Most common injury

[OrangevaleFJR]

41. Seventy-three percent of the accident-involved motorcycle riders used no eye protection, and it is likely that the wind on the unprotected eyes contributed in impairment of vision which delayed hazard detection.

nice. "I didn't see that stupid cager that didn't see me."

 

[Toecutter]

From Friday's paper:

A Superior Court jury on Thursday rejected a Fresno family's $5.6 million claim against Fresno County, saying the county was not responsible for the death of a motorcycle rider who crashed on a curvy foothill road in September 2004.
Ihab Abouelfittouh, 41, was killed when his motorcycle ran off Watts Valley Road and hit an exposed culvert east of Fresno.

Jurors agreed the exposed culvert was dangerous because it was about a foot from the roadway. But they also said Fresno County was not at fault because the dangerous condition was not foreseeable.

The panel voted 12-0 to refuse economic and general damages to Abouelfittouh's wife, Kimberly, and two children.

The civil trial in Judge Bruce Smith's courtroom examined Fresno County's practice of maintaining hundreds of miles of meandering foothill roads, many of them former wagon trails.

Abouelfittouh was a rising Caltrans civil engineer who was responsible for delivering transportation projects for counties throughout Central California. Lawyers agreed Abouelfittouh was traveling north on Watts Valley Road, going 50 mph in a 55 mph zone, when he ran off the east side of the road and hit a metal drainage culvert Sept. 24, 2004.

He was thrown from his 2002 Yamaha 1100cc motorcycle and had massive head injuries despite wearing a helmet and other protective gear. He died at the scene.

After the verdict, the family's lawyer, Rick Watters, said he respected the jury's decision. The county's lawyers, James Weakley and Leslie Dillahunty, also praised the panel.

"It was a tragic case and difficult because Mr. Abouelfittouh was a likable man," Weakley said.

Jurors told Weakley that three main factors played a role in their decision:

Abouelfittouh was considered a novice rider — he purchased his motorcycle, which he nicknamed "The Black Panther," in May 2004, about five months before the accident.

Before the fatal ride, the organizer of the trip had sent Abouelfittouh and the others an e-mail that said Watts Valley Road has lots of curves so "riders should ride in their comfort level."

Many or all of the Caltrans employees who rode with Abouelfittouh are experts on road designs. But none of them called Fresno County after the accident to say Watts Valley Road is dangerous.

I wonder what kind of helmet? I've been up that road, and there aren't many places where it's safe to go 55, much less 50.

Edit- That part just sounds wrong. I should have said "much less 50 in the corners"

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

From Friday's paper:

Many or all of the Caltrans employees who rode with Abouelfittouh are experts on road designs. But none of them called Fresno County after the accident to say Watts Valley Road is dangerous.

I wonder what kind of helmet? I've been up that road, and there aren't many places where it's safe to go 55, much less 50.

I wonder why people have to blame someone else when they, or someone they loved makes a mistake. My heart goes out to the guy's family and I hope they recover from their loss with health. However, running off a road on a motorcycle is the motorcyclist's fault. There are plenty of places where there are trees, cliffs, concrete walls and other hard things that will kill a rider on the side of the road. If a motorcyclist running off the road and hitting something is the government's fault, then I don't think we should be able to use the roads until we sign a release form. Sorry, but why the heck should tax payers pay for this guy's mistake? All the time and effort put into that case was a waste and I really hope that as a part of the loss, that the family has to pay the governmnent's costs for that case. Pisses me right off.

When I was making software for insurance carriers, there was a case where 11 illegal aliens were killed as their truck, that was running from police, rolled while going around a turn. Their families sued San Diego county for not properly marking the corner that they couldn't negotiate during their run from the cops. The insurance company won the case, but only after over $40K in legal fees. Crap.

We need something reformed. I think BikerSkier should organize it. :cownoy:

 

[Toynut]

OK, everybody,.......... the title of this thread was " MOST COMMON INJURY", ........... right?

Then I would have to argue unequivocally, that in practically all bike accidents, particularly those self-inflicted ones, you can count on someone coming home with a .....................

[SIZE=14pt]Bruised Ego![/SIZE]