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The month of May is frequently the first of the year that is warm enough for motorcycles to be out on the roads of New Hampshire on a regular basis. After being hidden in garages all winter, the sudden presence of motorcycles on the roads can come as a surprise. This can make it helpful for motorcyclists and car drivers to review some of the safety tips that can prevent a motorcycle accident. motorcycleawarenessad-300x158

Motorcyclists: Wear a Helmet

Motorcyclists are probably tired of hearing this safety tip. They are probably sick of hearing estimates by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that say helmets saved the lives of 1,772 bikers in 2015 alone.

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To all new college graduates in New Hampshire, congratulations! But now that you are out of school, it is only a matter of time before you realize that the working world is a far less forgiving place than a university. One example is how many jobs require their workers to carry professional licenses or security clearances. Getting these certifications, however, can be impossible if you have a criminal record.

This is just another example of the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction.college-graduate-living-at-home-300x200

Collateral Consequences of a Conviction

When people think of the penalties they can face after being convicted of a crime, they think of fines, possible jail time, probation, and mandatory community service.

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Getting convicted of a crime is not a small matter because it typically leads to fines, probation, and even jail time. However, not everyone is aware that there are also collateral consequences of a criminal conviction—those that are not doled out by the state of New Hampshire but rather by private individuals and companies.criminalrecord2-c-300x200

One of these collateral consequences is on the housing front. Many landlords frown upon prospective tenants who have a criminal background, making it more difficult for people with a past conviction to live where they want to live. For recent graduates in New Hampshire, this can be a surprising problem to have.

Primary and Collateral Consequences of a Criminal Conviction

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Every year is not the same when it comes to motorcycle accidents. As more riders are on the road, the number of motorcycle fatalities rises. This increase, however, is tempered by developments in motorcycle and car safety. Noting how these numbers are trending, though, can be helpful to understanding how dangerous it is to ride a motorcycle in New Hampshire or elsewhere in the U.S.Motorcycle-Accidentsnt-300x196

Recent Rise in Motorcycle Fatalities

Unfortunately, the most recent statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have shown that motorcycle fatalities are rising precipitously, and in line with the recent increase in road deaths of all kinds.

According to the NHTSA, 2015 saw an 8% increase in the number of motorcyclists who died on the roads of America, compared to 2014. This increase was not just because more bikers were on the road, though: the fatality rates per registered vehicle and per mile driven rose as well.

This meant that motorcycles had 6 times the fatality rate of a car per registered vehicle. Worse, the fatality rate of motorcyclists was 29 times higher than that of people in cars per mile driven.

The Role of Speed

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Despite what some people say about motorcycles, different models from different makers handle differently. While there usually is not very much separating one bike from another, there are several outliers that even experienced bikers admit are radically different. Often, these models were the first to incorporate some brand new technology or mechanical development, but the design was less than perfect and led to more motorcycle accidents than expected.motorcycle-accident-lawyer-300x199

Here are some of the riskiest motorcycle models that you can find on the road today.

The 1999 Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R

The Hayabusa was built to be a racing bike, and the 1999 GSX1300R model came before legal regulations prohibited motorcycle companies from making bikes that could go too fast. The result was a motorcycle that could go 195 miles per hour right off the dealer’s lot.

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As spring winds down, college students in New Hampshire—whether at the University of New Hampshire or at one of the other fine schools in the state—are about to enter the working world throughout the region. Some students can have an uphill battle if they have been convicted of a crime while in college or even during high school. This is because, unbeknownst to many, there are collateral consequences of a criminal conviction that go beyond the penalties provided in state laws.Graduation-cap-and-diploma-300x203

The Collateral Consequences of a Criminal Conviction

When people think of the penalties that come with a criminal conviction, they often think of the penalties doled out by the state, like fines, jail time, or probation.

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 Pelvic Trauma

Pelvic trauma is an injury that results from blunt force contact with your pelvic region, including your upper leg, hip, lap, and lower back.pelvic2-300x159

One of the most severe injuries that results from pelvic trauma is a fractured pelvis. However, there are lots of other forms of pelvic trauma, and many of them are just as severe as a fractured pelvis. They include:

  • Broken hip
  • Dislocated hip
  • Bladder injuries, including perforation
  • Nerve damage
  • Severed arteries
  • Injuries to the reproductive organs.

Many of these injuries can be complicated with other factors in ways that can quickly become life-threatening. For example, a bladder that has been pierced from an instance of pelvic trauma can leak urine into the surrounding organs in your abdomen, to devastating effect.

NH Motorcycle Accidents and Pelvic Trauma

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Out of the 50 states in the U.S., there are only three that do not legally require motorcyclists to wear a helmet. New Hampshire is one of those three.helmet-laws-300x185

The issue of whether to require motorcyclists to wear a helmet is polarizing, especially in a state whose motto is Live Free or Die. However, the facts and statistics all support making helmets mandatory. Nevertheless, lawmakers in our state have firmly and repeatedly refused to pass a bill that would require bikers to wear a helmet, like in the rest of the country.

Here is why.

Forcing Riders to Wear Helmets Infringes Freedom

The core of all of the arguments against a law requiring helmets on motorcyclists is that it infringes on their rights and freedoms. As adults, they should be able to choose whether to be safe and wear a helmet or “feel the open road” and go without one. Many people claim that, because their choice not to wear a helmet does not impact anyone else, the law should not dictate what they can or cannot do.

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It is an unfortunate fact of life that riding a motorcycle is not as safe as driving a car. In 2013, while motorcycle accidents accounted for only 4% of the people hurt on the roads of America, they accounted for 14% of traffic fatalities.motorcycleAAd-300x229

Thankfully, just like it is helping improve the safety of cars on the road, technology is also protecting motorcyclists as well. As these developments continue, riding a motorbike should get safer and safer as we move into the future.

Helmet Technology

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A Massachusetts man has been arrested and charged with violating New Hampshire’s laws dealing with identity fraud. The incident highlights how the vagueness of identity fraud laws allows prosecutors to go after innovative techniques, but can also put innocent people into serious trouble.idtheft-300x133

Local Man Arrested and Charged With Identity Fraud

Last month, 39-year-old Maxherve Fleurme was arrested at Boston’s Logan Airport as he tried leaving the U.S. for Haiti. He was extradited to New Hampshire last week and was arraigned in the Derry District Court.

Mr. Fleurme is charged with identity fraud after, according to police, he stole enough personal information from several Londonderry residents to order debit cards in their names. He would then monitor the residents’ mailboxes and take the debit card out when it was delivered. Police said he then used these new debit cards at ATM machines to steal over $4,800 in cash. Continue reading →