My best wishes and hopes go out to both of them, as well as a check.  My husband and I ride a motorcycle and crashing is always a concern.  I heard about this accident a few days ago, he is a friend of a friend of mine.

I work with Brian. We were all devistated after his motorcyle accident.

We were all unawhere, as Brian was, about motorcyle insurance. Brian is an experienced, responsible motorcycle rider. He has been for years. He and Robin were on there way to a birthday party in Cobleskill when a 74yr old woman hit him dead on his left side. The car bumper took the bottom of his leg just below his knee. Robin was thrown from the motorcycle but sustained less injuries. Brian remained in Albany Med for 1 month before he was released.

Of course they retained an attorney, but only to find out that his medical expenses would be covered for only what the woman was insured for. So if she was insured for $50,000 and his medical expenses were $100,000, he was entitled to just the $50,000. You can not sue another person, even if they are at fault in a motorcycle accident in NYS. No Fault also does not come into play if you are in an accident with a motorcycle. They are considered recreational vehicles. His own motorcycle insurance covers the other person if they sustained injuries resulting from an accident.

Brian will obviously need a prostetic for the rest of his life which will cost anywhere from $10,000 to $12,000/year. His BC/BS insurance pays only $1,000 toward a prostetic per year. So that is what this Benefit/Poker Run was for. To help pay for his medical expenses and prostetic.

So for anyone who rides a motorcycle or knows anyone that does, there is an extra policy you can get for coverage on yourself. It is inexpensive and surprisingly enough, Brian's insurance agent was not even aware that there was an additional rider available.

The weekend of Brian and Robin's accident, there were 3 others that involved leg or foot amputations. So please to all of you motorcycle riders, BE CAREFULL! The accidents are NOT usually the fault of the motorcyclist.

The pavement is unforgiving.  My husband and I were hit by a drunk driver years ago.  We were turning into our driveway and thrown eighty feet down the highway.  Fortunately we had youth on our side, I only ended up with 50 stitches in the back of my leg, but it was many weeks before the road rash and aches and pains subsided.  I can't imagine what these people are going through. I printed the above and will speaking with my insurance agent first thing Monday.   We had the same issue with the no fault laws and insurance.

Brian was told that they have been trying to change the NYS laws for motorcycle victims. There has been legislation proposed but not actually acted upon. Also as a note, BC/BS is the ony insurance company that pays such a minimal amount for a prostetic. CDPHP currently pays 50%. When they revise their new contract, CDPHP may pay 80%. He may change him to CDPHP when the contract is up in January.

Brian's attorney said that both insurance companies, the woman who hit him and his BC/BS, are fighting over who should pay his medical expenses.

And Rene, only 50 stitches in the back of your leg doesn't sound very pleasant either.

Considering his injuries, only is a good word to use.  But, yeah, it really hurt!!!

NYS a bunch of 'no-fault' and litigation up the ying-yang.....geez......so who's fault is it???....the lack of self-protection or the screwy driver.....if we had been talking about welfare it would be the "lazy a@# on welfare better get smart and do for themselves".....??????

Should we spend $$ looking for lost hikers/bikers/and eccentric billionaires?????

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Should we spend $$ looking for lost hikers/bikers/and eccentric billionaires?????

YES WE SHOULD! Because one day it could be one of our kids or parents or spouse or good friend!

http://www.dailygazette.com

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http://www.dailygazette.com

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Motorcyclists at risk physically and financially

    Automobile accidents and fatalities have decreased with the high cost of fuel, but motorcycle accidents and fatalities have increased. People are slowing down to obtain better gas mileage, resulting in fewer automobile accidents; many are turning to economical motor scooters and motorcycles.
    There are special hazards for motorcyclists and scooter operators: Car and truck drivers often fail to look for them let alone see them, and motorcyclists do not have personal injury protection insurance unless they bought that expensive part of — rider to — the motorcycle or scooter insurance.
    If an owner of an automobile is injured in a car accident, even if he or she was a pedestrian at the time of the accident, that car owner’s own insurance carrier pays up to $50,000 in medical expenses no matter who was at fault — “no fault” insurance. Motorcyclists do not have that protection even if they have an insured car, unless they pay for it as part of their motorcycle insurance policy. So if an operator of a car is negligent and hits a motorcyclist, anything he or she may recover in a negligence suit is likely to be eaten up by medical expenses.
    Motorcyclists are often known as “organ donors on wheels,” due to the high fatality rate. The best protection is exceptionally defensive driving: Assume that other driver does not see you, allow the tailgating car driver to pass you, and expect larger motor vehicle operators to do the wrong thing. And if your high level of alertness is not enough, have that personal injury protection rider on your motorcycle policy.
    BRUCE S. TRACHTENBERG
    Niskayuna
The writer is a personal injury attorney.