Welcome back to the Bull Pen. Are you ready for another fun filled installment? Great, sit back, relax and let's get started. It's hard to believe that it's been 30 years since the debut of the cinematic masterpiece Caddyshack. Just the mention of Caddyshack brings back many wonderful memories for me but did you know there are actually some important life lessons that can be learned from this timeless classic? Don't believe me? Read the following excerpts from Caddyshack and decide for yourself.
Judge Smails (Ted Knight): "There's a lot of...well, badness in the world today". "I see it in court every day". "I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. I didn't want to do it- I felt I owed it to them". "The most important decision you can make right now is what you stand for- goodness...or badness".
Danny Noonan: "I've made some mistakes in the past. I'm willing to make up for that. I want to be good".
Good choice Danny. Shouldn't we all stand for "goodness" as Judge Smails mentioned. I have the pleasure of knowing such a person who took Judge Smails advice literally that I want to introduce you to. Her name is Vicki Sanfelipo and she is the Founder & Director of Accident Scene Management (ASMI) and Co Founder of the Road Guardian program. I recently had the pleasure of attending the grand opening of the new Road Guardian/ASMI headquarters in Big Bend WI and all I can say is "wow". Guests of the grand opening were treated to some great food, music, displays from local police & fire departments as well as the Wisconsin Department of Transportation traveling motorcycle safety training trailer and much more. Many participants brought their children to take advantage of the free child identification program sponsored by our friend's at the most excellent law firm of Hupy & Abraham.
It's equally hard to fathom that since its inception, ASMI has trained close to 20,000 fellow bikers how to provide emergency medical aid which has ultimately saved countless lives. Just ask any of the fathers, mothers, sons or daughters who were saved by folks trained by ASMI if they are thankful for Vicki & crew. Switching back to Caddyshack, who can forget when Bill Murray who plays Carl shares his tale of caddying in Tibet for the Dalai Lama.
Carl: So I jump ship in Hong Kong and make my way over to Tibet, and I get on as a looper at a course over in the Himalayas.
Angie: A looper?
Carl: A looper, you know, a caddy, a looper, a jock. So, I tell them I'm a pro jock, and who do you think they give me? The Dalai Lama, himself. Twelfth son of the Lama. The flowing robes, the grace, bald...striking. So we finish the eighteenth and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, "Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know?" And he says, "Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness."
I am not exactly sure what "total consciousness" is but do believe that the Lama was referring to some sort of reward at the end of days for practicing "goodness" as Judge Smails points out. In my book, it's a good thing to meet your maker with saving the lives of others on your resume. For that reason, I am thankful for Vicki and all of the dedicated volunteers who have invested their time in us. The world is a better place as a result of your efforts. It takes a great amount of hard work to deliver this program to the masses so I invite you all to help us help each other by both joining the Road Guardian program and attending an ASMI course. You can learn more about the Road Guardians at roadguardians.org or accidentscene.org.
I am happy to share with you that our Friends at Allstate Insurance are also practicing "goodness" by donating $5 to the Road Guardian program for motorcycle quotes for the balance of 2010. If you want to help the Road Guardians please call me at 877-232-9899 or drop me a note at deanakey@allstate.com and help us help each other. That's it for this month. My name is Dean Akey and I sell insurance. I enjoy working with fellow bikers helping you protect what matters most. Until next month, enjoy the ride.
The parable of the Good Samaritan comes to us from Luke 10:30-37. In the parable, a man was going along the way and suddenly found himself in great dismay He was robbed, beaten and left for dead. A priest happened to go down the street and saw the man whom the robbers did beat, but he passed him by on the other side. A Levite also did the same. Finally, a Samaritan saw & took pity on the man. The Samaritan bandaged his wounds, took him to an inn and then the next day paid the innkeeper to care for the man until recovered. The term Samaritan was used to describe residents of "Samaria" an ancient city and country that during this time was the capital of the Kingdom of Israel.
Referring to someone as a "Good Samaritan" during this time period would be like calling someone a "Good American". Maybe that's why we refer to the past as the good old days as words meant what they meant. Today if you hear the term "Good Samaritan" a number of different definitions and images come to mind. Legally defining this subject matter is equally daunting task with many of our states creating their own definitions. While many countries do have laws that require citizens to stop and provide aid, in America we have no such requirements. There are some states that do consider it an act of negligence if a person doesn't at least call 911 for help. So are you a Good Samaritan? According to law enforcement agency reports, less than 10% of our citizens actually do stop to lend a hand to someone in need. Not a very good showing if you ask me.
Generally speaking, a Good Samaritan in legal terms refers to someone who voluntarily provides aid in an emergency to ill or injured people. Volunteer "Good Samaritans" who do provide aid are expected to be reasonably careful providing care that is in the best interests of the injured or ill person. We will spend some more time on this in a bit.
Good Samaritan laws which grant immunity from civil liability, vary from state to state. Generally speaking, Provisions of Good Samaritan Laws include the following three criteria.
Ok, if you are still with me you are probably wondering what would be considered grossly negligent.
Gross Negligence: People who give aid to others must be prudent in their care offered. For example, lets assume that you are in a restaurant and notice a man choking and have been trained in CPR & First Aid, you may offer to provide aid via a Heimlich maneuver or a few hard taps on the back. Should the victim agree, your actions would be considered prudent care as long as you provided the aid as you have been trained. Now let's say that you saw this episode of MacGyver on the television where the mighty Mac uses a pen knife & straw to perform an emergency tracheotomy. If you try to provide aid the MacGyver way, you now are providing care above and beyond your training which would most likely be considered grossly negligent.
So what does this really mean to you? It means that the more relevant training & certifications you hold, the more aid you can provide to victims and enjoy protection under Good Samaritan Laws. One question to ask yourself, are your training & certifications current? It does matter.
To better understand Good Samaritan Laws, there are a few key terms & concepts that you should know. To start with, what happens when you arrive at the scene of an accident? Let's face it, some of us are a bit scary looking. If your victim is an 88 year old woman, she may be a bit nervous about you cutting off her pants to expose an open femur fracture. Prior to providing any aid you must first obtain Consent..
Consent: You need to first obtain permission of conscious injured persons to give first aid. Respect their wishes if they refuse. When you happen on an injured victim, always state your name and any relevant training you have. Then inquire if you can assist them. Example, "I'm John, I am a Rescue Rider and have been trained to provide first aid in situations like these by completing basic & advanced Accident Scene Management courses. Would you like me to help you?"
If they reject your aid and you believe potential the victim's life may be in danger explain this to them. If they still reject, call 911 and inform them of the situation. Do not provide aid unless the victim either provides consent or their status changes (unconscious). For those who are unconscious or unable to give consent (like an infant), it's considered "implied consent" if you assist by giving first aid or CPR. Guess what can happen if you don't obtain consent and still provide aid? You can be charged with Assault or Battery.
Assault or Battery: Victims who do not fall under implied consent must still consent to care for the rescuer to be considered a Good Samaritan.
Ok, now you have been given consent, are trained to provide aid and are doing so in a reasonable manner, what's next? Let's say the victims friends arrive on scene while you are providing CPR. They tell you that they can take over and stay with their friend until the ambulance arrives. Don't get caught in this situation. In order to leave a victim after you have started to provide aid, you will need to hand off care to someone who has at least the same level of training you do. Failing to do this can be considered Abandonment.
Abandonment: In most areas, once you initiate care you still need to hand off to the same or higher level of care. In some rural areas, this may mean a ride to the hospital.
Many of our volunteers are medical professionals. As licensed health care providers, we have to comply with regulations which state what type of care we can provide. This is called Scope of Practice. I mention this as you may or may not be a licensed health care professional but you should understand this concept and what it means to you.
Scope of Practice: Skills that licensed healthcare providers are trained to do. Scope of practice is defined by the government that issues the license, usually a state. Every healthcare provider has a scope of practice, except physicians. Physicians have the ability to develop new skills as necessary. The reason this concept is important to all Good Samaritans is it defines what you can & cannot do. As an unlicensed Good Samaritan, to be protected from civil liability, you need to provide prudent care. Prudent care for health care professionals is based upon their level of training amongst other things. This concept should apply to you. To give prudent care, only provide aid in a manner that is consistent with the training you have completed.
By following these simple rules, you should be protected from civil liability under your Good Samaritan Laws. I suggest you take a moment to read the individual Good Samaritan laws of your state. I hope this article has helped you better understand Good Samaritan laws and stress the importance of continuing to train or complete refresher courses.
Well, that's it for this month. When I am not sharing my wisdom with you via my editorials or volunteering for the Rescue Rider program, I run an insurance agency West of Chicago. I enjoy working with fellow bikers helping you protect what matters most. If I can help you please drop me a note at deanakey@allstate.com or give me a call at 877-232-9899. I would love to hear from you. Until next month, enjoy the ride.
Welcome back to the Bull Pen. It's great to see so many of you out enjoying some quality two wheel time. Last year's riding season was brutal to our biker brothers & sisters. We have seen annual increases accidents and fatalities for as long as the pointy heads in Washington have been keeping track. Don't take my word for it, see what Mary has to say.
Motorcycle accidents and fatalities are a major concern. "Our nation's greatest traffic highway safety challenge is motorcycle fatalities," says past U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, noting that biking deaths are rising while other vehicle fatalities are declining"
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2007, 5,154 people died in motorcycle crashes, the highest level since NHTSA began collecting data in 1975. The 2007 figure represents a 6.6 percent from 4,837 the previous year.
Motorcycle crash fatalities have increased every year for the past 12 years. Motorcyclists were 37 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled in 2007 and eight times more likely to be injured, according to NHTSA.
So what can my 7.1 million biker brothers and sisters do to help address this epidemic? As bikers we need to be seen, heard and practice our skills. If you have not done so yet, consider checking out some of the great rider education classes available. You are never too old... or experienced... to learn. I also hope you join me in supporting legislation like the negligent vehicular homicide bill that would allow us to effectively prosecute those who do us harm. Are you still with me? then please consider joining a Motorcycle Rights Organization (MRO). MRO's are our voice in Washington and your individual states.
In addition to rider education & supporting MRO's, we created the Rescue Rider program to provide a "hands on" approach to help directly address these sobering statistics. My dad (Armond) always used to say, "Boy, either you are part of the problem or part of the solution". I couldn't agree more dad. Rescue Rider volunteers have logged thousands of miles supporting motorcycle events with a program they call "Ride for a Reason" program. If you see Rescue Riders supporting your run or event, take a moment to thank them for their commitment to all of us.
Rescue Riders provide emergency medical assistance to accident victims during "The Golden Hour". In the world of emergency care, the "Golden Hour" is defined as the time period of one hour in which the lives of a majority of critically injured trauma patients may be saved if definitive trauma care intervention is provided. This principle of rapid intervention can also be applied to non-trauma patients such as those having a heart attack or a stroke, in which time to treatment dramatically affects a patient's outcome. Many of you have had the opportunity to improve your life saving skills by attending Accident Scene Management classes. The graduates of ASMI's Basic & Advanced courses have saved countless lives of fellow bikers with the skills they learned in class. Over 25% of course graduates report providing emergency medical assistance within the first three years of training.
As motorcyclists we are typically the first to encounter motorcycle accidents. What we do immediately after an accident until professional emergency response personnel arrive can and does save lives. If you would like to develop your skills to provide emergency medical assistance to the victims of accidents I invite you to visit the Rescue Riders www.rescueriders.org and ask yourself if you are ready to "Ride for a Reason".
Well, that's it for this month. When I am not sharing my wisdom with you via my editorials or volunteering for the Rescue Rider program, I run an insurance agency West of Chicago. For the past two years I have been working with the Allstate "pointy heads" to reinvent motorcycle insurance. As a lifelong biker myself, I wanted to create a policy that not only protects your possessions and liability but also you. Our new policy is the first ever to pay you should you have an accident which keeps you from working for as long as you are disabled. That's right, protection for the rider... It's a first so if you want the best policy in the industry there really is only one choice... Allstate.. I enjoy working with fellow bikers helping you protect what matters most. If I can help you please drop me a note at deanakey@allstate.com or give me a call at 877-232-9899. I would love to hear from you. Until next month, enjoy the ride.
Welcome back to the Bull Pen. It sure is great to see the warm weather return and all of my fellow bikers enjoying some overdue two wheel therapy. I recently picked up Betty (2009 Street Glide) from the shop after a lengthy repair. Unfortunately, I was hit by a suburban assault vehicle (Mini Van) in December while returning from the Chicagoland Toys for Tots run. Both Betty and I are glad to be on the road again.
Many of you know I am an insurance agent and frequently ask insurance related questions so I thought I would share some important information about your motorcycle insurance. Your motorcycle insurance is like a parachute. You don't really appreciate it until you need it. I hope you read on and understand how your policy can protect you, your family and your property.
Are you ready? Well then, let's get started. As consumers, we have been conditioned to compare insurance based upon price. If you have seen the Progressive Insurance television commercials Flo tells us all how you can save money. Let me say that even though I think Flo is a "hottie" I want you to focus on your individual needs first and then look at the price. Let me break down some of the key components in your policy.
Bodily Injury/Liability: This is the portion of your policy that protects your liability when you cause harm to another individual. If you are in an accident and it's your fault, you are protected up to the limits of your policy. Quite often I talk to bikers who have $20,000/$40,000 of liability protection. This means if you harm another person, your policy will pay up to $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident on your behalf to the injured person or persons. A few years back I was hit head on by a minivan which left 60 staples in my head, broke my collar bone and all of the ribs on my right side. My medical bill was $14,000 and I did not stay in the hospital overnight. I share this with you to demonstrate how quickly your liability can add up.
Uninsured/Underinsured Liability: Many folks ask me what this is. In a nutshell, this is coverage for you. Unfortunately Illinois only requires motorists to carry a minimum of $20,000 of liability coverage. Some states do not require motorists to carry any liability insurance. If someone injures you and they do not have insurance or sufficient insurance coverage to pay for your damages, your Uninsured/Underinsured coverage can pick up the slack. This is one of the most important elements of your policy and very often overlooked.
Property Damage: This is the protection you have if you damage other folk's property. Most of you carry $50,000 of property damage on your policies. What this means is that if you cause an accident and a BMW hits a Corvette, all you have to repair or replace their vehicles is $50,000. Don't get caught in this trap. All motorcyclists need at least $100,000 of property damage. The good news here is that it typically costs less than $20 years to upgrade from $50,000 to $100,000 so don't delay. I often hear the objection, how much damage can my bike cause to another vehicle. You don't even need to make contact with another vehicle to be at fault. If you are ticketed and two vehicles collide you are responsible to repair or replace their vehicles. I have personally seen $100,000 property damage claims where the bike was not damaged but the operator was found to be at fault. Don't let this happen to you.
Guest Liability: Do you ever take passengers for rides? If you do you should have Guest Liability Coverage. These levels are typically consistent with your Bodily Injury and Underinsured/Uninsured coverage. This component of your policy covers your liability when carrying a passenger. In other words, if you are in an accident and your passenger is injured, you could be sued for damages. If your policy provides this coverage you are protected up to the limits of your policy. Now for the scary part. Many motorcycle policies do not provide this coverage. If you don't have this on your policy, ride solo.
Collision: This is the component of your policy that pays to replace or repair your scooter. You choose the deductible that fits your budget and your motorcycle will be repaired or replaced up to the market value of your bike. Now if you are like me you have probably added some bling to your scooter along the way. What happens if your bike is wrecked? Read on.
Optional Equipment: If you are riding a stock bike skip to the next section. If you have upgraded your bike you need optional equipment coverage. Most insurance agents mess this part up. Here is how optional equipment coverage works. Let's say that you added a Mustang seat ($650) Bassani Exhaust ($850) and Custom Wheels ($2000) and a Baker six speed transmissions ($2500). Your agent may tell you that you need $6000 of optional equipment coverage. Sorry to tell you this but if you took that advice you are paying too much. In calculating the correct dollar amount of Optional Equipment coverage you need we need to determine the difference between your upgrades and the original stock components. Let's assume your bike is damaged in an accident. You already have coverage to repair/replace your stock components less your deductible. If your policy will already pay for a stock exhaust ($350) and stock wheels ($1000) and stock transmission ($1450) all you need to do is cover the difference which in this case would be $3200. Many policies already include some coverage for Optional Equipment so if your policy covers $1000 of optional equipment already, add the $2200 and you are covered. If you have custom paint or engine upgrades you typically want to cover those at the full value of the upgrades.
Comprehensive: This component of your policy typically covers you for incidents that occur when you are not riding your scooter. There are a few exceptions to this but that's another topic in itself. If your scooter is vandalized, damaged by hail etc your comprehensive will pay to repair or replace your vehicle less your deductible.
Rider Protection: This is an Allstate exclusive. A few years ago the pointy heads at Allstate asked me to help them design a new motorcycle policy. My reaction was why are we offering what everybody offers? Let's reinvent motorcycle insurance. We did. Most motorcycle insurance companies offer much of the same "stuff". Up to now, none of the motorcycle insurance companies offered protection for the rider. Our new Rider Protection package will pay you if you are injured and cannot work as the result of an accident. The payments will continue as long as you are unable to return to work. In addition, we can also include $15,000 of life insurance if the worst happens. As bikers, we all like to think that we will never be in an accident or worse but having been in several myself, I can tell you this does happen more than we would like to think.
So what do I recommend you should carry in terms of coverage? It really depends on your needs. Are you married? Do you have children? A mortgage? Your policy should fit your needs. Don't hope you are covered, know so. My name is Dean Akey and I sell motorcycle insurance. I enjoy working with fellow bikers helping you protect what matters most. If I can help you please drop me a note at deanakey@allstate.com or give me a call at 877-232-9899. I would love to hear from you. Until next month, enjoy the ride.
NEWS RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION:
November 9, 2009 i
Hupy & Abraham, S.C. Donates $7,500 To
Increase Motorcycle Safety
300 Rescue Riders Volunteers Will Receive Training in Illinois and Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wis. - As motorcycle fatalities are on the rise, the demand for trained volunteer emergency responders is increasing. To address these needs, Hupy & Abraham, S.C. has donated $7,500 to the Rescue Riders, a volunteer group of motorcyclists trained in emergency response and aligned with local professional emergency response agencies. This donation will help provide training and tools for 300 new Rescue Riders volunteers in Illinois and Wisconsin.
"There is a great need for trained volunteer responders not only on the scenes of accidents but also in the event of larger emergencies," said Michael Hupy, president of Hupy & Abraham, S.C. "We commend the efforts of the Rescue Riders in educating motorcyclists, and are pleased to present this donation to help support this endeavor in Wisconsin and Illinois."
The donation will be used to recruit, educate, equip and organize volunteer motorcyclists to provide emergency assistance in times of need, training them in first aid, CPR and basic medical triage.
"We are grateful for Hupy & Abraham's support of our program," noted Dean Akey, founder of Rescue Riders. "This will provide a critical resource for motorcyclists across the region, who have been blessed with the support that Hupy & Abraham has given us over the years".
For more information, please visit www.hupy.com or www.rescueriders.org.
ABOUT HUPY & ABRAHAM, S.C.
Hupy and Abraham, S.C., has a proven record of success in driving results for injured bikers and settlements in other serious cases. Founded in 1964, Hupy & Abraham, S.C.'s lawyers have combined experience of over 125 years, handling thousands of cases from routine accidents to those resulting in multi-million dollar settlements. Hupy and Abraham accepts cases nationwide, with offices in Milwaukee, Madison and Appleton, Wisconsin and in Bloomington/Normal, Peoria, Rockford, Decatur and Gurnee, Illinois. For more information, please call 1-800-800-5678 or visit www.hupy.com.
ABOUT RESCUE RIDERS
The Rescue Riders is a 501c3 charitable organization based out of St. Charles, IL and was founded by Dean Akey five years ago after his involvement in a motorcycle traffic accident. Akey has become an expert in first aid, CPR, basic medical triage and accident scene management and now provides training and tools to fellow volunteer bikers to become first responders as Rescue Riders. Rescue Riders offer assistance on an individual basis and directly support the professional emergency response organizations in their communities. For more information, please call 630-444-0588 or visit www.rescueriders.org.
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