Motorcycle accident

horrible, law is so stupid sometimes these days...
for smoking pot you can get a jail time while stealing on big scale like on Wall St
you get bonuses...

I understand your frustration, but that's not nearly the end of it.

The "government" in this case was probably only a city officer.  the city police department will not (and should not) be the final "evaluation" of their lives.

Wrongful death in civil courts would likely be the best venue for this type of human "evaluation" of their lives.

Insurance will also be highly involved.  If he received a ticket for it then he is at fault for the accident.  Insurance companies will now negotiate over coverage and how little they can get away with, but it will still be a much bigger sum than $75.

I'm sorry for you son's friend's and her father's life.  That is a great tragedy and it sounds obvious that the driver of the Jeep was at fault.  I offer my prayers to all involved.

Absolutely right, Mesh. 

UB,

If there is somewhere I can make a donation please let me know. It's the least I can do.

As a lifelong motorcyclist this is, so unfortunately, not at all an unusual story.  I agree with Beags...and there are many lawyers who only take a percentage of any settlement with no upfront costs.  So sorry to hear of this tragic loss.

that is very sad indeed, UB.  My heart goes out to the family and friends.

Here in NC, the biker advocacy group called ABATE lobbied and got much tougher laws on the books..... It's known as "Kill a biker... Go to jail" Unfortunately, that doesn't help the biker very much. 

Unfortunately, in many bike accidents involving any other vehicle, the bike always loses. And the excuse is always that they didn't see the bike. 

I was riding on the interstate with my daughter on the back one day coming home from a bike event. I was riding in the "slow lane" on the interstate approaching an exit. My exit was still a few more miles up the road. A lady in an SUV came up beside me and was slightly ahead of me in the "fast lane" to my left.... she had just ....almost ....passed me.  She suddenly realized that the exit quickly approaching to the right was HER EXIT...... and without warning, she started over on me....and my daughter.  

A bike horn is not loud....and so she kept coming.... all this was at 70mph and in a matter of seconds. My only hope for survival rested in a quick maneuver off the side of the highway onto the shoulder while braking carefully so as not to skid or wipe out..... she kept going like I wasn't even there...straight across the lane and down the ramp. Had I not been paying attention I would have been plowed under by her.....along with my daughter..... and she would have claimed she didn't see me. 

I didn't like riding with cars beside me before...or after that for that very reason. 

Stop signs and intersections are always dangerous places for bikes. Right of way means nothing..... if you're on a bike and another vehicle takes the right of way....

I somehow missed Bapu's post regarding donations...

Perhaps if the church is starting a fund, the church address might be a good option, along with the full name of the dad who was killed.  That should be enough to enable the funds to get to the surviving family members.

8:53 p.m., the time reported as that of the accident's occurrence, was approximately 1 hours and 45 minutes after sundown at the location where the accident took place.


It may also be useful to note that the intersection where the tragedy occurred is on a curve in the road.

http://goo.gl/maps/e6CV0


The best I can determine is that the speed limit on that section of road is 45-55mph but if you look around on the internet you can find evidence that local citizen groups have been complaining that this section of route 47 has no effective speed limit enforcement and that speeding in that area has been problematic for some time.

Here's a criticism of that very stretch of route 47, 2 miles south of Woodstock Il., which is exactly where the accident occurred. The blog post is dated Sept 23, 2009.

http://woodstockadvocate....7-why-in-lakewood.html

"Most people around here know that the speed limit is enforced in Bull Valley. As a result, drivers generally slow down in Bull Valley and don't exceed the posted speed limit.

On Highway 47 south of Woodstock and on Highway 14 between Woodstock and Crystal Lake, it's a whole different story. Basically, there is no enforcement on Highway 47"




It is also evident that there have been several similar motorcycle automobile accidents at that intersection.

People seem to have pulled out and made left turns in front of motorcycles on several occasions.



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.





Just last year my dear friend Dave Baton was run down and killed while riding his bicycle along side his 10 year old son. I've known Dave longer than I've known my wife. He was a dear friend but at the time we, his family of friends, felt it was very important that we avoid vilifying the driver of the car until an investigation was finalized. We still don't really know what happened at the decisive moment but I am glad, for myself and my friends, to have retained compassion for all involved instead of jumping to conclusions in the absence of actual knowledge of the facts.


I think it's shameful that some have jumped to the conclusions displayed here but it is heartening to see that some are willing to lend support to at least some of the survivors.


regards,
mike






edited spelling and grammar.

It's a horrible and tragic story.
 
My sincere condolences.

I agree that I don't have all the facts.  I wasn't there.  I'm only relaying the accounts as I recieved them.  I'm told that the bike was not speeding or swerving across lanes.  I'm told that the bike was not driving erratically or in an unpredictable manner.  Am I guilty of villifying the driver of the Jeep?  If so, that was not my intent. 

As a driver, he was responsible to look before pulling out into the intersection.  I don't know why he didn't see the bike.  Perhaps he was distracted.  Perhaps he glanced quickly, didn't see the bike, and pulled out.  Perhaps he was in a hurry.  I don't know.  When you're behind the wheel, you're responsible to put all that other garbage aside and watch where you're going.  It's simple. 

I'm sure it's a devastating thing to live with the knowledge that your actions resulted in the deaths of two people.  I can't imagine how I would respond in that situation.  I hope I never have to find out.  I'm sure this driver feels horrible.  That pales in significance, in my opinion, to the loss the family feels. 

In my completely useless and worthless opinion, I think driving a vehicle comes with a heavy and serious responsibility to safeguard other people's lives.  I tell my kids that getting behind the wheel is assuming responsibility for a lethal weapon.  I don't think there are very many people who care about this.  The vast majority I see act like they have no concern for other people at all.

Am I a bad person for assigning blame to the driver of the Jeep in this case?  Could be.  The fact is, he pulled out into an intersection and ran over a motorcycle.  If it turns out that there is some mitigating circumstance that makes that okay, then I can rethink that position.  Since I can't imagine such a circumstance, I'm left with my original assessment. 

No, I don't have all the facts.  We probably will never have all the facts.  Given that the people killed were not wealthy, there will probably be no serious investigation.  Given that there have been accidents there before, there will probably be no investigation.  Given the fact that the police are mostly ineffective, there will be no noticable change in the future.  Given the fact that speed limits in Illinois are selectively enforced and the populace generally disregards them, there will be no change. 

I'm not saying the driver is a murderer and deserves to die.  I'm not saying he's a bad person.  I'm just saying that his actions resulted in the deaths of two people and there should be more accountability than a $75 lane change ticket.  I don't know what the correct charges and penalty should be.  I don't know if he should be charged with vehicular manslaughter, reckless driving, or something else.  I don't know what the appropriate penalties should be, either.  I don't believe that holding him accountable is villifying him in any way.

Of course, this is all just my opinion.  Feel free to disregard as you see fit.

I've asked for an updated link or alternate link just in case.  If I get an alternate, I'll let you all know.  Thanks for your concern.

PS, Mike, I re-read my previous post and it sounds harsh.  It was not intended to be.  I agree with you that we should not rush to judgement and villify someone in a misguided search for "justice". 

UbiquitousBubba


Last week, a man and his 16 year old girl were riding a motorcycle not far from my neighborhood.  Neither of them were wearing helmets.  This guy, Chris, was an experienced rider who rode all the time. 
 
There was no alcohol or drugs involved.  It was daylight, clear weather, with no obstructions.  Chris and his daughter, Alyssa, were travelling straight through an intersection and a Jeep heading the other direction was waiting to turn left.  The driver of the Jeep said he never saw the bike.  Witnesses said that he just pulled out and ran over the bike. 
 
Alyssa landed on the back of her neck.  She was pronounced brain-dead at the scene.  Chris was coherent for about 5 minutes, then took a sharp decline.  He died 15 minutes later.  Police said they would have died even if they had worn helmets.
 
I know about this accident only because Alyssa was a good friend of one of my sons.  We went to the memorial service this weekend.  My kids are processing it and are doing fine.  (They're much more mature at their age than I was.)
 
The driver of the Jeep received a ticket for an improper lane change.
 
That's all.  Two people died, and he only got a ticket.  I've gotten in more trouble with parking permits.
 
Fortunately, the Government is able to accurately asses the value of human life.  2 of them are worth $75. 

Sorry to hear this Bubba, good thoughts for you and yours and the family.

I'm so sorry to hear of this tragedy and some of the others in this thread.  

If the driver has any conscience at all, he/she is looking forward to many sleepless nights even if no charges are filed or suits brought.  

My thoughts are with the family.