mike_mccue

It is very saddening to hear about loss of life, but it is even more saddening to see so many, so quickly and so confidently condemn the survivor who is a person who will live with the knowledge of what has happened for the rest of his life.

I know someone that caused an accident that resulted in the death of the other person involved. It ruined his life and ruined the lives of those around him as well.

People accidentally do bad things with no intention of doing them all the time ... that's just the way life is. It doesn't always call for a witch hunt, unless there was something illegal going on such as distracted driving, alcohol, drugs (illegal or prescription).

As for the guy only getting a $75 ticket ... since there was a death involved, the county prosecutor could file charges. Considering two people died, they more than likely will even if there were no drugs or alcohol involved. Then there are the other lowlife's (see what I just said there without saying it?) known as the insurance company's. They will sue and counter-sue each other in to oblivion if the family decides to sue the insurance company. And they could sue their own insurance company as well ... I know someone who did it and never had to work another day in his life. Then there could be a civil suit if the family is so inclined to do so.

The smartest thing the guy that caused the accident could do is get a lawyer and fight the ticket. If he pays the ticket and admits guilt ... he might as well not even get a lawyer when the county and civil suits come because he already admitted he was wrong. You have to keep your head in situations like this.

...

I took a trip to Des Moines this morning to turn in my scrap metal and take some old electronics to the recycling center. Less than 3 car lengths in front of me a guy on a motorcycle blows the stop sign at the end of the off ramp and pulls right in front of me. We had 30MPH winds today, he's all over both lanes of the road, off on the shoulder, dropping 20MPH below the speed limit ... so I pass the guy. He gets pissed and gets right up on my bumper and rides my ass for about 15 miles. All the while swerving wildly from side to side to see around me. I was doing 63 in a 55 and used cruise so I would keep an even speed. The vast majority of motorcyclists I encounter on the road exhibit this same behavior. Then they cry and scream and everyone feels sorry for them when there's an accident. Sorry, but everyone knows the risks when riding a bike ... it's one of those, 'you take your life in to your own hands' kind of deals when you hit the road on one of those. Especially here in Iowa because all towns, including Des Moines, have 4 way intersections with NO stop signs. You live on a gravel road, you learn to know which direction the wind is out of and how to watch for dust trails when the corn is up to see if anyone is coming. There are no stop signs on gravel roads here, and out of the 114,000 miles of road, 90,000 are gravel, I looked it up.

Anyone here who's ever been to Mt. Rushmore knows the road going up to it on the one side of the mountain kind of sucks. It's steep and windy. I was coming up the mountain one time in my Venture Van, coming around the blind corner by the parking lots toward the top. My father in law was with me who is a wannabe hippie that rides. This guys comes down the hill too fast, can't make the turn, starts to come in to my lane and cuts it sharp so he doesn't hit us, and wipes his bike out. He goes rolling past me, the bike skids across the road and down the mountain. My father in law is freaking out saying it was my fault because I didn't move for the guy. Well, he was doing 50, downhill on a blind corner, and comes in to my lane, and there is absolutely no time to react. How the hell is it that someone crossed in to my lane, almost hits me, and somehow I'm to blame? I'm assuming it was a similar situation here ... there was a blind spot, nobody saw anybody until it was too late, and there was no time to react. It's horrible, but it does happen.

At any rate, it's tragic, and I feel for the families and wish them the best.

Thanks all of you for your thoughts.  I appreciate it and I'm passing it on to the family. 

Yeah, sometimes bad situations happen and everyone has to deal with it.  Sometimes it's not a matter of "Guilt", but just something tragic that happens.  I don't have any idea what will happen in the court system or whether a lawyer will take the civil case pro bono (I hope so).  Right now, I think the family is reeling from the event and trying to get through the next day.

That sounds good, Randy.  Thanks.  I've always tried to avoid the legal system (and its lawyers), so I miss out on some of the benefits.  I tend to think of that as walking in front of the Eye of Sauron, jumping up and down, and yelling, "I've got your stupid ring right here!" 

Hi Bubba,
 I worked in the bicycle industry for 15 years and I have advocated for bicycle and pedestrian rights for most of my life.
 I feel a great sense of solidarity with motorcyclists.

 I have been friends with or closely acquainted with over 4 dozen people who have died by being struck with an automobile while riding a bicycle. Each incident was a unique event that happened for reasons that varied from simple to complicated.

 One of my dearest friend's wife was run over and crippled while standing on a side walk while she was waiting for a cross walk light to change. She was standing right where we are supposed to stand and wait.

 Back when I was 21 or so I was smashed by a Ford 150 Van. In that case there were at least a dozen, probably many more, witnesses who saw the van run a red light and smash my head and shoulder to bits.

Unfortunately everyone but the driver of the van drove away and left me in the road while we waited for an ambulance. The only reason I survived is that I was an athlete in top form and had the resilience to ride it out.


 It took me over a year to regain memory of the incident and to become sure of the sequence of events.

 The great irony is that the only person who stopped to help me and the only person who visited with me during my convalescence and offered help was the driver of the van. He was shaken up terribly and I imagine he still remembers the moment every time he sees a light turn red.

 He claimed that he really didn't know what happened and I surely didn't know at the time. It took a long time for me to remember that I was actually sitting at a red light and didn't start through the intersection until it turned green. It took me a long time to realize and understand that the driver had blown the red light at full speed and bashed into me with full force.

 I don't know if the driver ever got over the horror of seeing me smash into his wind shield with my face... but it seemed like he was truly and deeply disturbed by what he did remember.

 For my part I was young, healthy and without responsibility to a family so I made use of my health insurance, which paid for my medical bills, and decided to focus on the fact that I was alive.

 The only mention of a suit was when the Van's insurance company tried to sue me for damage to the actual vehicle... they pulled that stunt 5 years after the event, but that didn't last very long.

 I have lived with a permanent limp caused by nerve damage in my neck that has permanently contracted the muscles in my left leg, and a right eye that likes to squint. I get neck and head aches with frequency since that incident. My girl friends at the time observed that my permanent happy face smile was reduced to an occasional grimace.

 Having lived through that has made me both ornery and compassionate.



 I have learned that at times like this it is vital for all parties to seek out good representation.



 I feel that Christopher's family should seek as much compensation as possible but I feel that this can be done without losing compassion for the driver of the jeep.

 In this case the driver was stopped and waiting to turn. A motor cycle, in the dark, was approaching with a single headlight and perhaps two running lights. It's very difficult to ascertain both the distance and speed of an oncoming motor cycle in this circumstance. Add to that the curve in the road and any other distractions caused by other cars and you have a great potential for a tragedy to occur.

 I can't help but suspect that the driver of the jeep is telling the truth when he says that he never saw the bike coming.

 This is exactly what insurance and civil courts are for and I hope that Christopher's family will receive support through those mechanisms.

 I am an advocate of public, or social safety nets, and while I've never availed myself of any social benefits like unemployment, disability, or social security I hope that there will be some support through those types of  mechanisms for Christopher's family.


 I am gladdened to see that even during your period of grief that you are willing to consider that there may be more to the circumstance than may seem obvious.

 I feel that this has been a great tragedy but the fact that reason hasn't been abandoned makes me optimistic that Christopher's family may take some very small comfort in knowing that they have true and sincere friends to call on during the times of need they are facing.


 Wishing you the very best,
mike

Thanks again for the kind words.  Mike, I am sorry you had to endure so much pain from your injuries.  I'm glad you were able to come through it with some perspective and clarity.

There's a bumper sticker, maybe some of you have it on your cars; "Have you seen a motorcycle today? Look again!"

I'm glad it's working.  I don't know why it wasn't yesterday.  Thanks for checking again.