“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” – William Arthur Ward
Archives for November 2019
The Smart Helmet—The Next Step in Motorcycle Safety
The Power of Technology Applied to Your Motorcycle Helmet
We all know about smartphones, and most of us are becoming familiar with the applications of smart technology to appliances, security systems and other aspects of our lives. Now smart technology has been integrated with a motorcycle helmet. The result is a helmet that provides instant access to data and lets you effectively track critical information about your rides.
The cutting edge smart helmets are fully integrated with Bluetooth® as well as a technology known as Mesh Intercom™. These systems make a number of functions relatively easy:
- You can make hands-free phone calls, provided you have coverage.
- You can listen to music, changing tunes with voice commands.
- You can get GPS instructions piped in through your helmet.
The Mesh Intercom system lets you communicate with other riders through intercom, rather than phone. It has two settings—open mesh, which allows essentially limitless communications with riders within a mile of you; and closed mesh, where you can speak live with up to 16 other participants within a range of five miles.
Most of the high-end smart helmets include HUD (head-up display), a technology that projects information on the inside of a windshield or helmet visor. With the fully integrated systems, you can see everything you need to know, from speed to temperature gauges, by looking straight ahead. It’s all on the inside of your visor.
There’s also a prototype of a smart helmet that connects to Amazon’s Alexa and has both front- and rear-facing 2K cameras. The helmet also includes an anti-fog visor, a waterproof design and wireless charging. Product developers expect this helmet to be on the market within a year.
Contact the Experienced Attorneys at Weber & Nierenberg
At Weber & Nierenberg, we have more than 30 years of experience successfully protecting the rights of personal injury victims in California. For a free initial consultation, contact us online or call us at 1-866-288-6010.
The Motorcycle Airbag Jacket/Vest—Does It Really Work?
Will an Airbag Jacket/Vest Actually Protect You from Injury?
It may surprise you to learn that the first patent application for a motorcycle airbag vest/jacket was filed in Europe in 1976. The concept is pretty straightforward—the airbag is contained in a vest or jacket that you put on over your other riding clothes. At the most basic level, the jacket/vest has a lanyard or cable that is tethered to your bike. If you fall off, the lanyard pulls a pin, which punctures a CO2 tube and inflates the jacket/vest, typically in less than 1/4 of a second. On the other end of the spectrum, there are airbag jackets that don’t need to be attached to the bike, but which have built in sensors to detect an accident.
Do Airbag Vest/Jackets Actually Minimize the Risk of Injury?
A number of studies have shown significant promise for the motorcycle vest/jacket airbag systems:
- Car and Bike conducted a two-year study of one of the basic models that attaches to the bike with a lanyard. They reported no incidents of accidental deployment. They also had a rider who lost control of his bike on a wet road. The vest immediately deployed, and the rider walked away without as much as a bruise. He was even able to reuse the jacket.
- Honda ran tests that found the airbag reduced forward momentum by more than 60%, which reduced head trauma by more than 80%. Honda concluded that the airbag systems wouldn’t make it completely safe to ride a motorcycle, but could mean the difference between minor injuries and a serious, catastrophic or even fatal accident.
Contact Weber & Nierenberg for Experienced Legal Representation
At Weber & Nierenberg, we have spent decades fighting for the rights of injured people in California, including people hurt in motorcycle accidents. We understand that every case is unique, and we will take the time to learn what happened to you, so we can take the right steps to get the outcome you want. Contact us by e-mail or call our office at 1-866-288-6010 for a free initial consultation.
Happy Veterans Day 2019
“Honoring the sacrifices many have made for our country in the name of freedom and democracy is the very foundation of Veterans Day.” – Charles B. Rangel