May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
Spring in Virginia is the perfect time to hit the road on two wheels. There are scenic coastal views, and beautiful mountain vistas to take in throughout Virginia, all within the reach of the average motorcyclist.
Unfortunately, there were more than 2000 motorcycle crashes in Virginia in 2014. The city of Norfolk alone had 90 accidents involving a motorcycle. Knowing how you can help prevent an accident, what gear to ride with, and common causes of motorcycle accidents, you should be fully-armed to take on the roads this Summer.
Prevention:
- Don’t Split Lanes: Splitting lanes might seem like a great alternative to sitting in traffic. However, doing so is illegal in the state of Virginia and driving abreast of another vehicle in the same lane could result in a charge of reckless driving. Additionally, driving in-between other vehicles could make your motorcycle harder to see, which could result in a costly accident.
- Don’t drink and ride: Half of crashes that involve a single motorcycle involve a driver that had drank alcohol before riding. And according to NHTSA, in 2014, 29% of motorcycle riders who were involved in fatal crashes had a BAC of 0.08 percent or over.
- Don’t pass a car in the same lane: Only pass a vehicle if you can easily access the left-hand lane and give a few feet distance between you and the vehicle you wish to pass. Passing the vehicle too closely could place you in a blind spot and result in a collision.
Wear proper gear
- Helmets: A helmet is the most important safety equipment a motorcyclist wears. Helmets are about 29% effective in preventing motorcycle deaths and about 67% effective in preventing brain injuries. An unhelmeted rider is 40% more likely to suffer a fatal head injury than is a helmeted rider. In Virginia, motorcyclists and their passengers must wear an approved motorcycle helmet that meets or exceeds the standards and specifications of the Snell Memorial Foundation, the American National Standards Institute, Inc., or the federal Department of Transportation.
- Eye Protection: To keep dust, wind and other debris out of your eyes while riding, motorcycle operators should choose good quality goggles, glasses with plastic or safety lenses, or a helmet equipped with a face shield. Goggles, glasses, and face shields should be scratch free, shatterproof, and well-ventilated to prevent fog buildup. Only clear shields should be used at night since tinted shields reduce contrasts and make it more difficult to see. Even if the motorcycle has a windshield, eye protection is recommended.
- Jackets and Trousers: Clothing worn when riding a motorcycle should provide some measure of protection from abrasion in the event of a crash. The clothing should be of durable material (for example, special synthetic material or leather). Jackets should have long sleeves. Trousers (not shorts) should not be baggy or flared at the bottom to prevent entanglement with the chain, kick starter, foot-pegs, or other protrusions on the sides of a motorcycle.
If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, Our lawyers have over fifty years of experience, knowledge and plain, old-fashioned dedication to stick by you and fight for your rights.
Call the personal injury attorneys of The Decker Law Firm right now at 757-622-3317.
Mermaid Spotlight
Courtney
You can find Courtney in the Freemason District of Norfolk surrounded by cobblestone streets and within eyesight of the Tide. Courtney features deep-green fins, peach skin and wavy brown hair. She also sports a tattoo of a gavel on her belly button and holds a stenography machine in an outstretched palm.
Courtney was the last piece in the city’s Heart & Art Mermaid Story Trails system, where walkers can exercise while going from mermaid to mermaid.
Notably, Courtney went missing in 2006 when it was noticed a regular passerby saw Courtney at the beginning of their morning jog, only to return and find the mermaid gone and left only with the bolts meant to hold her aloft. The elusive mermaid was found nearly a month later in on May 21st in Virginia Beach and returned to her rightful place in Norfolk.
Martin Thomas Jr. Re-Elected as City Councilman!
As of May 1, 2018 Martin Thomas Jr. was re-elected to serve as the councilman of Ward 1 in Norfolk.
“I’m honored to have been re-elected to Norfolk City Council and look forward to working with the other new and re-elected Council members and School Board Members. Norfolk is a special place and is lucky to have had so many dedicated candidates and I hope that those who did not prevail will stay engaged and use their energy in other ways to serve our great City.” – Martin Thomas Jr.
Keeping Pace With Downtown
Warm weather in Norfolk couldn’t come soon enough! And along with it, a new bike share program called Pace has come to Hampton Roads to help commuters, students, young professionals, and any smart phone user get around Norfolk a little bit faster.
Riders must be at least 18 years old, have a smart phone and the Pace app. The cruiser-style bikes have an adjustable seat that can fit most riders with heights between 5-foot-2 and 6-foot-2 and weighing up to 250 pounds. They also come equipped with electronic gear shifts, lights, a basket, a back wheel rack, a bell and lock.
It is important to note that in Virginia bicycles are subject to the same laws as motor vehicles. When passing a bicyclist, motor vehicles must proceed at a reasonable speed and travel at least three feet to the left of the overtaken bicycle.
Safe and legal bike operation:
- Ride with traffic.
- Stop and look both ways before entering the street.
- Stop at all intersections.
- Before turning, use hand signals and look all ways.
- Ride defensively – anticipate the actions of other road users and watch for road hazards.
- Pass vehicles with extreme care – turning vehicles may not see you.
- Be aware of motor vehicle blind spots while riding or when stopped at an intersection.
- Walk your bicycle when you get into traffic situations beyond your cycling abilities.
- Exercise great caution when riding in bus traffic – watch out for buses pulling to and from curbs and passengers getting on and off buses.
- Park your bicycle so you do not block sidewalks, disabled accesses, building accesses or emergency lanes.
The launch event was hosted April, 6 on the Civic Plaza patio in front of City Hall. Following remarks by city officials and Pace, 30 riders took an inaugural ride around downtown Norfolk. You may have recognized Martin Thomas Jr. among the riders, showing support of the program as city council chairman of Ward 1.
Spring Time Recipe
Caprese Burgers with Spinach Pesto
Prep Time: 15 mins • Cook Time: 15 mins • Total Time: 30 mins
~Kelsey Holt
These Caprese burgers are so easy to make and are PACKED with flavor! I am a pesto fanatic and I always have a container of homemade pesto in the fridge. It is such a fun sauce to experiment with as it is extremely versatile. I love mixing in different herbs or vegetables, which led me to make spinach pesto.
Burgers are one of my summertime favorites, but I am not the biggest red meat fan. I prefer chicken, turkey, or even salmon burgers over the traditional ground beef. The hubs loves beef, so when I saw I had a container of my spinach pesto that needed to be used, I ran with it. Caprese salad and pesto on top of a burger?! Yep. I did it, and they have become my favorite burger of all time.
Ingredients For the burgers:
- 2 lbs lean ground beef I used 96%
- 2 tbsp dry red wine
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella ball cut into 1/4 inch slices
- 2 large tomatoes cut into 1/4 inch slices
- 8 fresh basil leaves
- Balsamic glaze, to taste
- 8 your favorite buns
For the pesto:
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1/2 cup fresh basil
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp pine nuts omit for nut allergies
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 cup olive oil
Pesto Instructions:
1. In a food processor, combine spinach, basil, garlic, Parmesan, lemon juice, pine nuts, salt, and pep per. Pulse on low to chop up the ingredients, stopping a few times to scrape down the sides. With the machine running, drizzle in the olive oil. Remove from food processor and store in an air-tight container. Lasts for 3-4 days in the refrigerator!
Burger instructions:
2. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, red wine, garlic, basil, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Form into 8 patties, roughly 3/4 inch thick. I like freezing my patties on a large plate for about 30 minutes before grilling. It really helps to keep them together!
To assemble the burgers:
3. Preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Grill burgers for 5 minutes. Flip and top with slice of mozzarella, and grill for another 5 minutes.
4. Spread butter on each side of bun and grill for a 1-2 minutes. Spread pesto on top side of the bun. Place burger on bottom side of the bun and top with a slice of tomato and a fresh basil leaf. Drizzle with balsamic glaze – this is my personal favorite and serve!
Norfolk CASA’s Mother’s Day Luncheon & Silent Auction
May 11, 2018
Join The Decker Law Firm and Norfolk CASA as we kick-off Mother’s Day weekend with their annual luncheon and silent auction. As we celebrate the moms that have helped shape our lives, we will also pay special tribute to community members who have committed their life’s work to children. Silent auction begins at 1130am, lunch is served at noon and the event ends promptly at 1pm.
Virginia Beer Festival
May 19, 2018
The Mid-Atlantic’s largest and longest running beer festival celebrates its 17th year with a diverse selection of more than 150 beers and ciders from Virginia and around the world!
Norfolk Harborfest
June 8-10, 2018
Celebrating America’s largest, longest-running, free maritime festival in its 42nd year.
For three days, the historic waterfront festival offers a weekend packed with thrilling activities on land and sea to include tall ships and the Parade of Sail, artisan foods and beverages, work boat races, unique and unusual performances, one of the largest fireworks shows on the East Coast, family games and activities, national and regional entertainment, and much more.
29th Annual Bayou Boogaloo
June 22-24, 2018
The Bayou Boogaloo Music & Cajun Food Festival is Norfolk’s annual love-fest with New Orleans’ vibrant spirit and captures the melting pot of Bayou culture. This popular 3-day festival delivers the heart and soul of Louisiana to visitors of Town Point Park in true Cajun and Creole style.
From New Orleans to the Downtown Norfolk Waterfront, two stages featuring national recording artists providing diverse cultural musical entertainment. This is the most authentic food and music festival in the nation.
4th of July Celebration
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Leave the grilling to us on the 4th of July and bring your family and friends down to Town Point Park. Guests can buy traditional all American fare, including hot dogs, hamburgers, barbecue, seafood, buttered corn on the cob, juicy watermelon, lemonade…with all the fixin’s and much more available for purchase! Relax on the lawn and enjoy the live entertainment, then watch as the sky lights up with the fireworks display at 9:30 pm!