We may not like it, but I think this is just one of the realities of riding a motorcycle. It is just a fact that we are not as easy to see as most of the other traffic out there on the roads and some drivers do not pay as much attention to the road as they should. There is little the courts or 'the man' can do to change this fact. Whenever human beings operate motor vehicles and bikes, stuff like this is going to happen.

I don't like it either but instead of looking for The Man to solve the problem and make things right, I think we should use such incidents as a call to increase our own vigilance. I think it would be more productive than calling for regulations or some other type of scenario that puts the onus for our own safety on someone or something else. I wouldn't try to rely on anyone or anything but yourself to ensure your own safety--sure as heck not the gubment.

Then there are situations where, despite all of our attempts to ride safe, someone can probably still take us out in a heartbeat, at any time. If we can't accept, or don't know that this is a possibility, we probably should not be riding a motorcycle I guess. So, I guess I always find it surprising when these posts come up and people act surprised that such things happen or something.

 

You musta' had help figuring that out.YEAH,it's a lot easier to scream "damn cagers" than it is to fess up to reality.If somebody turns left in front of you,and you are killed,YOU blew it. Period.

 

I totally agree. If it didn't, maybe these drivers would be taken off the road.

 

You don't know that. The guy who got me, stopped on a rural road like he was waiting for me to pass. What do you do when the left turner is sitting there like he is waiting. Do you stop every time or do you proceed?

 

Condolences to family and friends.

You stop or you take a chance. People don't see us. I was going down an suburban street behind two cars. Side streets on both sides. Mini van on the left waiting for me and the cars to go by so he can turn onto our street going our direction. Both cars go past and idiot in the mini can pulls out. There was just enough room between his front bumper and the curb for me to get through. How he didn't see me I'll never know. We did have a short, not so friendly conversation immediately afterwards where I let him know I didn't appreciate his lack of vision.

Bottom line is never trust the other guy.

 

In some cases vehicular manslaughter is charged, especially if the driver is DUI. But remember the left turner has the right to a jury trial with 12 peers who probably are not riders. They will "see" the sad circumstances as an "accident" and find the left turner not guilty. It's a waste of time for the prosecutor.
The remedy is in civil court where the family of the deceased rider should sue the left turner and their insurance for millions.

 

I'm pretty sure the Hurt report identified this as the scenario that kills the most motorcyclists when two vehicles are involved.
I lost a friend a couple of summers ago to the same type accident.Going to work one morning,a 90 year old lady turned into his path-claimed she didn't see him.
Be careful out there...

 

What really bothers me is the way our local media here in Phoenix reports car/motorcycle accidents. You never read or hear "the car turned in front of the motorcyclist". Instead, they report that the motorcycle "rammed the side of the car", as if the rider was on a kamikaze mission. While both versions are technically correct, one more accurately describes the situation better than the other.

I think saying "I didn't see the motorcycle" should be prima facie evidence of negligence and should be followed with a negligent manslaughter charge instead of a failure to yield citation.

 

I read somewhere they did a study & that when a cager looks to the left he/she is looking for cars & that a motorcycle does'nt "register" in their brain and they actually don't "see" it. This has been used by defense attorneys, to me, that is total bullshit, if you are looking as you should ,& you see something is HAS to register in your brain.

 

If you read the story, the accident happened just before 6am. I would think it was dark enough for the headlight to be seen...hmmm makes you think