Dean Akey

Are the buttons on my vest popping yet? It is with great pride that I share the following article with you. This article was written by Tom Clegg at Nursing Spectrum Magazine.

Way to Go T.

When Teresa McClelland, RN, became the clinical coordinator at Loyola Center for Heart and Vascular Medicine in Park Ridge, Ill., a little more than a year ago, having weekends off gave her the opportunity to more regularly enjoy her other passion - riding motorcycles.

But after being involved in an accident while on a ride with friends, McClelland, formerly a trauma nurse specialist and emergency medical services educator for 10 years, saw the need for motorcyclists and others to have a basic knowledge of trauma care.

"When I went down, my (fellow) riders secured my bike, but I think they were unsure of what to do with me," McClelland said. After a little research, McClelland came upon the nonprofit group Accident Scene Management, Inc., and she became an instructor.

McClelland, known to fellow bikers as "Trauma Momma," in October began teaching "A Crash Course for the Motorcyclist," which offers tips for RNs and bikers on what to do in the first minutes after a motorcycle crash until professional help arrives. The course uses the acronymn PACT as a teaching tool - Prevent further injuries; Assess the situation; Contact the EMS; and Treat the injured with life-sustaining care.

McClelland said the education is useful to anyone, especially those who ride or are passengers on motorcycles.

McClelland also is the director of training for the volunteer, non-profit motorcycling group Rescue Riders, whose members provide emergency assistance.

The course is available nationwide, and McClelland will find an instructor for groups outside Chicago. But don't be surprised if she hops on her bike to do the teaching herself. "[In March] I went to Montana and taught a class," she said.

Tom Clegg is a member of the editorial group at Nursing Spectrum.

For information on Accident Scene Management, Inc. and Rescue Riders, visit www.accidentscene.org and www.rescueriders.org.

Over the weekend I received the letter below. Casey shared with me that his wife Michelle is still in the hospital but should recover. I want to thank Casey for writing this letter and sharing with us all the importance of being prepared. Casey hopes as do I that his letter will help all of us recognize the need for our program and how we collectively need to support each other. We are all quite thankful that Michelle was given a second chance. Will you or someone you love be as fortunate? Please join the Rescue Riders and Ride for a Reason. You can learn more about our program at www.rescueriders.org.

Dean,

I contacted you about a year ago on the Rescue Riders. As I was just coming into a sitting board seat for the local POW*MIA organization I decided that I didn't have enough time. God I wish I would've kept going.

My wife was in a terrible motorcycle accident while we were riding with a few of our friends the day before Mother's Day. She is still in the hospital after surgery on her spine and a closed head injury. Her passenger almost lost her foot. I felt so helpless sitting there protecting her spine while we waited for the ambulances to arrive. (40 minutes in the middle of Wyoming) I didn't have anything better than a Band-Aid and sun block to help.

I have just purchased your Trauma PAC and some other supplies. I will never again be without supplies or training to take care of someone in need. I have my CPR card and am signed up for EMT training. I've been involved in Radiology for over 20 years, but need to bone up on emergency medicine.

Thank you for starting this program. As someone that could've benefited from having the proper equipment and help onsite I think it is a wonderful idea. I ride with several healthcare workers and I'm going to try to get them all interested.

Casey Jackman RT(R)(MR) Casey & Michelle Jackman

Director of Radiology

Mountain View Hospital

2325 Coronado Street

Idaho Falls, ID 83404

By Marni Pyke | Daily Herald Staff

Ahh, multi-tasking. What a great world, where you can gab on the phone and grab a Starbucks - all from the convenience of the car.

Problem is, the next time you're engaged in a heated conversation while switching radio stations and switching lanes -- odds are something bad will happen.

We are a nation of distracted drivers and it's costing us lives and property damage.

One local case that's provoked outrage is the death of motorcyclist Anita Zaffke of Lake Zurich, killed May 2 by another driver who was polishing her nails instead of watching the road, police say.

May was a horrific month for motorcyclists in the region. Killed in separate accidents were Zaffke, husband and wife Wade and Denise Thomas of St. Charles, Michael Smith of St. Charles and Michael Lechner of Buffalo Grove.

"This is the ugliest start to riding season in Illinois that we ever have seen," said Dean Akey, a veteran biker and owner of an Allstate Insurance business in St. Charles.

Zaffke's death is adding weight to calls for a law that gives authorities a means of prosecuting distracted drivers.

Currenhtly, charges that could be applied, like reckless homicide, are based on premeditation, which is problematic to prove. Motorists who kill people through carelessness usually end up with a slap on the wrist.

Legislation sponsored by state Rep. William Black, a Danville Republican, would create a misdemeanor category for negligent vehicular homicide. It could result in up to a year in prison and a maximum $2,500 fine.

Although his proposal faltered this session, Black is hopeful an amended version will gain traction in the fall.

He pushed for reform after 25-year-old bicyclist Matt Wilhelm was killed in Urbana by a driver who went off the road while downloading ring tones on her cell phone.

"(Matt's) parents were upset she was only charged with improper lane usage," Black said.

What the stats show

The number of motorcycle accidents and fatalities in Illinois has grown since 2000.

Accidents decreased from 4,483 in 2005 to 4,119 in 2006 but soared to 4,819 in 2007, the most recent year analyzed by the Illinois Department of Transportation. There were 154 motorcycle deaths that year, too.

So how many of these losses are caused by people talking on cells, texting or checking e-mail while going 45 mph?

There's no detailed studies breaking down categories of distracted driving victims, although the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute has initiated a study on motorcycles.

What we do know is cell phone use contributes to 6 percent of crashes, which equals 636,000 collisions a year in America and 2,600 deaths, according to a Harvard Center of Risk Analysis report.

A VTTI and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study of 100 cars found that 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved a driver not paying attention.

Personal crusades

Anecdotal evidence suggests that texting, talking on the phone and using other electronic devices while at the wheel "is sky-high," said David Teater, senior director of transportation strategic initiatives at the National Safety Council in Itasca.

"One real danger for motorists is that automobile drivers don't see them - they're looking for a car in their mind's eye," Teater said. "If you add a cognitive distraction to the already difficult task of recognizing a biker, it makes it worse."

That's not to say these tragedies are always caused by inattention.

In 2007, "speeding was a factor in 36 percent of fatal motorcycle crashes compared to 24 percent for fatal passenger car crashes," a National Safety Council report states.

And, "27 percent of motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes were intoxicated compared to 23 percent of passenger car drivers."

Akey disputes the stereotype of motorcyclists as irresponsible and says a distracted driving law is desperately needed.

In January, the NSC started lobbying for a nationwide ban on cell phone use while driving and has seen some success. In Illinois, the General Assembly passed legislation banning texting while driving and cell phone use in school or construction zones.

These victories like that encourage Teater, whose 12-year-old son died when a driver talking on a cell phone ran a red light and hit the family car.

"It was terrible, but at least I now have the opportunity to do something about it," he said.

Akey also is motivated by personal experience. Five years ago, he cracked his skull when his motorcycle was rammed by a minivan driven by a parent too busy scolding a child to see him.

He has since founded Rescue Riders, a program that trains motorcyclists to offer emergency assistance in accidents.

"There's an epidemic of distracted drivers doing harm to other people," Akey said. "We've become a multi-tasking society that thinks we can eat and listen to music and do whatever while we're driving. I don't believe we can."

The Bull Pen

Dean Akey

Welcome back to the Bull Pen. Can you believe the summer is already half over? How time flies. This year's riding season has been brutal to our biker brothers & sisters. We have seen more accidents and fatalities this year than we have as long as the pointy heads have been keeping track. For that reason I wanted to share with you some information that I hope you never need.

At the risk of sounding self serving I am going to write 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 with your insurance 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.

Zzzzzzzzzzzz

So you are having troubles sleeping? Read on. Let's face it, talking or in your case reading about insurance is about as much fun as watching paint dry. Woody Allen once said, "There are things worse than death, Have you ever spent an evening with an insurance salesman"?.

Personally I have never cared much for insurance folks. When I think about a typical insurance agent the image of a "triple Cleveland" comes to mind. What's a triple Cleveland say you? A triple Cleveland is when you wear white shoes, a white belt and a white tie. Are you with me so far?

Ok, now that I have ripped on insurance folks including myself, there are some very important things you should know about your insurance. I can tell you first hand both as a victim and agent that most of you are at risk. Let me start by sharing a common truth with you. The only insurance you can count on is yours. It may surprise you but in many states you don't have to carry motorcycle insurance and in Illinois you are only required to carry $20k of liability insurance.

What does that mean to you? Let's use me as an example. A few years back, I was hit head on by a minivan. The accident broke my ribs, collar bone and made my head look like something out of a science fiction movie. I spent a few hours in the emergency room where they ran multiple tests. My bill was $14,000. What would have happened if I had to spend a few days in the hospital? What if it was more serious? We see six figure medical bills quite often for serious accidents and if the person at fault does not have sufficient insurance coverage you should make sure you do. The coverage I am talking about is called Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage. If you don't have it on your policy call your agent and get it. This is the portion of your insurance that makes up for any deficiency the other persons insurance may have.

There are quite a few other components of your insurance you should know. Since I only have 400 words here you will have to wait until the next installment. Are you protected? Don't hope so, know so. Call your agent. My name is Dean Akey and I sell insurance without a triple Cleveland. If I can help you please give me a call. You can reach me at 877-232-9899.