The bad news-- My brother was in a motorcycle accident

[ScreamingMeemie]

The good news- he was able to walk away. Well, sort of.

A man cut over three lanes of traffic and slammed right into him, sending him flying over the handlebars. Amazingly he has only a gash on his chin and swelling in another...um... place.

I am grateful that the fates were looking out for him that day. He has a beautiful little boy that needs his daddy. I worry about him often, on his bike, because of the lane sharing laws in CA and the fact that mamy people driving there (tourists, business travelers) are unfamiliar with those laws. He doesn't rid his bike as often as he used to. Since the birth of my nephew, he bought a car. He was attempting to save gas $$ by riding his bike.

My other brother refuses to drive in CA.

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Egads! I'm glad he was able to walk away from it.

The big reason I won't drive a motorcycle on the road is that too many drivers are too fucking dumb to drive to begin with, and far too many don't give a rat's ass about motorcycles or bicycles.

I'm glad your bro is as okay as he is!

Tell him to stay in his car.

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. I told him to sell it.

He's got a great little car now, after years of using LA public transportation. I told him to go back to that if he wants to save gas.

[Radio_Lady]

68. Motorcycle accidents are frequently the WORST!

The GD helmet saves little or nothing.

When Grandpa Al fell off a ladder in 1995, his bedmate was a motorcyclist who hit a wall at 35 MPH.

The next day, his bed was empty. He didn't make it...

Hope your brother takes your advice.

Cordially,

Radio Lady in Hawaii

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear MrsGrumpy!

Oh, thank goodness, he's OK!

I'll bet he was wearing his helmet...

I remember having a patient once who was a motorcyclist...

He stopped riding it when he moved into LA and after he had a very serious accident...

I took care of him in ICU...

He said (and your story verifies this) that it's just too damn dangerous to ride a motorcycle in the urban areas...

:hug:

[lost-in-nj]

3. I am so happy he could walk away

not happy about motorcycles though....

they scare the crap out of me




:hug:

lost

[UTUSN]

4. Sorry for the bad news, glad for the good. Since they're YOUR brothers, I'm sure they are

intelligent and WEAR HELMETS. Every time I see bikers without helmets, which is more often than not, I think of the people in comas that started in their 20s/30s because they DIDN'T wear them.

[democracyindanger]

42. Hell, don't stop at helmets

Armored jacket, gloves and eye protection too. I once caught a bumblebee with my forehead at 30 mph because I left my visor open. An inch down and I probably would've lost an eye.

[Haole Girl]

5. I'm so glad he's alright

When I lived in So. California, a man I worked with hit a man on his motorcycle on the freeway while changing lanes.... and said, "I didn't even see the motorcycle." Fortunately, that man survived also. As much as I love motorcycles, I wouldn't dare ride one on the freeways of So. CA... at least, not between the lanes!

:hug:

[GOPisEvil]

7. I work for an insurance company that insures motorcycles.

I've seen and heard too much from my co-workers that work those claims. I doubt you'll see me on a motorcycle, except maybe off-road. There are too many idiots on the roads to ride a bike in the city.

Ack! I neglected to mention that I'm happy your brother is mostly unhurt.

[GreenPartyVoter]

19. I remember an episode of ER that referred to them as "donor-cycles"

[supernova]

20. I sometimes fantasize about

riding a big Hog.... but then I remember that there are other people on the road.

:P


:yoiks:

[GreenPartyVoter]

21. Rent a racetrack for a day LOL

[Gidney N Cloyd]

8. Glad he's OK!

I've had drivers look me right in the eye at intersections and still proceed to nearly knock me over. They see us but we somehow don't register.

[LeftyMom]

10. That happened to me on a bicycle.

Clear day, perfect visibility, light traffic. The woman looked straight at me, nodded, and proceeded to plow right into me. Then she backed up, and tried to pull out into traffic again with my bike still wedged in her grill.

There were a dozen witnesses who all backed that up, and somehow I wound up with a ticket for unsafe crossing. :eyes:

[LeftyMom]

9. I'm glad he's okay.

:hug:

The only accident I've ever been in was on a motorcycle, luckily a very minor one but still pretty scary. Some old woman wasn't watching where she was going and hit my Dad's bike while he was giving me a ride back from the mall- I was maybe eight. His bike wasn't messed up real bad (she took out a tail light and dinged the tins a bit) but he was livid that her inattention had put his little girl at risk. Honestly, I think if the driver in the car hadn't been ancient and a woman, somebody would have had to go bail him out for assault.

My Dad rides out here on a pretty regular basis, when I was younger he often relied on his motorcycle when his car was on the blink, but thankfully he does his daily driving in a big safe tank of a car and only takes his bike out on a recreational basis anymore. He hasn't had a serious accident (just the one above, and the time back in the 70's when he did a wheelie and dumped my shirtless godfather onto the highway because there are no backrests on that bike :eyes: ) but I don't really trust people's driving out here.

[ScreamingMeemie]

30. That's the thing, it's the other people out there.

:hug:

Every last cookie was enjoyed by the way. Thanks again.

[supernova]

11. OMG! So glad he

walked away.

:hug:

[flvegan]

12. I'm glad he's okay.

I toyed with the idea of getting a motorcycle in the last year, but it seems that since then I've heard way too many stories like your bro's. I went with a four wheel toy instead.

[LeftyMom]

15. Plus the drivers down there make drivers here look safe and competent.

I don't need the insurance money that bad.

[ScreamingMeemie]

31. Smart choice. He is a very safe and educated driver and still...

the idiots on the road. Plus, I hate the fact that CA has lane sharing.

[Gormy Cuss]

13. Glad he's okay, but the lane splitting law is just asking for trouble

for the reasons you stated and more -- even resident drivers are surprised by the lane splitters.

[JVS]

14. Jesus!

[GreenPartyVoter]

16. I am glad he is ok!!! I would be terrified if my bro had one. I know of someone

who had a terrible accident last year. He survived, but only barely and is brain damaged now. I think his parents take care of him full-time now.

[lildreamer316]

17. Oh! That's how I lost my first fiance. I'm so glad he's ok!!!

I was with my first fiance for over 8 years...lost him to a wreck in may of 2001. He was a very astute rider; it was another bike's fault.

I am so very glad you brother is ok!! :hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

32. I am so sorry for your loss, lildreamer.

That had to be horrendous.

[lildreamer316]

40. It was...

..surreal.
I kept saying to myself,"someday it will be better"....
It is, actually, better now, but it was very, very slow to be so.
I've been lucky enough to find love twice in one lifetime, and it is very healing.
I hope someday it will be at least incrimentally better for you...:hug:

[pokerfan]

18. Glad to hear it wasn't worse

I don't ride as much as I used to and when I do I steer clear of the freeways. It's just too easy to not be seen. Sure, the other driver violated rules of the road by changing three lanes all at once but that is little comfort to a victim who might be maimed or worse.

Mostly county roads and state routes for me and I always assume that no one sees me. It's not a commuter option for me.

Picture of my bike:

[Ptah]

22. I heard somewhere that evel knievel wouldn't ride on the street - too dangerous.

I'm glad your brother has only minor injuries.

:hi:

[DainBramaged]

23. OMG, an angel caught him

All my best to him. Did the bike get destroyed? Did they get the driver that hit him????

[SOteric]

24. I'm so glad he's relatively unharmed.

:hug:

And tell that boy to sell his damned motorcycle before he gets his foolass killed.

[ScreamingMeemie]

28. I've been begging him for two decades now...hopefully this, and the

fact that he has a son will encourage him to keep on 4 wheels. :hug:

[av8rdave]

25. So glad he is OK. If he hasn't done so...

and he still plans to ride, encourage him to take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation advanced rider safety course. It's inexpensive, a lot of fun, gives you a break on your insurance rates, and no matter how experienced you are, very valuable. Gets you to think about things you might not normally, and teaches some great avoidance and escape strategies.

All the best to him (and you)

[ScreamingMeemie]

27. He's been riding for over 20 years and is very safe. In fact, it was

his quick thinking and slowing down that probably saved his life.

Thanks av8dave

[av8rdave]

35. That's good. FWIW, I've been riding for 41 years, and still find the course helpful!

[lildreamer316]

41. ! I took that course..they said the rate for wrecks for graduates

was !!90%!! better than for those that had not taken it!

[ScreamingMeemie]

53. My intent was not to get into a p*ssing contest. I just wanted to outline

that he is not a novice at motorcycles. I am sorry if you took it that way.

[av8rdave]

60. Oh., not at all!

I didn't see it as a pissing contest at all. I probably didn't word my post as well as I could have. I just wanted to mention that even though he is highly experienced, he will get some benefit from it.

They offer both a beginners and an advanced course. The beginners wouldn't be of much use, but the advanced definitely would be. It's not just a classroom experience. You also go out on a riding course (with your own motorcycle) and practice a lot of stuff - countersteers, rapid stops, rapid stops in a turn, etc. Stuff you really can't practice out on the open road.

Most importantly, I'm so glad to hear he wasn't hurt badly!

[In_The_Wind]

26. I'm so happy to hear that he walked away with only minor injuries.

Sounds like the bike isn't in very good shape. Maybe he won't be riding it again anytime soon.


:hi::hug::loveya:

[ScreamingMeemie]

52. Hi Joani

Thanks. I don't know what he is going to do with it. He just sold his old bike. This one he bought about 3 years ago, right before his son made his impending appearance known. I hope he sticks with a car for now.

[In_The_Wind]

54. Good Morning Mrs.G!

Hopefully he will stay off of two wheels until his son grows up.

:hi::loveya:

[UrbScotty]

29. Glad to hear.

With all that you've had to go through, it's a VERY good thing he is okay.

[ScreamingMeemie]

51. Thank you Ih8

He was afraid to tell me about it at first, but I wouldn't have wanted to not know about it either. This way I can smother from afar.

[ikojo]

33. Sounds like your brother was wearing the right

gear for riding a motorcycle. I am glad he was able to walk away.

Why should he sell his bike though? Would people stop driving if they were involved in a car accident?

[ScreamingMeemie]

36. Because I'm his sister...and that's how sisters are.

[auntAgonist]

34. I'm so glad your brother is alright!

:hug:

aA
kesha

[ScreamingMeemie]

50. Thanks aA.

I hope things are well with you. I appreciate your comments and support on the blog so very much.

[NC_Nurse]

37. Thank God he's okay!

Motorcycles scare me, the rider is so exposed to injury - and at high speed! :scared:

[ScreamingMeemie]

49. They scare me too.

Even though he is careful, the road is full of people who are not.

[KitchenWitch]

38. My thoughts, prayers, and well wishes go out to your brother.

:hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

48. Thank you KW.

I hope you are well.

[Missy Vixen]

39. MrsGrumpy, thank God he's okay

I am so grateful that the injuries are minor, and that he's still with his little boy.

I think about you every day, and I send all love and comfort.

Julie

[ScreamingMeemie]

47. I appreciate that.

Right now, I just pretend I am someone else to get through the day. It's all I can do. I hope you are well.

[Sugar Smack]

43. Wow. I'm glad to hear your brother walked away from that.

It's amazing how perilous the road can be. People who simply don't pay attention and cut over multiple lanes of traffic... I hope he'll be okay in the long run. He sounds like a sturdy guy. :-)

[ScreamingMeemie]

46. Injuries were very minor.

It's just that the one "injury" is in a spot that his 2 and half foot boy keeps bumping into all the time.

[terrya]

44. I'm so glad he's ok, MrsG

I'm so fearful of motorcycles...for this reason.

:hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

45. Thanks Terry.

:hug: I always worry about him and the motorcycle. He's very safe, it's just the other people I worry about.

[FloridaJudy]

55. I'm sorry about the accident

But glad your brother will be okay.

I used to ride, but saw the results of too many motorcycle accidents as a nurse. At least a car offers some protection.

[Tektonik]

56. Good thing he's ok, now put that bike on craigslist

:hug:

[1gobluedem]

57. So glad he's all right

How scary, though.

:hi:

[1gobluedem]

58. Delete -- dupe

[LostinVA]

59. I'm glad he's okay

:hug:

[BarenakedLady]

61. I'm glad he is ok.

Motorcycles scare me.

:hug:

[Magrittes Pipe]

62. Damn. I'm glad he's okay.

:hug:

[Ava]

63. i'm glad to hear he is ok!

:pals:

[malta blue]

64. I am so glad he was able to walk away with only

minor injuries :hug:

[applegrove]

65. I'd be worried about anyone in my family biking too. Glad he is okay.

[easttexaslefty]

66. I am so glad your brother is okay n/t

[devilgrrl]

67. And here I'm thinking about buying a scooter....

:scared:

Glad your brother is okay. :hug:

[SharonRB]

69. Glad to hear he's okay, MrsG

:hi:

[PsciStudent]

70. best wishes

I've got a bike myself and this is one of the things I'm most afraid of. So many times people just don't get to walk away from that sort of accident.

[Parche]

71. big hug

Glad he is ok

:hug: :hug:

:hi:

[guitar man]

72. glad to hear he's ok

I've been riding over 30 years and you never know when the next time you're going down is. It happens to the best of us and wearing the right gear, being proficient with your machine and riding at safe and sane speeds is the key to surviving when you do. :hi: :hug: