There Are Two Types of Motorcycle Riders
There Are Two Types of Motorcycle Riders!
As avid motorcycle enthusiasts, we all know the age-old saying that there are two types of riders: those who have gone down and those who will. We are well aware of the dangers of the open road, and have all had our fair share of close calls. It is during these moments that we are reminded that, no matter how cautious we may be, there will always be some careless individual ready to ruin our day. All we can hope for is to be alert and react quickly when the unexpected happens, as our attitude at that precise moment can make all the difference.
Recently, during the coronavirus pandemic, Neptune's Net in Malibu, Southern California, was offering only takeout orders. As a result, a line of cars formed on Yerba Buena Road after each customer received their meals, with the cars lining up facing down Yerba Buena at the stop sign on Pacific Coast Highway. Impatient drivers attempting to make left turns and return to Santa Monica frequently made unsafe pullouts onto PCH.
Unfortunately, one such driver pulled out in front of a motorcycle, and as you might expect, the outcome was not good. The driver of the SUV, who had passengers in the car, later told authorities that she did not see the motorcycle. However, all the witnesses saw the motorcycle and heard it too. It was a brightly polished bike with lots of chrome and an experienced rider with his girlfriend on the back. The couple had ridden more than 10,000 miles together over the last ten years.
The driver of the SUV, realizing her mistake, inexplicably froze and stopped instead of continuing the turn. The biker had nowhere to go, and although he admitted to traveling 5 to 7 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, some would say he was partially at fault. However, it does not change the fact that it is still illegal to pull out into traffic when another vehicle is approaching.
It is difficult to say whether the driver of the SUV was preoccupied with her rowdy passengers, repacking her lunch to eat on the drive back, texting, or simply had a momentary lapse of judgment. Nonetheless, she was at fault. The motorcyclist suffered a grade three sprained ankle, a concussion, a bit of road rash, and injured both his wrists. He will not be able to work for a while, and his bike was almost a total loss. Have you ever seen a grown man cry? His girlfriend will recover, but she was taken away in an ambulance. Can you guess how much that cost?
The motorcyclist is a construction contractor who is still busy finishing up his backlog of work during the pandemic. As a result of his injuries, he will suffer substantial financial losses. Additionally, his one-of-a-kind motorcycle was either totaled or close to it, and he will need to have it rebuilt or replaced.
Despite the accident, the couple, who are motorcycle enthusiasts for life, will not stop riding. However, they deserve to be compensated fairly for the accident, which caused serious injuries and was caused by yet another oblivious driver making a left turn and not understanding the realities of life on Earth.
