another officer down

[seattledyna]

Once again a Rancho Cordova motor officer was hit by a car turning left into him, third one in a few months!

here is the story,

http://www.kcra.com/news/18319184/detail.html

[Coyote]

Always a tragedy of course. This officer was on his way to work, not in pursuit. Cagers do this stuff all the time. Riders have to watch constantly.

[Flat Dog]

I hope one of these organizations eventually can get hurting a biker by pulling this stunt can get it turned into more than a citation offense some day. I swear that if I get leftied again, I am emptying my clip at the moron right of way violator.

[skeets]

A bud I work with, his daughter is a motor officer in Maryland I forget the city,, any way last year a car BACKED OUT in front of her and they were not on a call either,, her left leg was broken between the knee and ankle she is still off work as the bones have not healed like they should,, shes  like  only 27 sucks to be down but at least shes alive,, On a side note the woman that backed out in front of her was an ILLEGAL MEX with 7 out standing warrents and wants on her the passanger was carring a weapon and 2 kilos of grass,,, Just go to show I guess

[Upswept]

Could it be that the driver didn't hear the officer because he was on a BMW??

[Faast Ed]

I hope one of these organizations eventually can get hurting a biker by pulling this stunt can get it turned into more than a citation offense some day. I swear that if I get leftied again, I am emptying my clip at the moron right of way violator.

Has everyone forgotten that bikes are a little harder to see?  I'm all for seeing a more vigilant public, but a person that has nothing to do with motorcycling is not going to be forever on "special lookout" for motorcycles. That just ain't gonna happen.   We have to look out for THEM. Period.  Accept that, or sell your bike.

I had a van back out in front of me that left my brakes squealing as loud as can be. I never hit, but really envisioned my forehead on the side of his van. Miracle is what it was.
I was extremely shook-up.  Much to my surprise I accepted his apology and asked him to be more careful, without screaming at him or throwing punches. (Never would have predicted that part).  Truth is, we are harder to see and ourselves have to be the "more vigilant" drivers.

[someday69]

I agree that we have to ride as if we are invisable.....BUT....if we get lefted and taken out for the count....there should be much more punishment.meated out.....Dam it people should have to pay for there crime's against bikers....I wonder if an officer of the law gets more in the way of re-meed- ee-ation.....

[4DWUDS]

And cars are not the only thing we must watch out for:::

Officers injured during Toy Run event

by Astrid Galvan - Dec. 21, 2008 12:03 PM
The Arizona Republic

Two city of Maricopa police officers were injured in an eight-vehicle collision on Sunday that left half a mile of a highway shut down, according to police.

As many as eight motorcycles collided near Maricopa during a charity event Sunday.

The motorcycle officers, both men, suffered non-life threatening injuries after colliding with a civilian motorcyclist around 10:45 a.m. on State Route 347 near Smith-Enke Road in Maricopa.

The officers and the third person were transported to St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix.

The Arizona Department of Public safety said the officers were participating as escorts for the W. Steven Martin Toy Run at the time of the accident.

State Route 347 at Smith-Enke Road was shut down in both directions pending investigation.

[Faast Ed]

I agree that we have to ride as if we are invisable.....BUT....if we get lefted and taken out for the count....there should be much more punishment.meated out.....Dam it people should have to pay for there crime's against bikers....I wonder if an officer of the law gets more in the way of re-meed- ee-ation.....

I would think, as long as the driver got a ticket (as proof of fault),.....  then cival action can likely make hime broke for the rest of his life (Sue his arse).
Now if he ain't got money, that won't work worth a darn.

[Ken R]

As long as the hundreds of thousands of us (maybe millions) are out there on the roads, there are going to be accidents.  As usual, motorcyclists will get the short end of the stick.  To avoid getting hurt, we have to be vigilant, skillful, and sometimes lucky. 

Glad the officer in this case wasn't injured more seriously or killed.  When they say "not life threatening", though; it seems to reduce the seriousnes.  My guess is that the man is in terrible pain and his family's life has been disrupted.

Whenever I get the chance, I tell non-riders to do more than simply look each way for traffic before pulling out.  Look each way and then look again specifically for motorcycle and bicycles.  I use the word "examine".  You don't want to be the cause of a cyclist's death or injury becuase you "didn't see".

Ken

[FLTRI]

Ken,
Very well put. I agree we are more than 50% responsible for the "lookout", however there will always be "accidents" whereby the motorcyclist was simply invisible for an instant, albeit the wrong instant.
I must confess I have not seen a motorcyclist while driving my cage and moved in his direction only to hear his horn so I corrected in time.
As the economy tightens there will be even more 2 wheelers out there, so hopefully as time wears on we can impress upon our ever-loving? media to help make all the 4 wheelers more aware.

[Baggerlady]

We are always invisible! I always look, and yet my Durango has blind spots at the frame. I started to turn left, and never  did see the pedestrian until I was starting the turn. (He was coming towards me) I have also lost full size pick ups behind my mirrors and door posts in my Western Star, and I always look more than once! So they cannot see us even if they are looking. We always have to look out for them, and be careful! Ride safe!

[HIPPO]

And cars are not the only thing we must watch out for:::

Officers injured during Toy Run event

by Astrid Galvan - Dec. 21, 2008 12:03 PM
The Arizona Republic

Two city of Maricopa police officers were injured in an eight-vehicle collision on Sunday that left half a mile of a highway shut down, according to police.

As many as eight motorcycles collided near Maricopa during a charity event Sunday.

The motorcycle officers, both men, suffered non-life threatening injuries after colliding with a civilian motorcyclist around 10:45 a.m. on State Route 347 near Smith-Enke Road in Maricopa.

The officers and the third person were transported to St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix.

The Arizona Department of Public safety said the officers were participating as escorts for the W. Steven Martin Toy Run at the time of the accident.

State Route 347 at Smith-Enke Road was shut down in both directions pending investigation.

A little more info on how it happened

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/12/21/20081221motorcrash1221.html

[Ken R]

This part just makes me wonder:

"Two other civilians who were behind the officers were injured when they laid down their bikes to avoid running into the officers. They were not hospitalized. "

I submit that it is absolutely impossible to lay your bike down and successfully avoid a crash.   Losing control and sliding on the pavement IS a crash!

Even if a person was capable of "laying his bike down" in the few seconds before a colllision,  what kind of control is left? 
If a person has that kind of time before an impending collision, he/she should be able to properly apply the brakes and stop (or at least slow down significantly) and have a better chance of totally avoiding the impact. 

Sorry, this is one of my pet peeves.

Ken

[RK101]

Something sounds a little fishy with that story they reported. They give you the names of the officers but they never give you the name of the so called civilian who supposedly caused the incident. ? Sounds like maybe the two cops ran into each other and the police don't want the bad publicity put on them. I've ridden with the popo on PGR missions and those guys press it to the limit at times. There good guys, but there are times when you think man that is just plain crazy. I actually saw one splitting lanes going the wrong way with lights flashing. I looked at that three times before I believed what I was seeing.

[03rdkng]

I agree we have to watch out for idiots but when one rolls out in front of you and leaves you for dead in the middle of the highway you might feel a little differently about the responsibility.
In my case I was told other approaching vehicles slowed enough to avoid me but just went around.
Must have been too much leather.
But today I heard a case in CA. where the judge says you can sue the Good Samaritan.
Go figure.

[seattledyna]

"But today I heard a case in CA. where the judge says you can sue the Good Samaritan.
Go figure."


yep, so if you pull someone out of a burning car and injure them by doing so, they can sue you for damages!

[Big Dan]

Another fun part of many "good samaritan laws" is that if you start to render aid/cpr, you must continue until ems arrives. If you start rendering aid and quit, you can be held liable. If you do nothing right from the start, you're okay.

[FLTRI]

Another fun part of many "good samaritan laws" is that if you start to render aid/cpr, you must continue until ems arrives. If you start rendering aid and quit, you can be held liable. If you do nothing right from the start, you're okay.

Just goes with the rest of the cockeyed laws on the books. The most vulnerable to losing everything they own are the same people who step in to aid a person(s) in distress, etc.
Unfriggenbelievable!!!

[Panzer]

Who are the idiots that makes these laws?

Just for example, a few years back they passed a law saying gun manufactures couldn't make more then ten (10) round clips.
(A Beretta had a 15 round clip)
Geeeeze, how the freak does that stop killing somebody?
One bullet does the trick and nine more usually does better?
Just back up the laws already on the books, don't make new ones.

[Diggs223]

Another fun part of many "good samaritan laws" is that if you start to render aid/cpr, you must continue until ems arrives. If you start rendering aid and quit, you can be held liable. If you do nothing right from the start, you're okay.

Just goes with the rest of the cockeyed laws on the books. The most vulnerable to losing everything they own are the same people who step in to aid a person(s) in distress, etc.
Unfriggenbelievable!!!

whats really sad about all this, its not about trying to help for good or bad, its all about cash

[FLTRI]

...and taking greedy advantage of laws and interpretation.

[still_on2_wheels]

Something sounds a little fishy with that story they reported. They give you the names of the officers but they never give you the name of the so called civilian who supposedly caused the incident. ? Sounds like maybe the two cops ran into each other and the police don't want the bad publicity put on them. I've ridden with the popo on PGR missions and those guys press it to the limit at times. There good guys, but there are times when you think man that is just plain crazy. I actually saw one splitting lanes going the wrong way with lights flashing. I looked at that three times before I believed what I was seeing. 

I have ridden that WSM toy run. It is full of folks that have no clue on how to ride. Never again will I ride for that good cause, I just won't risk my neck with the newbies.

Jeff

[crazy joe]

This part just makes me wonder:



I submit that it is absolutely impossible to lay your bike down and successfully avoid a crash.  Losing control and sliding on the pavement IS a crash!

Even if a person was capable of "laying his bike down" in the few seconds before a collision,  what kind of control is left? 
If a person has that kind of time before an impending collision, he/she should be able to properly apply the brakes and stop (or at least slow down significantly) and have a better chance of totally avoiding the impact. 

Sorry, this is one of my pet peeves.

Ken

Depends on the circumstance  I did not avoid the crash  a pickup truck pulled out in front of me years ago   I had no where to go and braked as best I could and went into skid up and "laid it down" and slid under the drivers door and the pavement and was pinned there till someone could lift the bike up so I could pull my leg out then the other as the bike rested on the ground. If I had not Laid it down I would have hit the truck on the driver side with possible head injuries (was not wearing a helmet) probably just dumb luck.  I guess what I'm trying to say is if I had not gone into a skid
and laid it down it could have been alot worse  and yes laying it down is still a crash.
Only got road rash and a real bad cut on my elbow.