Federal Grant Awarded to Michigan for Bicycle Safety
Grand Rapids, MI (PRWEB) July 25, 2013 -- Bicycle attorney Jason Waechter has dedicated 20 years of legal practice to helping cyclists and their families who have been victims of motor vehicle crashes. "I've seen first-hand the devastation a crash between a cyclist and motor vehicle can cause," says Waechter. "With more and more bikes on the road these days, it's really time to focus on safety and improving the way that cyclists and drivers use the roads together."
That's why Waechter, who runs http://www.bicycleaccidentlawyersusa.com, is applauding the announcement made July 23rd on MLive.com of a $485,321 federal grant awarded yesterday to a Grand Rapids bicycle safety education project. The project, which will also receive $150,000 in other funding, will run for three years and aims to study the interactions between cyclists and motorists. The goal is to improve bicycle safety state-wide, and hopefully impact bicycle safety practices across the United States.
According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 52,000 cyclists were injured and 618 were killed in 2010. In fact, cyclists made up two percent of those injured and two percent of those killed in traffic crashes nation-wide that year. According to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), there were close to 2,000 crashes involving cyclists in Michigan in 2012, with nearly 1,600 injuries and 20 fatalities. This is a huge number when you consider the number of bikes on the roads compared to motor vehicles.
"My hope is that this project will significantly reduce the number of cyclists who are injured or killed in motor vehicle crashes. One is too many," says Waechter. "From what I've read, the researchers plan to use the data they collect in a few different ways. They will use them to build better training and education materials for cyclists who will be sharing the road with motorists. I am hoping they will also find better ways to help motorists and cyclists to understand their responsibilities on the road, both from a practical and a legal standpoint. Overall, it sounds like they are going to push a 'share the road' attitude and encourage motorists and cyclists to remember the human being behind the vehicle. It's a common-sense idea, and I think it will help."
Jason Waechter has made a commitment to promote bicycling safety and awareness through his website. He has also vetted and affiliated himself with experienced bicycle lawyers in every state, and they have proven themselves by obtaining millions of dollars in personal injury compensation for their clients. Any city, any state: no matter where the bicycle accident happened, Waechter and his team can help, and have a specializing bicycle accident lawyer close to you.
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Attorneys Jason Waechter and Sean Murphy are Michigan attorneys specializing in the area of bicycle accident and personal injury litigation. Waechter's firm has collected millions of dollard in settlements, awards and verdicts for his clients over the past 20 years. As well as contributing significantly to safety education and accident prevention. For more information visit their website at http://www.bicycleaccidentlawyersusa.com
Kelly Weaver, Law Offices of Jason Waechter, http://www.michigan-no-fault-auto-accident.com, 248-355-4701, [email protected]
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