s travel projections are based on results of a survey conducted by IHS Global Insight for the auto club.

The survey found that nearly 1.9 million Floridians and 39.1 million people nationwide plan to travel at least 50 miles from home during the holiday weekend and will spend about $968 per household.

Automobile trips remain the most popular way to leave home, with nearly 84 percent of all holiday travelers planning to drive themselves somewhere. About four percent of travelers plan to fly while the remaining travelers will go by trains, buses, motorcycles, RVs or some other former of transportation.

Kevin Bakewell, senior vice president of AAA Auto Club South, said travelers will find some deals when they leave home.

“Although the calendar this year creates an anomaly that allows fewer families to hit the road, many may decide at the last minute to take advantage of significantly lower rates for hotels and airfares,” Bakewell said.'

He projected that airfares will be 17 percent lower than at the same time last year while hotel rates in many places will be down 12 percent from year-ago levels.

For more information please visit: http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090827/ARTICLES/908279952/-1/entertainment?Title=Labor-Day-travel-in-Florida-likely-to-be-down-22-percent

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Competition Accessories plans to relocate its mail-order and online business to Rock Hill, S.C.

The company sells motorcycle parts and accessories direct to customers across the country through mail-order and online. The retail store that shares the name and a building on Leffel Lane is a separate business and is staying.

The business has outgrown its current space, General Manager Dan Conetta said. Many of the mail-order customers are located in the South and West, he said, and the move should create quicker shipping times.

Conetta, a Florida native, also wanted to move to a warmer climate.

“But we wouldn’t have done it if the shipping times didn’t make sense,” he said.

The company will create a distribution center in Rock Hill for aftermarket motorcycle, ATV and personal watercraft accessories, the South Carolina Department of Commerce said in a news release Tuesday, Aug. 25.

The relocation will create 40 jobs there in three years and represents a $3.3 million investment.

The business currently employs 22 workers in Springfield. Nonseasonal employees were offered a chance to relocate, Conetta said, and about a dozen of them agreed to move.

The relocation will begin in October, he said, and the Springfield location will continue to operate through January.

For more information please visit: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/springfield-news/motorcycle-parts-company-relocating-store-staying-267017.html

If you've been involved in a motorcycle accident please call our office 24/7 for a free case evaluation. 1-866-LAW-FRAN - for more information please visit http://www.lawfran.com

The Labor Day holiday is more than a week away but law enforcement is already hitting the roads in search of impaired motorists

If you're caught driving over the limit, you will be under arrest.

If you're driving in Alabama, Florida, or Georgia, you may want to think twice before getting behind the wheel. Troopers along with other law enforcement agencies will be out in full force watching for motorists driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Kevin Cook of the Alabama State Troopers says, “We're going to be doing driver's license checkpoints, with our task force zero, our bat mobile is going to be in play on this regular line patrols and just a general increase in numbers in order to inhibit the impaired driver.”

Just because you can't see them, doesn't mean they aren't there. Undercover, motorcycles and unmarked cars...law enforcement will be watching for any illegal or unusual driving behavior.

Cook says, “Speeding, aggressive driving… when people ingest alcohol they don't think straight and reaction times get slowed. It's things that we take for granted that we do normally with regular muscle memory that gets totally distorted.”

For more information please visit: http://www.wtvynews4.com/news/headlines/54616207.html

f you've been injured in a motorcycle accident, as a result of a drunk driver, please call our office 24/7 for a free case evaluation. 1-866-LAW-FRAN - for more information please visit http://www.lawfran.com

A 72-year-old woman driving a pickup truck lost control Monday and crashed into a bus stop shelter, injuring a University of South Florida student

Police say Joy Conley, 22, of Ft. Lauderdale, was waiting at a HART bus shelter, N Himes Avenue and W Columbus Drive, when a 2001 Ford Ranger plowed into her.

Conley was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital with serious, non-life threatening injuries, Tampa police spokeswoman Darla Portman said.

The crash happened at 12:34 p.m. as Mirta D. Gonzalez, of 3011 W Cherry St., was traveling west on Columbus and was making a right onto Himes when police say she lost control of her vehicle and slammed into Conley.

D. Gonzalez was cited with careless driving.

For more information please visit: http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/accidents/police-usf-student-at-bus-stop-injured-by-72-year-old-woman-driver/1030387

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly motorcycle accident in Lake County

According to FHP Troopers, 78-year-old Bernard Leo Schaner was traveling west on Wygul Road from County Road 439 at around 8:15 p.m. Saturday when he crossed over the center line. He then struck a concrete culvert and was ejected from his Yamaha motorcycle.

Schaner was taken to Waterman Hospital where he died.

For more information please visit: http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/news/lake_news/082309_deadly_motorcycle_accident

A crash involving two motorcycles in Flagler County left an Ohio man hospitalized in serious condition

Kent Bundenthal, 48, was airlifted to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach after the 7:30 p.m. wreck Saturday, troopers said. A nursing supervisor said he was in serious but stable condition Sunday afternoon.

The accident occurred at the intersection of State Road 100 and Old Kings Road when Christopher Keohane, 21, Daytona Beach, who was heading west, slowed for a yellow traffic signal. Bundenthal, who was on a motorcycle behind Keohane, didn't see the bike slowing for the light, troopers said.

Bundenthal rear-ended Keohane, causing both bikes to overturn. Keohane suffered only minor injuries. Neither man was wearing a helmet, the FHP said.

Alcohol was not thought to be a factor in the crash.

For more information please visit: http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/newFLAG01082409.htm

An early-morning collision on Interstate 275 killed a Pasco County man and injured three other people in Pinellas County.

Daniel Harrell, 22, of Land O' Lakes, was driving a 1987 Nissan pickup north on I-275, just past Fourth Street when it was hit from behind by a 2004 Mercedes Benz that failed to slow down, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The wreck happened at 3:15 a.m., just before the Howard Frankland Bridge.

The impact caused the pickup to lose control, hit a center barrier wall, then go into a spin and turn on its side. Harrell, the driver, was ejected as the truck flipped, an accident report states.

He was not wearing a seatbelt, the report said.

Passenger James Keene, 22, of Land O' Lakes, was taken to Tampa General Hospital with injuries the FHP described as serious. Another passenger in the truck, Laci Fisher, 21, also of Land O' Lakes, received minor injuries. Both were wearing seatbelts, the report said.

The Mercedes' driver, William Storey, 40, of Kenneth City, received minor injuries, the FHP said.

The accident remains under investigation.

For more information please visit: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/aug/23/i-275-wreck-kills-one-injures-three/news-breaking/

Two people were injured in a motorcyle crash during a competition at the Palm Beach International Raceway

The accident happened around 10:40 a.m. at the ractrack formerly known as Moroso. One person was flown out via Trauma Hawk to St. Mary's Medical Center. Another person was taken by ambulance to Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center. The injuries are not considered life-threatening, Brown said.

The riders were on the track for the Championship Cup Series of Florida, being held at the track all weekend.

For more information please visit: http://www.cbs12.com/news/beach-4720643-injured-palm.html

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Harley-Davidson says it has settled on four sites where it might move production away from its York, Pa., assembly plant.

None of the sites are in Wisconsin and none of the work would be moved here, a Harley spokesman said Friday.

Harley is considering Kansas City, Mo.; Shelbyville, Ky.; Shelbyville, Ind.; and Murfreesboro, Tenn. Keeping the work in York is also a possibility.

Harley said in May that it was planning a major restructuring at its operations in York, including possibly moving them to another location in the U.S.

The York operations are not competitive or sustainable long-term as they are currently structured, said company spokesman Bob Klein.

Earlier this year, Harley announced a shakeup of its manufacturing that included hundreds of job cuts. The company is closing its Capitol Drive plant in Wauwatosa in 2010.

Klein said the plans for metro Milwaukee operations haven't changed.

The York facility is Harley's largest plant and produces Touring and Softail motorcycles.

Harley also says work rules and job classifications at the facility limit its ability to be competitive. "There's a need for much greater flexibility in the work we do there," Klein said.

For more information please visit: http://www.jsonline.com/business/53963162.html

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Traumatic head injuries - Disney stunt performer dies after suffering severe head injury

A Disney performer suffered a severe head injury and died Monday night during rehearsal. The performer, as stated by the Walt Disney spokeswoman, was performing a tumbling roll for the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at the Disney studio, reports CNN. No details regarding the incident have been given so far.

As per the report, this was the third fatal accident in the past 2 months, though all the performers receive extensive training says the Disney spokeswoman.

For more information please visit: http://www.caymanmama.com/2009/08/20/traumatic-head-injuries-disney-stunt-performer-dies-after-suffering-severe-head-injury_200908205051.html

A Florida man was arrested on drunken driving charges early Thursday after “laying down” his Harley-Davidson motorcycle

Robert Louis Bishop, 55, of St. Petersburg, was charged with driving while intoxicated and released following the 3:13 a.m. incident, police said.

LaVale fire and rescue units responded but Bishop declined medical treatment, according to the Allegany County 911 center.

For more information please visit: http://www.times-news.com/policelog/local_story_232232246.html?keyword=secondarystory

A man was rushed to the hospital with a head injury Thursday evening after he was involved in a motorcycle accident

Darren W. Warren III, 21, rear-ended a van owned by the Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Department just after 5 p.m. He was not wearing a helmet.

Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy Hulion said traffic was backed up from the signal at State Road 85 to Poquito Road at the time of the accident.

"Basically like every afternoon, traffic backed up from the intersection up there and he wasn’t paying attention," Hulion said of Warren. "Traffic had almost come to a stop."

A doctor was on the scene before paramedics arrived. Warren was alert and talking when he was taken to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.

None of the county employees in the van were injured.

For more information please visit: http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/turner-19879-lewis-motorcycle.html

Fraud by Trial Lawyers Taints Wave of Pesticide Lawsuits Involving Dole

After responding to a radio commercial seeking former banana-plantation workers for a lawsuit against Dole Food Co., Marcos Sergio Medrano thought he might be entitled to some money. He says an American law firm convinced him that a pesticide used on the Dole-operated banana plantation where he had worked years ago had made him sterile.

Lawyers for the 49-year-old peasant produced tests that purported to prove it. But DNA testing by Dole revealed that he had fathered three children -- something Mr. Medrano says was news to him. "I don't feel good about this," he says now. "I feel I was involved in foul play."

Mr. Medrano is part of the sorry fallout from a group of U.S. personal-injury and other lawyers who descended on this small, impoverished city, seeking to recruit thousands of clients and earn up to 40% of any awards. Emboldened by a developing-world legal system that heavily favored plaintiffs, they filed an avalanche of lawsuits here against California-based Dole and eventually won $2.1 billion in local judgments.

Now a California judge has ruled that plaintiffs and their lawyers deployed fraudulent tactics, which included faking sterility tests and using plaintiffs who never worked on banana plantations. As a result, actual workers who may have been hurt may receive nothing, even though Dole continued using a dangerous pesticide called DBCP after it had been linked definitively to male sterility.

For more information please visit: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125061508138340501.html

A Florida woman has been charged with DUI, after her vehicle collided with a motorcycle late Monday causing serious injury

Tanya Perez, 31 of Springhill, Fla., was taken into custody by Alabama State Troopers Monday night, said Trooper Spokesman Kevin Cook.

Cook said it is believed Perez, driving a 1997 Ford, was traveling on the wrong side of the road, when her vehicle struck the motorcycle of Elba’s Terry Williamson.

“Initial investigation indicates she was on the wrong side of the road and alcohol was a factor,” Cook said.

Williamson, 43, was transported to Troy Regional Medical Center from the scene then airlifted to Baptist South in Montgomery, after Cook said one of his legs was severed in the incident and another badly injured. Perez was not injured.

Cook said he did not know the status of Williamson’s injuries Tuesday afternoon.

Perez was admitted in the Pike County Jail at 11:40 p.m. Monday.

For more information please visit: http://www.troymessenger.com/news/2009/aug/18/woman-faces-dui-charges-after-motorcycle-wreck/

If you've been injured in a motorcycle accident, as a result of a drunk driver, please call our office 24/7 for a free case evaluation. 1-866-LAW-FRAN - for more information please visit http://www.lawfran.com

Celebrity bike shop owner gets 6 years in prison and 3 years of probation for the death of a biker

A motorcycle shop owner who has appeared on the Discovery Channel's "Biker Build-Off" has been sentenced to six years in prison and three years of probation for the traffic death of a biker.

A Florida judge on Friday also ordered Billy Lane's driver's license suspended for life and that he undergo random drug and alcohol testing upon his release from prison.

Lane faced up to nine years in prison after a judge in June approved a plea deal in which prosecutors agreed to drop a charge of DUI manslaughter.

Police say Lane's blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit when he crossed a double-yellow line to speed past three cars on a road south of Melbourne Beach in 2006. He crashed his pickup head-on into a motorcycle driven by Jerry Morelock.

For more information please visit: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/1186835.html

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Two lawsuits filed by individuals who fell on Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport property have been resolved

During a brief, sparsely attended authority meeting, attorney
Hugh Moore asked members to approve the payment of "no more than $13,000" as the airport's share of a settlement of one of the suits.

The case involved a person who fell from a loading bridge, he explained.

The settlement was reached through mediation.

Allegiant Airlines also will pay an equal amount to the injured party to settle the suit, he said.

In the second lawsuit, attorney Moore said the settlement will be paid by the insurance company.

For more information please visit: http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_156990.asp

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A Flagler County sheriff's deputy whose motorcycle collided with a tractor-trailer Aug. 5 has been released from the hospital.

Sgt. Michael Van Buren was sent home Wednesday afternoon, said Capt. Mark Carman. Van Buren's main injury was a compound fracture of his lower left leg, Carman said.

The deputy underwent surgery and will require a few months of physical therapy, he said. He doesn't have a return date for work yet.

Van Buren, 42, was responding to a crash while riding his motorcycle when the accident occurred. He was riding west on Palm Coast Parkway when he collided with a tractor-trailer coming from the northbound Interstate 95 exit ramp, officials said.

The driver of the truck was not hurt. The Florida Highway Patrol has not said whether the driver will be charged.

For more information please visit: http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Flagler/flaFLAG02081709.htm

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Paparazzi photograph Justin Timberlake finding his motorcycle passion in the saddle of a V-twin

Around the world motorcycle sales may be struggling, but Hollywood is certainly doing its part with another famous face being caught in the saddle by the paparazzi.

The latest superstar to find his passion on two-wheels is Justin Timberlake, photographed after lunching at Italian restaurant Cafe Med in Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon.

The celebrity gossip website Just Jared, features sixteen pictures of Timberlake walking, mounting and riding away on his black motorcycle.

Whether its a new found interest from the paparazzi in celebrities who ride or there are just more famous faces heading for the open road, this particular star-studded riding trend appears to be growing.

For more information please visit: http://www.clutchandchrome.com/News/MotorcycleNews0908039.htm

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A New Missouri law allows motorcycles, bikes to sometimes run red lights

The red light will soon be streaked with shades of gray.

For most of us behind the wheel, red means stop. But if you’re riding a motorcycle or a bicycle in Missouri, it will mean stop, but only sort of.

A new Missouri law that takes effect Aug. 28 allows motorcycle and bike riders to run red lights but only if they stop first and the signal remains red for an “unreasonable time.”

Missouri will be one of eight states that have similar laws, which are intended to address occasions when motorcycles or bikes aren’t detected by traffic signal sensors in the road.

When that happens, the rider sits at an intersection when no cross traffic is coming.

“It’s very annoying, especially at this time of year when it’s getting hot and you’re sitting and you’re sitting there and you’re sitting there,” said motorcycle rider Alan Greer of Johnson County, Mo. “One minute can feel like an eternity.”

Some traffic signals are triggered by a magnetic reaction coupled with wires embedded in the pavement.

The wires are sized in such a way that they are more likely to be tripped by a car or truck, said Pete terHorst, spokesman for the American Motorcycle Association.

Some motorcycles and bikes tend not to trip the signal because they have less mass and are made with parts that aren’t attracted to a magnet.

“It’s very common for a bike to come up to a traffic signal and it doesn’t change,” said Brent Hugh, executive director of the Missouri Bicycle Federation.

Missouri is the eighth state to pass this kind of law since 2002, the American Motorcycle Association said, and three other states considered legislation this year. The trend makes state and federal traffic safety experts uneasy because the onus is now on the riders to decide when it’s safe to proceed.

For more information please visit: http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1380008.html

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Alpinestars launches new line of fashionable motorcycle-inspired gear by Denise Focil

The Alpinestars name might be more recognizable splashed across the back of a helmet or down the leg of padded pants than hanging from the racks of trendy stores on Robertson Boulevard. The 45-year-old Italian company has been a force in the world of motorcycle racing, making technical equipment and gear for the sport.

Tomorrow they launch a line called Alpinestars by Denise Focil, a contemporary collection that draws inspiration from the brand’s heritage and history in the world of motorcycle racing.

Classic, cropped leather jackets have whip-stitched details and come in a vegan option. Boyish plaid button-downs get a rebellious touch with leather trimmed pockets. And the skinny jeans have a faded black wash to look like you’ve been riding on the back of your boyfriend’s Harley for a couple hundred miles.

For more information please visit: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/alltherage/2009/08/alpinestars-launches-new-line-of-fashionable-motorcycle-inspired-gear.html

Paul Teutul, Sr., he of the Orange County Choppers, unveiled an electric motorcycle, commissioned by Siemens, an energy company.

The bike, which will probably cost $50,000, can travel up to 60 miles on a single five hour charge and can reach speeds up to 100mph. The bike was constructed using recycled parts and water-based paint.

Mr. Teutul rode the bike around Columbus Circle in Manhattan after its unveiling on Wednesday.

For more information please visit: http://www.examiner.com/x-14754-Newark-Motorcycle-Travel-Examiner~y2009m8d14-Electric-motorcycle-unveiled

If you've been involved in an automobile or motorcycle accident please call our office 24/7 for a free case evaluation. 1-866-LAW-FRAN - for more information please visit http://www.lawfran.com

A Miami man walked into a Publix for tuna fish and crackers, but walked out feeling humiliated after being wrongly accused of stealing eye drops

Managers at the Publix at 5715 NW 7th Street strip searched Cruz after suspecting he had stolen eye drops, according to the lawsuit.

Now, Cruz is seeking $15,000 for personal injury damages.

According to his attorney Spencer Aronfeld, Cruz walked into the Publix sometime in the evening of January 26th and purchased a can of tuna fish and crackers. He had picked up some eye drops but when he realized he didn't have the money, he put them back on a different shelf.

That's when he was approached by a Publix employee and store manager who accused him of shoplifting in front of other customers, Aronfeld said. They took him to a manager's office and then the men's room where he was asked to strip naked. Publix representatives threatened to call police if he declined, Aronfeld said. He was told to put his clothes back on by a third manager who had found the eye drops in another aisle.

"The general manager apologized and said it was a complete misunderstanding," Aronfeld said.

For more information please visit: http://cbs4.com/local/publix.nathaniel.cruz.2.1127428.html

Sentencing in celebrity motorcycle builder Billy Lane’s vehicular homicide case is set for 9 a.m. Friday in courtroom 4B of the Moore Justice Center

Lane, 39, faces up to nine years in prison after a judge in June OK’d a plea deal in which prosecutors agreed to drop a charge of DUI manslaughter in connection with a Sept. 4, 2006, crash that left Sebastian Inlet park ranger Gerald Morelock dead.

Police said Lane’s blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit when he crossed a double-yellow line to speed at 68 mph past three cars on State Road A1A south of Melbourne Beach. He crashed his Dodge pickup head on into 56-year-old Morelock’s small Yamaha motorcycle.

Probation, house arrest or alcohol and drug provisions will be up to the discretion of Circuit Judge Robert Burger.

Lane, who has been free pending sentencing, will argue for no prison time, attorneys said.

For more information please visit: http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090813/BREAKINGNEWS/90813007/1006/news01/Bike+builder+Billy+Lane+faces+fate+Friday

If you've been injured in a motorcycle accident and the at-fault driver was intoxicated/under the influence, please call our office 24/7 for a free motorcycle case evaluation. 1-866-LAW-FRAN - for more information please visit http://www.lawfran.com

Seventh Annual Poker run benefits Florida Wildlife Sanctuary and Hospital

Motorcycles are not the only form of transport that can participate in Florida Wildlife Hospital’s upcoming Born to Be Wild poker run.

“Anyone who does not have a motorcycle is welcome to participate in their car,” hospital director Sue Small said.

The seventh annual version of the fundraiser begins at 11¤a.m. Sunday, with the last bike in at 2 p.m.

This year’s event features three Central Florida starting points:

Diamondback Jacks, 565 Sarno Road; Long Branch Saloon, 2199 7th Ave., Vero Beach; and the Cork Room Bar and Grill, 671 Goldenrod Road, Orlando.

Regardless of starting location, the run ends at Forever Florida in St. Cloud, home of the Florida zipline and swamp buggy tours.

Organized by wild critter friend Don Hylland and supported by the Independence Chapter of ABATE, the run helps the hospital buy medication and food for the thousands of hapless wild things that run afoul of dogs, cars and other dangers.

“We treat over 3,800 patients each year, many of whom are victims of cars, pets and people,” Small said. The $10-a-hand fee includes food, music, vendors and prizes.

For information about the poker run, call organizer Hylland at 288-8089, the hospital at 254-8843 or visit floridawildlifehospital.org. The hospital is at 4560 N. U.S.1, Melbourne.

For more information please visit: http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090812/NEWS0307/90812024/1006/news01/Poker+run+benefits+Florida+Wildlife+Sanctuary+&+Hospital

If you've been involved in an automobile or motorcycle accident please call our office 24/7 for a free case evaluation. 1-866-LAW-FRAN - for more information please visit http://www.lawfran.com

A 27-year-old Orange Park bicyclist was fatally injured Wednesday, Aug. 12, when he was struck by a motorcycle

Anthony Christopher Coulter was declared dead at Orange Park Medical Center following the 10:27 a.m. wreck on Blanding Boulevard near Kingfisher Drive, the Highway Patrol said.

Coulter was southbound on the paved shoulder when he began to go across Blanding Boulevard from west to east and was struck by a 2006 Suzuki motorcycle driven by Temaus S. Wade Jr., 25, of Orange Park, the Highway Patrol said.

The report says Wade, who suffered serious injuries, was exceeding the posted speed limit as he traveled southbound and was changing to the left lane as he approached slower traffic when the accident happened, the report says.

Both drivers were ejected by the impact. Wade was taken to Shands Jacksonville for treatment, the report says.

For more information please visit: http://www.claytodayonline.com/content/1399_1.php

A central Florida woman heading home from a South Dakota motorcycle rally has died in a crash on Interstate 70 in Missouri.

Columbia police say 49-year-old Evonne Manner-Wilson of Sanford was one of 13 people in a van that veered off eastbound I-70, struck a median post and flipped over around 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Seven people were treated at a local hospital. Police said none of the injuries appeared life-threatening.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reported that the van was part of a six-vehicle caravan traveling back to Lake County, Fla., from an annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, S.D. Authorities say those in the caravan worked at the rally as a cleaning crew.

For more information please visit: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/1183232.html

A man and a woman on a motorcycle lost control on Waters Avenue near Paddock Avenue early Tuesday morning and were tossed off the bike

Troopers haven't released the names or conditions of the victims but the investigation tied up the eastbound lanes of Waters for hours.

Both were taken to St. Joseph's Hospital, one with serious injuries and the other with injuries described as non-life threatening.

Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate the crash.

For more information please visit: http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Two-hurt-during-Waters-Avenue-motorcycle-crash/N9aadxLvwU-PRgYx0AfnJA.cspx

A Bronson woman who was apparently going the wrong way was seriously injured and an Ocala motorcyclist was killed

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash happened south of Ocala at 12:10 a.m. on U.S. 27/441 north of Southeast 92nd Place Road.

In a crash report prepared by FHP Corporal W. W. Dill, the woman who had been driving a 1998 Suzuki Sidekick was identified as Kimberly Sasser, 42, of Bronson. She was taken to Shands at the University of Florida in serious condition. Her only passenger was identified as Breanna Chitty, 6, also of Bronson, who suffered minor injuries and was not hospitalized.

The motorcyclist was identified by FHP as Charles Linzmeyer, 48, of Ocala who had been driving a 2007 Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Linzmeye was pronounced dead at the scene.

FHP crash investigator Corporal B. R. Detweiler determined Sasser had been driving south in a northbound lane of U. S. 27/441 while Linzmeyer was headed north in the same northbound lane. When the two vehicles crashed head-on, Linzmeyer was ejected from the motorcycle and Sasser's Suzuki caught fire.

The troopers determined that Linzmeyer had not been wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, but did not know whether Sasser and Chitty had been wearing seat belts.

Charges in the crash are pending the result of blood alcohol testing on the drivers and further investigation.

For more information please visit: http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090811/ARTICLES/908119979/1002?Title=Ocala-motorcyclist-killed-in-crash-in-Marion-County-crash

Three men tried to outrun the law on their motorcycles in the Keys on Sunday: one is dead and two are in jail.

Three friends spotted speeding on their motorcycles Sunday night in the Florida Keys stepped on the gas when deputies tried to pull them over, reaching speeds more than 100 mph as they tried to flee down curvy, busy U.S. 1.

It was a deadly decision. Jonathan Wiringer, 23, of Boca Raton, died after crashing into a truck, trees and a fence. Travis Limbaugh and Andrew Chersin kept going, but were arrested within an hour at different locations in Miami-Dade County.

Deputy Kenneth Brand with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office crashed his patrol car after attempting to stop the speeding motorcyclists, but was uninjured.

For more information please visit: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/1180485.html

MANATEE COUNTY - Troopers are looking for the driver of a gold car who caused a serious crash in Manatee County Sunday.

It happened shortly after 4 am on US 301, north of 63rd Avenue East.

Troopers say a gold car ran into the back of a pick-up truck and trailer. The truck then veered into the path of the motorcycle driven by 21-year-old Gary Garrot of Orlando. He hit the median and his bike flipped.

Garrot was taken to Bayfront Medical Center in serious condition. The driver of the truck had minor injuries

For more information please visit: http://www.mysuncoast.com/Global/story.asp?S=10876350

Hail Storm Pummels Sturgis Friday Night

A severe hail storm swept through Sturgis with unbridled fury Friday evening, shattering windows in cars, denting motorcycles, and creating havoc on campers. Hail the size of tangerines fell almost horizontally, fueled by driving winds as the storm left revelers at Sturgis in a state of shock and disbelief.

People scrambled to seek cover under anything they could. We had just pulled into the parking lot of the Full Throttle Saloon around 6 p.m. when the storm hit. The clouds hung low on the horizon, blotting out the sky just before the first few stones fell.

For more information please visit: http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/546/4290/Motorcycle-Article/Hail-Storm-Pummels-Sturgis-Friday-Night.aspx

If you've been involved in a motorcycle accident please call our office 24/7 for a free motorcycle case evaluation. 1-866-LAW-FRAN - for more information please visit http://www.lawfran.com

AIG executives settle over $15 million SEC fraud charges

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged two former American International Group (AIG) executives with fraud and securities laws violations. The two ex-AIG corporate leaders agreed to settle the government charges in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Washington government lawyers with the Securities and Exchange Commission filed fraud charges against former American International Group executives.

Washington, D.C.–Government lawyers for the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) http://www.sec.gov charged former American International Group Chairman and CEO Maurice “Hank” Greenberg and former Vice Chairman and CFO Howard Smith for their participation and involvement in AIG’s imporperly reported financial results between 2000 and 2005 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. According to court documents, Greenberg and Smith agreed to settle the securities fraud charges brought by a team of government attorneys and pay disgorgement and penalties totaling $15 million and $1.5 million respectively. SEC regulators accused the top former AIG leaders for making material misstatements and misrepresenting accounting transactions, which inflated AIG’s reported financial results. These improper accounting practices gave consumers and investors the false impression that the insurance and financial services industry leader was consistent with double-digit growth.

For more information please visit: http://www.newyorkinjurynews.com/2009/08/08/AIG-executives-settle-over-15-million-SEC-fraud-charges_20090808645.html

Latest all-electric offering from Zero lets you explore the dirt and the asphalt

From a press release issued by Zero Motorcycles...

The Zero DS combines innovation with passion to deliver the world’s most versatile electric motorcycle. Designed to be agile in the dirt and quick on the street, the Zero DS represents a new kind of freedom.

Bypass the ordinary. Blast down a gravel road or a dusty trail. When you’re ready, silently pass from the sublime to the civilized as you arrive at your destination. The Zero DS is tough when you demand it and distinguished when required. Its edgy, yet sophisticated, appearance is highlighted by an eye catching twin spar frame that is both rigid and lightweight.

Powered by the most advanced drive train in the industry, the Zero DS is a fully electric motorcycle that can handle any surface you can throw at it. Navigating obstacles and maintaining control is accomplished using a specially developed suspension system and a rugged wheel set. During technical maneuvers an optimized direct drive gear system delivers astonishing responsiveness with the twist of your wrist.

Our proprietary Z-Force™ lithium ion power pack and handmade aircraft grade aluminum frame combine to form a motorcycle that is the fastest, lightest, cleanest, and most fun.

For more information please visit: http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=1186

If you've been involved in a motorcycle accident please call our office 24/7 for a free motorcycle case evaluation. 1-866-LAW-FRAN - for more information please visit http://www.lawfran.com

Steven Tyler recovering from Sturgis spill

A celebrity icon of the motorcycle world brought an unexpected excitement to the 69th Annual Sturgis Rally and an unknown to a rock bands upcoming tour.

Aerosmith front man, Steven Tyler fell from the stage during his performance at the Buffalo Chip Campground as he sung 'Love In an Elevator'.

The injury has put the the fate of the band's current tour up in the air.

Falling into the crowd after spinning on the stage in typical Tyler fashion, the singer was caught by watching fans. Collected by security and taken back stage Tyler was flown to Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Later, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry came out to tell the audience Tyler was being taken to the hospital and that the show would not go on.

Steven Tyler, 61, not only appears at major motorcycle events around the country, but participates in them as well.

For more information please visit: http://www.clutchandchrome.com/News/MotorcycleNews0908018.htm

Honda hopes for cut of chopper market

Honda has a new motorcycle that looks about as far from a Honda as one could imagine.

"The Fury opens the door to the most extreme level of custom looks," the company said of the 2010 model. "But once you're rolling, the Fury experience is all about that special bond between rider and machine: the unmistakable big V-twin pulse, the characteristic Vee engine note and the no-nonsense stance bring you back to the core elements of riding."

The bike starts at $12,999.

"The reaction from media and consumers alike has been great," said Bill Savino, manager of motorcycle press at American Honda

Savino said that the company's test-riders have said that "the neat thing about the motorcycle is it gives you that sense of going back: It's simple; it works; and it handles well."

He also pointed out that for those who want to customize the bike, Honda offers an array of accessories, and outside companies such as Cobra make "chrome goodies for it."

What remains to be seen is whether motorcycling enthusiasts embrace a chopper made by Honda or merely consider it a poseur. Honda, for one, isn't too concerned about the latter or its relevance in the current marketplace.

"You always have the naysayers," Savino said, "but the funny thing is, what we've heard the most is, 'Why [make] a chopper now? It died off five years ago.'

"We don't believe that. We believe the chopper market in the $20,000 to $30,000 range has tapered off. But a chopper has never been made by a major manufacturer, and it's never been made at a reasonable price. There is this younger generation that has a CBR600 or 1000 in their garage and wanted a weekend cruiser. Now we are giving them something to go after."

For more information please visit: http://www.mcall.com/business/sfl-tc-biz-trans-fury-0805-0809sbaug09,0,7992006.story

If you've been involved in a motorcycle accident please call our office 24/7 for a free motorcycle case evaluation. 1-866-LAW-FRAN - for more information please visit http://www.lawfran.com

Flagler deputy injured in traffic accident

A Flagler County sheriff's deputy responding to a crash on a motorcycle was injured Wednesday when a tractor-trailer struck him in Palm Coast, a sheriff's spokeswoman said.

Sgt. Michael Van Buren, 42, was riding west on Palm Coast Parkway when he collided with a tractor-trailer coming from the northbound Interstate 95 exit ramp, said sheriff's spokeswoman Debra Johnson.

The crash involving Van Buren occurred shortly before noon as the sergeant was responding to a minor crash in which no one was injured. He suffered several fractures and other injuries and was taken to Florida Hospital Flagler where he will remain overnight, Johnson said.

Van Buren, who is the supervisor of the Flagler County sheriff's Traffic Unit, has worked for the Sheriff's Office since 1987, Johnson said.

The Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate the accident but said Van Buren suffered facial injuries when his motorcycle crashed into the tractor-trailer. The driver of the truck, Roy L. Sanner, 66, of Ohio was not hurt, said FHP Lt. William Leeper.

Charges against Sanner are pending a full investigation, Leeper said.

For more information please visit: http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Flagler/flaFLAG01080609.htm

Craigslist Scam

The scam: There's nothing better than hitting the open road on a beautiful motorcycle, unless it's on a hot ride that you snagged at a bargain price. That was the offer facing Jim, a local reader of We've Got Your Back. Being a smart guy, Jim dug into the details and sniffed out a scam.

How it works: Jim cruised onto Craigslist, the free online classified ad site, and came across an offer for a lightly used Harley Davidson for less than $3,000. The alleged seller claimed to be a cruise ship worker who would naturally be out of town frequently. Jim writes that he saw ''red flags'' in her e-mail, including the sales price, which seemed to be $7,000 to $10,000 too low. He also was concerned about the seller's location in Florida and her willingness to ship the bike at no charge, when it would cost hundreds of dollars. Further, Jim was concerned about not being able to buy the bike with cash, as he had suggested.

What to do: Easy online research would show you that two people reported being ripped off by this same scam with exactly the same wording, except that the bike was with a shipping company in Stockton, Calif. Jim said he soon saw another posting on Craigslist by yet another victim. Use your common sense, he advises. If you see a bike that should go for three to four times the selling price, something is wrong. Use only secure methods to make online transactions, such as PayPal.

For more information please visit: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-5yback0807.6976137aug07,0,2422394.story

Cruise For a Cause

Insight Financial Credit Union is hosting its 3nd Annual Cruise for a Cause motorcycle poker run to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Participants will cruise through Orange, Seminole and Lake Counties making stops at Insight Financial Credit Union locations to draw a card for their poker hand. The last card will be drawn at the final destination in Maitland, where the best poker hand will be announced, door prizes will be awarded, lunch will be provided and a check will be presented to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

November 7, 2009 9:00 a.m. - Registration 1:00 p.m. - Last bike in 1:30 p.m. - Check presentation to Second Harvest Food Bank

Starting Location - Insight Financial’s Downtown Orlando Branch 206 Hillcrest Street Orlando, FL 32801

Ending Location - Insight Financial’s Maitland branch 480 S. Keller Rd. Orlando, FL 32810

$20 per bike (double or single riders) Sponsorships available Register online at Cruise For a Cause

Representatives from Insight Financial Credit Union, its members, representatives from Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and bike enthusiasts will participate in the ride with a goal of raising $15,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

For more information please visit: http://www.wftv.com/family/20317946/detail.html

If you've been involved in a motorcycle accident please call our office 24/7 for a free motorcycle case evaluation. 1-866-LAW-FRAN - for more information please visit http://www.lawfran.com

Police looking for Mazda that hit Riviera Beach cyclist

The car that left the scene of a hit and run on Tuesday is now being described by Riviera Beach police as a Mazda 626.

The car has been described as a white 4-door early 2000 model, Mazda 626 bearing a Florida tag. The car also had tinted windows.

Around 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday a motorcycle was heading down Australian Avenue when the driver lost control of the motorcycle, flew off the bike and landed in the road. Seconds later, the Mazda 626 hit the motorcyclist. The Mazda kept going and never stopped.

Anyone with information about this accident and/or the vehicle is asked to contact Riviera Beach Police at (561) 845-4123 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS.

For more information please visit: http://www.cbs12.com/news/mazda-4720202-police-hit.html

Texting While Driving Getting National Attention

Text messaging while driving has become a daily distraction for a generation of drivers hooked on instant communication...and a menace to others on the road.

Last year, heather Hurd, 26, and Stephanie Phills, 37, died when a truck driver, reaching for his hand-held device to text hist office, rammed into traffic at a stoplight on U.S. 27 in Central Florida, causing a 10-car pileup, police said. The driver was cited for careless driving, a noncriminal offense that carries a $500 fine.

In may, a truant Tampa, Fla., high school student slammed into a patrol car while texting. She caused $3,000 in damage but no injuries.

In New York, texting is considered the likely cause of a crash that killed five cheerleaders last year. And in April, a California woman was sentenced to six years in prison for killing a woman in a car accident...caused by texting while driving.

This reckless behavior, is by no means, an isolated problem.

In a previously unreleased report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed last month that in 2002 there were 955 deaths and 240,000 crashes attributable to drivers using cellphones - either texting or talking. That was before texting became a true phenomenon.

This past week, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute reported that texting while driving is 23 times more dangerous than driving fully alert.

There are 14 states that make it illegal to send a text message while driving, but Florida isn't one of them. State Rep. Doug Holder of Sarasota filed a bill recently to make it illegal to read or type on any mobile device while behind the wheel in Florida.

For a more detailed look please visit: http://www.philly.com/philly/business/technology/080409_texting_while_driving.html

If you've been injured in an automobile accident please call our office 24/7 for a free case evaluation- 1-866-LAW-FRAN. For more information please visit http://www.lawfran.com

Driver Injured as Truck Overturns

A cement truck overturned in Grand Ridge Wednesday morning, injuring the driver.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Roy Davis, 44, of Altha, was airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries.

The incident occurred at about 7 a.m., when the truck was traveling north on State Road 69 and turned right onto a dirt road at a construction site, highway patrol said.

The truck overturned on its left side on the dirt road. jackson County Fire Rescue had to extract the trapped driver from the truck.

For more information visit: http://www2.jcfloridan.com/jcf/news/local/article/driver_injured_as_truck_overturns/86421/

The Impact of Automaker Bankruptcies on Injured People

With both the Chrysler and General Motors bankruptcies now approved, the companies were able to shed billions of dollars in debt and other liabilities. Included in this debt were the rightful legal claims of consumers who were injured by the automakers' products. Those individuals hurt by GM and Chrysler vehicles before the companies entered bankruptcy will likely be able to recover only a small fraction of the compensation owed to them -- a result that is both unfair and insulting to those who put their trust and money into these companies. To compound the injury, billions of taxpayer dollars were given to GM and Chrysler to make the bankruptcies possible.

Chrysler: Only "New Chrysler" Customers Need Apply

When the "new Chrysler" emerged from bankruptcy on June 10, 2009, the company received a very important gift from the bankruptcy court: no liability for any product liability claims stemming from vehicles manufactured by the automaker pre-bankruptcy.

This means that if a consumer bought a vehicle manufactured by the "old Chrysler" but was not injured until after the company completed the bankruptcy, the person will be unable to recover anything for their injuries from Chrysler.

Under the terms of the automaker's bankruptcy, the new company only can be held liable for injuries stemming from vehicles manufactured by the new company. Any harm that is caused by vehicles manufactured by the old company, regardless of when the injury occurs, is not "new Chrysler's" problem. The company was given a free pass to walk away from these claims because the bankruptcy court felt it was "unfair" to make the new company responsible for any injuries -- no matter how severe -- caused by products built and sold by the old company.

GM: Timing is Everything

After the news came out about the deal Chrysler was able to negotiate in its bankruptcy, the focus quickly turned to General Motors as concern grew that the auto giant would be granted similar limits on liability. Several State Attorneys General, consumer advocacy groups, tort lawyers and victims injured by defective GM vehicles spent three days explaining why allowing the company to limit its liability was unacceptable and unfair to the injured.

Partly due to increased public scrutiny, GM eventually agreed to fewer limits on liability than those granted to Chrysler. According to the terms of its bankruptcy, GM will accept liability for any injuries caused by GM products, so long as the injury occurs after the company emerged from bankruptcy, regardless of when the vehicle was purchased. A victim of a defective GM product now has a claim if he or she were injured on or after July 10, 2009, the closing date for the new GM, and if the claim arose from the motor vehicle's operation or performance. However, just like the Chrysler bankruptcy, the new GM was relieved of its financial and legal obligation for any products liability claims existing against the company at the time it entered bankruptcy or before July 10. GM claims arising between June 1 and July 10, 2009 are in a middle ground and those claims may be handled by the bankruptcy court and possibly may receive some compensation but only to the extent that there are any assets left in old GM.

For more information visit: http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/the-impact-of-automaker-bankruptcies-on-injured-people-111108.php

If you've been involved in a automobile accident please call our office 24/7 for a free case evaluation. 1-866-LAW-FRAN - for more information please visit http://www.lawfran.com

Amtrak and First Class Motorcycle Tours Team Up for Two Auto Train Vacation Packages

WASHINGTON - Amtrak and First Class Motorcycle Tours have teamed up to offer two new vacation packages which include first-class accommodations on Amtrak’s Auto Train that allows motorcycle riders to travel with their bikes on board the train between Lorton, Va., south of Washington, DC and Sanford, Fla., just outside of Orlando.

The motorcycles are secured in specially-designed carriers and travel in the train’s auto carriers while tour participants travel on the train in private roomette sleeping accommodations. All meals on board the train are included in the price of the tour.

Both the northbound and southbound Auto Trains depart at 4 pm each afternoon and arrive at 9:30 am the next morning. After a complimentary dinner, tour participants may watch a movie or relax in the Lounge Car and then retire for the night. The next morning they will awaken in Virginia or Florida refreshed and ready for the motorcycle ride of a lifetime.

The "Trains, Planes, Limousines and Motorcycle Tour" is a seven-day motorcycle tour that begins in Florida where participants board the northbound Auto Train. Upon arrival in Virginia, participants tour Washington, DC by limousine before beginning a scenic motorcycle tour of the back roads of Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. The tour ends just outside of Chattanooga, Tenn. where participants may choose to ride their bikes home or fly home and have their motorcycles shipped. The tour includes all lodging, breakfasts and dinners, first-class, one-way travel on the Auto Train as well as a DVD of the trip, parking fees and any entrance fees to national parks. This tour is available May through October.

The seven-day "Arctic Escape to the Sunshine State Tour" offers participants the opportunity to travel down to Florida with their motorcycles via Amtrak’s Auto Train. For those already in Florida, the tour begins at the Sanford Auto Train station. From there, the tour heads to the Keys in the Gulf of Mexico and then on to Key West, Fla. with a trip across the famous Alligator Alley and a ride on an air boat. After a day relaxing in Key West, the tour travels north with a stop in Cocoa Beach. This vacation package includes lodging, a DVD of the trip, parking fees, air boat ride in the Florida Everglades, and entrance to the Kennedy Space Center. While travel on the Auto Train is not required to participate in this tour, special pricing is available for those who choose to travel by rail. Tour prices do not include travel on the Auto Train. This tour is available November through January.

For more information visit:

http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=100396

If you've been involved in a motorcycle accident please call our office 24/7 for a free motorcycle case evaluation. 1-866-LAW-FRAN - for more information please visit http://www.lawfran.com

Six Motorcycle Officers Crash in Funeral Procession

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. -- Authorities say six motorcycle officers were involved in a crash while escorting the family of one of the country's largest Harley-Davidson dealers to his funeral.

A Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman says a group of motorcycle officers from various agencies was riding with the funeral party for Bruce Rossmeyer Tuesday morning in Ormond Beach. The spokeswoman says the lead rider slowed down, while the riders near the back of the group didn't, causing a chain-reaction crash.

Authorities say two officers were hurt, but their injuries weren't serious. Damage to the motorcycles was also reported as minor.

Rossmeyer died in a motorcycle crash last week in Wyoming. The 66-year-old had owned more than a dozen Harley-Davidson dealerships, most located in Florida.

For more information visit: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/1171902.html

Dog Bite Prevention

Every year, more than 500 Florida residents sustain dog bite injuries severe enough to require hospitalization, and two Floridians die due to injuries from dog bites. Injury rates in Florida are highest among children between the ages of one and nine years old. However, dog bites can also result in serious injuries for teenagers and adults. In 2006, three Florida residents 25 years or older died as a result of dog attacks.

Studies show that unneutered (intact) male dogs are associated with 70-76 percent of reported dog bites, emphasizing the importance of neutering pets. The number of dog bite injuries increases during the months of April through September, with the peak occurring in July. We encourage everyone to consider the following safety tips when interacting with dogs and thank all of the responsible pet owners for taking the appropriate steps to control and vaccinate their pets.

Safety tips for children and adults:
-Never approach an unfamiliar dog.
-Never run from a dog and never scream around a dog.
-If you believe a dog is about to attack you, try and place something in between yourself and the dog, such as a backpack or a bicycle.
-If a dog knocks you over, roll into a ball, cover your face and stay still.
-Do not disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies.
-Children should never approach or play with dogs unless supervised by an adult.
-Children should tell an adult if they see a stray dog or a dog acting strangely.
-Adults should never leave an infant or young child alone with any dog, not even the family pet.

When you or your child approach a dog, remember to:
-Ask the owner for permission to pet the animal.
-Wait and watch the dog's body language.
-Let the pet sniff you.
-Pet the dog in the direction of its fur.

When any animal bite occurs, the bite victim should seek medical attention immediately.

For more information and additional tips visit: http://www.suwanneedemocrat.com/suwannee/local_story_197081455.html?keyword=topstory

If you've been injured as a result of a dog bite please call our office 24/7 for a free case evaluation. 1-866-Law-Fran For more information please visit http://lawfran.com/

Motorcycle Deaths On Track To Exceed Last Year

Story Published: Aug 2, 2009 at 5:18 PM CDT
Story Updated: Aug 2, 2009 at 5:18 PM CDT

Many of the Hells Angels are leaving the area toward Sturgis, South Dakota for the annual motorcycle rally.

Authorities are urging bikers to be extra cautious on the roads this time of year; motorcycle deaths are most prevalent in the months of August and September.

Tiffany Tarrolly has some pointers.
27 riders have died on Minnesota roads so far this year.
Compare that to 25 at this time last year.

Sergeant Mark Baker of the Minnesota State Patrol says there's an easy answer as to why we're outpacing last year's 24-year high.
"I think a lot of it is the popularity of motorcycles, again people are getting into, a lot of middle aged men especially, and when the price of gas went up we saw an increase in motorcycle miles driven," said Sgt. Baker.

According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, there are a record 225,000 registered motorcycles in Minnesota.

Though motorcycles make up less than five percent of all registered vehicles, they accounted for more than 15 percent of motor vehicle deaths last year.

Sgt. Baker says it has a lot to do with riding experience.
"We're seeing a lot of mistakes a lot of the motorcycle crashes, the majority we're seeing are the motorcycles themselves, no other vehicle involved, so there's usually some mistake made, maybe overdriving the bike or not handling the bike properly."

That's why biker, owner and president of Harley Davidson in Hermantown, Dennis Kachelmyer, says safety courses are even more important than the right gear.
"You need to know how to stop the motorcycle properly and how to turn it properly and those are two key things that can get you into a little bit of trouble if you're not current," he said.

The Minnesota DPS reports the most common factors attributing to motorcycle crashes are inexperience, speed, inattention and driving under the influence.

For more information read here: http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/local/52311962.html

If you've been involved in a motorcycle accident please call our office 24/7 for a free motorcycle case evaluation. 1-866-LAW-FRAN - for more information please visit http://www.lawfran.com