Posted On: June 19, 2006, 4:54 am CDT

Posted By: Ray Henke

Capt Bly hit it on the head. Indeed fully two-thirds of multi-vehicle motorcycle accidents are the result of the inattention and negligence of auto drivers, mostly intersections accidents following which the auto driver will comonly say "I didn't see the motorcycle." This is NOT due to the mith of motorcycle "lack of conspicuity." Motorcycle are just as visible as cars at the distance at which a car pulling out from a side street or turning left at an intersection would pose a threat to the motorcyclist. The problem is auto driver inattention, and a major contributing factor to auto driver inattention is that they don't see motorcycles as a threat to them in the same way they see cars, trucks and busses as a threat to them.
Indeed, it is the auto drivers and their insurance companies who should pay for the motorcyclists medical expenses. Unfortunately most auto drivers are woefully underinsured to pay for the injuries and damages they cause when they hit a biker. Furthermore, auto drivers do not see it as their moral responsibility to pay for the injuries and damages they've caused to the biker above and beyond the limits of their insurance policies. This is contemptable, and that is the problem. It is absurd that insurance companies and their lacky legislators, and state policy makers pretend that it is the motorcyclists fault or failure to obtain adequate insurance which is the reason why motorcyclist medical expense must sometimes be borne by the state. Shame on them. And right on Capt Bly, for pointing it out.
"M-A-D-D Ray" Henke
Motorcyclists Against Dumb Drivers