Hope he comes out the other side well. What sort of gear was he wearing? I'm thinking about buying a bike next summer, but I probably won't if all the safety gear in the world won't prevent those sort of injuries.
He was riding a HD Night Train. He had a helmet (Ala. state law). As mentioned though even if he had the most expensive top-of-the-line jacket with armor and the nicest full-face helmet, it would not have changed things in this type of accident with the injuries he has.
I ride a HD Softail Custom, similar in size and performance as the Night Train. I ride defensively, assuming everyone does not see me and try to anticipate what I would do if that car pulls out of merges onto me. I sucks, but it's the only chance at survival in a world where people just do not look for motorcycles. Had that been me in his shoes, I'm not sure it would have turned out any different. It happened at the last second and he had nowhere to go and rather than T-bone (OUCH), he layed it down. The bike slid into the van but stood up when it hit, crushing the extremities on his right side. It could have been much worse.
I was just merged onto hours before above mentioned accident and handled it well even though it caught me off guard (then followed the p---y for miles trying to get him to pull over so we could "discuss" things
).
If you get a bike, just remember that nobody sees you and the ones that do are all out to get you. Your only other real friends on the road are also on 2 wheels.
ZZ
