FELLOW MOTORCYCLISTS GET SMASHED ON THE PAVEMENT EVERY DAY. And many live to tell about it. This morning I learned that one of my neighbors, a young 21-year-old rider, has been in the hospital for several days and is expected to remain there for another 2 weeks, before he can go home for a projected 6-month recovery.
Due to the severity of his road rash and mangled flesh, he is being treated as a burn victim.
The incident resulted from a hit-and-run driver. Witnesses say the offending vehicle violated this rider’s right-of-way and sped off after smashing into this motorcyclist and catapulting him through the air. The rider was brought to the Intensive Care Unit of the local hospital and placed in a temporarily induced coma while they cleaned and removed the dirt and gravel embedded into the abrasions and lacerated flesh that encompassed 25% of his body.
Because the contents of his pockets were strewn widely upon impact, and therefore no identification was with him when he arrived at the hospital, he was admitted as a John Doe (unknown person).
Accordingly, family could not be notified of his circumstances.
When he didn’t arrive home that night or to work the next day, it took over 24 hours for family to track him down via phone calls to police and area hospitals. (They were looking for a specific person, not a “John Doe.”)
To make matters more interesting, it turns out he does not have a motorcycle license or insurance (both required by law in California) and he had been drinking beer.
He was issued a citation for Driving under the Influence (DUI).
Based upon the severity of flesh damage, a reader might wonder what this young rider was wearing when he went down.
The answer: not much.
He was riding in shorts and a T-shirt. (Although he was wearing his helmet, which is also required by law in California).
The hospital care he is receiving costs $25,000 per day.
It should be noted that he owns a leather jacket with armor reinforcements and other riding gear and I usually observed him wearing such when riding. (Although I had also seen him riding in short pants).
One more interesting fact: He had just purchased his street motorcycle a few weeks earlier. (Although he did have prior dirt-bike riding experience).
When aroused from his morphine sleep, he said “I’ll never ride a motorcycle again.” The future will prove that true or not, but I would guess that if he does take to two wheels again, he will wear his gear.
Except in states that require helmets, any motorcyclist has the privilege to choose to wear whatever he or she deems appropriate. But I think the risk is high for any new riders, and especially young riders, who may not have gained the necessary respect that should be accorded to the potential dangers of street riding, and instead are solely intoxicated by its pleasures.
This rider made a number of mistakes. Among them, one could speculate that had he not been drinking in the first place, he might have been able to avoid the accident, even though the official responsibility is imputed to the driver who left the scene of the accident.
Although the circumstances surrounding this incident may provoke varied perspectives, it should be emphasized that this rider did survive and in time, he is expected to recover and he will likely be wiser in the future.
This event reminds me of the numerous mistakes I made as a young rider. At times I have wondered how I survived those early years. Regardless, I do have a more respectful attitude then back then and as much as I still enjoy riding, and could not imagine giving it up for anything, I have much more experience and better gear than when I was a kid. (And I’ve survived a few accidents myself).
Wishing you safe riding!
(Click “Leave a Reply” below to contribute your comments, insights and experience.)
I hope you make a full recovery. That said. Drinking even 1 beer and then riding is NOT expectable! I know, I did it and spent several mounts recovering from a very stupid thing that I did. Not the bast idea I have ever had. Now I have ridden for 35 years, the rule is…
ATGATT! all the gear all the time! Please don’t ride with out it!
just my two cents!
i know this is a late reply but felt the need to say it.
Good luck with the recovery should be nearing the end and if you do decided to ride again this should be a lesson.
I’m 18 years old and have a Lexmoto Vixen 125, not a fast bike but gets me from A to B in comfort. i’ve only been riding for about 6 months so haven’t got much experiences and i know i haven’t but i do respect the road, and other vehicles on the road.
i had a crash about 3-4months ago where i took a corner to fast and it sharpened up at the end, i went over the double white lines and ran in to the side of a van, i ruined my foot peg, bent my break leaver in half and ripped the exhaust of my bike. thankfully i didn’t fall off the bike. but i did suffer a injury on my foot, the boot i was wearing “Blytz Raching” (http://images.esellerpro.com/2189/I/167/52/Blytz-Race-Motorbike-Boot-White-1.jpg) saved my foot, they were snapped in half and the fiberglass base in the sole was snapped clean in half, i couldn’t put any weight on the foot for around 5 days, went to hospital and it was just severe muscle damage, the doctor said if i wasn’t wearing my boots i would of lost the foot.
this has taught me the most valuable lesson of all: “Fuck the other drivers I’m riding my way at a speed I feel safe taking the corner”
i wear ALL of my gear when i’m going 5mins up to my nan’s house, you NEVER know what kind of driver is going to me on the road
Hope this helps young and more experienced riders out there.
I shudder when I see some kid in shorts and a T-shirt on a Hayabusa – especially when I see him heading into a bar.
Still, I did some pretty damn stupid things when I was younger, and occasionally still do. I’ve been lucky a few times, otherwise I might have ended up like this guy.
Wishing the chap a quick and complete recovery. He certainly did a foolish thing. Riding unprotected is asking for even more injury. I always ride protected, yet still I know or am at least hoping that I am minimizing my risk. Defense riding is the only logical way to ride. I am often looking behind me. Always want to know what’s behind me. I am as well a big believer in the 12 second rule throttling ahead. You never know what surprises await. Never assume drivers will always respond correctly.
As for the SOB who left him lying there, I do not wish him well.
Ride as defensively as possible, and wishing all a safe, healthy and prosperous new year.
Hope he makes a full recovery, and then understands how he should have been riding. A funny thing happened to me last fall. Heading south to north on the interstate in Atlanta, Ga. Was rearended by a stoned driver. Police downloaded his onboard computer, at the moment of impact he was under full acceleration and traveling at 108 mph. I was probably traveling 65-75 mph. End result, broken pelvis, broken T-12 vertabra, 16 broken ribs, collapsed lung, couple of big divits on skull from bouncing around in the helment. Absolutly zero road rash. Was wearing full leathers from Fox Creek Leather. HD boots, overpants, heavy jacket, premium full coverage gloves, and a new HJC helment. Spent 2 months in an induced coma, another 2 months in a different facility, and a final month in a rehab facitlity. Can walk with issues, and serious back problems, but still alive and in one piece. Save the beers for after the ride, get the best gear possible, and wear the damn stuff. Sure some folks will tease ya, but theirs nothing like a second chance at being alive.
To Johnny. I am a Nationwide agent and in PA and DE at least , you simply must have “unrestricted” PIP or personal injury protection. These insurance companies will not cover a single vehicle off the roadway unless that is in place. I see these youngens walk into my office all the time wanting to ride a hayabusa as their first streetbike. After showing them just how expensive it can be, I show them low cost cruisers on craigslist. I also have an e-mail I send out with the state rider courses , the NHTSB bike study and of course MOTORCYCLE Intel with all the good book suggestions. The life I help save just may be theirs. Motorcycling is the best video game in the world but you only get one guy . chance.
Come on boys, we basically only stay alive if/because we ride defensively. Protection doesn’t detract from fun and it doesn’t take long to wear, why not use it?
I always do, and I would feel naked if Idon’t. I am always surprised at how many riders don’t even wear gloves, and that’s the only way to save your hans in case of a fall. Of course everybody thinks: “won’t happen to me…” But with so many blundering idiot let loose on the road, it might, no, it will not depend on you… Safe riding to ALL
Firstly, I would like to wish him a full and speedy recovery. Secondly, I would like to say it serves him right. Sorry if that sounds harsh but he was rather the master of his own destiny. Maybe better he does stay off motorcycles.
Here in UK, every new rider has to take a Certificate of Basic Training before they are let loose on an unsuspecting Public. During this training it is stressed how important the correct clothing, footwear and gloves are for safety and limitation of damage to themselves. Turn up in t-shirt, shorts and trainers and they are finished before they start. Five minutes after they are out on their own, particularly the youngsters will be seen riding around in shortsleeved t-shirts, shorts, trainers and no gloves. Knees and elbows out as far as they can be to impress the young girls. On warm days even some older “should know better” riders on larger faster motorcycles can be seen in the same attire.
While there are a lot of instances where car and other four wheeled vehicles drivers do not see a motorcyclist, and there are those hit and run scenarios ( what a thing to have to live with ), we all as motorcyclists have a huge responsibility for our own welfare. If we think of ourselves as invisible as mentioned above, and treat every other road user as an idiot, though largely unfair, we stand a chance of surviving. There are a lot of speed freaks and public highway wheelie boys asking for gravel rash. I say all this as somebody who has seen the sensible maimed because of the stupidity of the few.
At least he lived to tell!
If he ever gets back on a bike he’ll be like many of us, remember your mistakes and NEVER repeat them if at all possible!
Nature has a wonderful way of cleansing itself.
Street riding on a motorcycle fits into the plan rather nicely.
Ride smart and you’ll be fine. . .
Ride stupid and Mother Nature will eventually “cleanse” you form the environment.
Also. . .
Rick in an earlier post asks; “who’s paying his hospital bill?”.
That’s easy Rick, you and I are.
-Ej-
I agree with someone who commented that his response – “I will never ride a motorcycle again” – shows that he has not learned anything from his accident. This guy did everything wrong, and when he wakes up, he blames it on motorcycles, not on himself.
He sounds like the cab driver I was talking to once, who said he had been in five motorcycle accidents. In all of them he was under the influence of alcohol and without a helmet. He passed four of them with minor injuries, but in the fifth, he badly broke his jaw and had to eat ouf of a straw for months, let alone a broken arm and road rash.
“After that” said him with a somber voice “I’ll never ride a motorcycle again”.
Not “I’ll never ride without a helmet or under the influence”, but “I’ll never ride again”.
My father always told me that you shouldn’t go into a discussion with stupid people, so I said nothing.
On July 4, 2010 my uncle and a friend were riding back home from a day trip when we think my uncle saw something and hit the brakes. Both bikes ended up in the opposite ditch facing the way they were coming from. Both my uncle and friend were med flighted to MCV Hospital. My uncle took the worst of the accident, ruptured liver, 9 broken ribs, punctured lung, concussion, laceration of his head where his helmet was digging in asphalt, grit and dirt ground into his right knee and numerous places of road rash over his body. Our friend had a broken wrist, broken foot, road rash, and a hurt back. Both of these fellows are very lucky people and I care for both of them greatly. Our friend got out of the hospital within one week and my uncle was in the hospital for over a month and both of them have/are healing nicely. Our friend got a ticket in the hospital for following to close. Neither one can remember what happened that afternoon. No alchohol/drugs were involved. Our friend appealed the charges against him and won. When the shop started repairing my uncle’s bike it was evident that it had been hit from behind. This has put a strain on their friendship! All this being said they had all their gear on thank goodness for that. Insurance is another deboggle that I still don’t understand because I don’t know what limitations are needed and would love for someone to educate me, because following this incident the insurance company paid none of the medflight, no medical payments, would have not payed one dime for a passenger medical, or loss of income, etc! I hope everyone will do some research into their insurance coverages and make sure you know what types of coverages you really have and not just trust because the insurance company quoted the lowest price and hope for the best coverage. I would really like to talk to somebody about insurance coverage/requiremnts that can explain in detail to me and help me understand to make better insurance decisions. I bet there are a lot of people out here thinking they are covered but are not and won’t find out until there is a catastrophy!
So who is paying the hospital bill if he doesn’t have insurance?! This is why the non-motorcycling community gets so up in arms about helmet laws (and, for that matter, any restrictive motorcycle laws). They understandably don’t want to foot the bill. Those who don’t carry legally required insurance, whether by choice or negligence, need to be held financially responsible for their own care. It would be nice if the police catch the driver of the car, who at minimum should also be held financially liable.
On morning of May 13, 1978 I brought my wife and newborn son home from the hospital, later that afternoon, I borrowed a friends bike and went for a ride. I was wearing jeans, t-shirt, and probably tennis shoes. A few minutes into the ride a car stopped in front of me, only I was distracted. I rearended the car, put the rear window out with my head, tumbled over the car and landed head first in the street. Had a concussion, and roadrash on my back. I woke up in the hospital, on a gurney in the hallway, wearing only my underwear.
My wife asked me to refrain from riding until the kids grew up. Five years ago we purchased a touring bike and we both attended a MSF BRC. I was so impressed, I requested to be a coach. I began wearing proper gear, and riding like I was invisible.
I had another accident in 2009, and was protected by my gear, with minimal rash, and a broken tibula, after recovery I am back on a new bike..
I am now a ridercoach, and I PREACH wearing gear, I show my jacket, helmet, that saved my flesh and my life.
I pray this youngman recovers, but learns from his experience!
Thanks for this story. It has helped me already because sometimes I think about wearing only part of my gear…a dangerous and stupid rationalization — it’s hot to ride down here in FL in the summer all suited up — so, I hope you can help him learn from this incident. Take all the insurance premimums and spend them on the best riding gear and read and practice all the safety you can and “Ride On” down here to the FL Keys.
We have a saying in England.”You can’t put an old head on young shoulders.Hopefully he will be ok,but the repercussions are likely to remain with him for a long time.His main misdemeanour as far as I am concerned is the lack of insurance which unfortunately his a real problem to other persons affected on the roads.On the other side the hit and run driver is a symptom of our times.
first of all, i wish him a speed recovery. now i wanna let you know my story regarding accidents. i was involved in a hit and run accident too like 8-9 months ago, trust me i wore all the proper gear as always. (full face helmet/leather jacket with elbow, shoulder and back protector and leather gloves). i don`t like to give more details about my recovery because i `ve been blessed. my question for all of you is this. how do i demand all my rights after that incident?. local police didnt get any info of that offender. i am worried at everybody else out there,
His saying that he will never ride a motorcycle again demonstrates that he hasn’t really learned from his experience. He should be saying “I won’t ride again without a license”, “I won’t ride again without insurance”, “I won’t ride again while under the influence”, and “I won’t ride again without wearing the proper gear.” I sure don’t want him out on the road with me, whether he is riding or driving, until he takes responsibility for his actions.
Don’t ride impaired
Don’t ride angry
Don’t ride tired.
Don’t ride hungry
Wear your gear… ALL OF IT ALL THE TIME!!!
This young man was being a dumbass and got bitten. I hope he heals fast and well and that he learns something from this.
“Witnesses say the offending vehicle violated this rider’s right-of-way and sped off after smashing into this motorcyclist and catapulting him through the air”
There is no right of way when riding. It is NOT a contact sport.
RIDER FAIL!!!
Perhaps the state will be deciding if he ever rides again…..bike or cage!
Oh, my! What a way to learn a lesson! Perhaps some good can come from it, as what happened with Brittany Morrow. She came off the back of a sport bike traveling at an excessive amount of speed without all her gear on, slid on pavement for over 500 feet and became known as the “Road Rash Queen”.
Brittany has used that experience to help others learn the importance of wearing protective gear by teaming up with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) and starting a website dedicated to educate others, http://www.rockthegear.org/. She’s put together a video as well about her experience, http://vimeo.com/22897515.
A lady after my own heart, Brittany has taken the ultimate step and became an MSF RiderCoach to help others to learn how to ride safely. All of that’s taking a bad experience and turning it around for good. Please tell your neighbor that he can help others as well.
SE
Thank the Lord he is expected to make a full recovery. That said he will hopefully act more wisely in the future. Will not drink and ride, or drive. I have had near misses myself, and shudder to think what could have happened if reflexes were unimpaired. Growing up is learning to be responsible for your actions, and the consequences. As the writer said we have all made mistakes. The trick is to apply what you learned. Heal quickly, and ride again.