Wear Your Gear!

[Firehawk068]

The other day(strangely, the same day as John went down) I went to visit one of my co-workers in the hospital.....
The story that was told, was that a kid, driving an oncoming car, turned left directly in front of my co-worker. Said motorcycle rider didn't have any time to react, and smashed into the side of the car. Rider, and bike flipped over the hood of the car, and onto the pavement..........This happened last Saturday.

Driver of the car was ticketed for failure to yield.  Rider broke all his ribs on one side, punctured a lung, wrecked his arm, and back(worse than it already was)
And some rash on his forhead where his head hit the windshield of the car.......He was discharged from the hospital yesterday, but will be going back for multiple back surgeries, and other recovery checkups, and physical therapy.

He was extremely lucky, and this could've ended much, much worse............I called him a stupid idiot(among other things) As the pictures show, he was riding with his helmet, NOT on his head where it belongs, but strapped to the back of his motorcycle.........He said that he was just running an errand to the store up the street from his fiance's brother's house, and didn't bother to put it on.

I offered to go pick up the bike from where it was brought from the accident last night, and this morning I brought it down to the Harley shop where it will be repaired........
Initially, the bike doesn't look all that bad, except for some banged, and bent up externals........The front wheel wasn't pushed far enough back to jam against the frame, and it rolled freely........



Kinda looks like a Cafe Racer from this angle......







Helmet is still strapped right where it was during the accident, and has paint on it from the car.



Please wear your gear people..........I know, to some people, it's about freedom, and choice, but I don't know one person that enjoys the feel of the open road......................on their face!

[yamaha fj rider]

Wow glad your friend was not hurt any worse, as in dirt nap. When I want "the feel of the open road on my face". I open the face shield!!!!

Kurt

[mst3kguy]

but the irony is that he wasn't wearing a helmet, but didn't have a brain injury.  and i don't know any gear that will prevent a back injury.  i'm not trying to play devil's advocate (as an aerostich wearer for almost 15 years), but i always tell my friends that my stich will prevent road rash, but i don't know that it's gonna prevent broken ribs, legs, arms, or a back.  (and i have the 4 fractured ribs to prove it)...  but yes, wear your gear.  as andy the pugh from the old netpath list said, wear those gloves.  if you bugger up your hands, you can't eat, you can't type, you can't wipe your ass. ( :

[Firehawk068]

but the irony is that he wasn't wearing a helmet, but didn't have a brain injury.  and i don't know any gear that will prevent a back injury.  i'm not trying to play devil's advocate (as an aerostich wearer for almost 15 years), but i always tell my friends that my stich will prevent road rash, but i don't know that it's gonna prevent broken ribs, legs, arms, or a back.  (and i have the 4 fractured ribs to prove it)...  but yes, wear your gear.  as andy the pugh from the old netpath list said, wear those gloves.  if you bugger up your hands, you can't eat, you can't type, you can't wipe your ass. ( :

Agreed..........I don't believe any amount of gear could have prevented any of his internal injuries.(aside from one of those grizzly bear attack suits) Impact is a bitch!.......
He definately should thank his lucky stars for not receiving any head injuries, just a raspberry on his forehead.