Motorcycle safety suits with airbags inside have been around for a few years, but they were primarily designed for track racers (like our own T. Scott Jones). All that’s about to change, though, as the latest invention of Alpinestars hits the market.
According to Fox News, the company’s new Tech-Air street system is designed for riders of all kinds in almost all terrains. The new product boasts “a vest fitted with airbags on the chest, back and shoulders and electronic sensors to determine if a rider has crashed that zips into compatible jackets for additional protection.” The company utilized a complex algorithm to determine how and when a rider might fall or crash in a variety of ways, from city streets to rural back roads. The battery lasts an impressive 25 hours, and an LED strip on the jacket tells you how much power is left in the pack.
Why we might need an airbag jacket
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s latest data, 4,957 motorcyclists died in crashes in 2012 (139 of them were in Tennessee). That’s an increase of about 7% from the year before. Fifteen percent of all traffic fatalities involve a motorcycle rider, yet only 3% of all registered vehicles are motorcycles. Riding a motorcycle is exhilarating, but it can also incredibly dangerous. That’s why it’s big news when a news safety product is developed.
It may be a while before the U.S. sees the Alpinestars product line, but it will be well worth the wait. An airbag jacket could be just the thing to save motorcycle riders from suffering life-altering, catastrophic injuries after a crash. Some of the more common injuries that may be avoided with an airbag jacket include:
- Road rash
- Neck and spinal injuries, including paralysis
- Biker’s arm, or other nerve-damaging injuries
- Muscle damage
- Broken arms, shoulders, wrists and collarbones
Combined with the protection of a helmet, the jacket could potentially help save the lives of riders all over Tennessee and throughout the country.
We hope that the product is every bit as good as it seems. If you have questions about rider safety, or if you suffered an injury, give us a call; we can help you out.
T. Scott knows the importance of interacting with colleagues to stay abreast of developments and changes in the legal world. T. Scott frequently teaches CLE courses on trial strategy, teaching other lawyers his methods for success in the courtroom, and is certified as a Rule 31 Mediator in the Tennessee Supreme Court. He is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the National Trial Lawyers, and both the Tennessee and American Associations for Justice.
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