Shirley Plourde was a well respected member of the motorcycle community in Nova Scotia.
I am confident that those who read the news today will be pleased that the woman who passed when unsafe to do so and ended up taking Shirley's life was charged. I am also confident that they will not be pleased with the $160 fine.
I want to ask you all something...when a life is taken or altered forever, because of driver error, aggression, inattention, what do you think the result should be?
I want you to look at that question as if it was YOU who made the error. It's all well and fine to call for jail and other measures but what if it was YOU that took a life, you who put someone in a wheel chair or took their ability to function normally away? What would be the right sentence? The right fine? The right restitution?
Should there just be the fine and then civil court to get funds to help the family or victim? That's the way the system works right now...
Or should there be something more?
I was speaking to a man who was involved in a one vehicle crash, someone had flipped a cigarette out of their vehicle and the cigarette got lodged in between a riders eye and his visor, causing his eyelid to be burned and him to loose control. Even with witnesses, even with the person who flipped the butt out stating he had been a dumb ass and had in fact discarded his cigarette in an inappropriate way, even with a police report that states the same thing....this man's insurer says that since there was no other vehicle involved in the crash that he is in the wrong and is refusing to help him.
I recommended a good accident injury lawyer to him and the lawyer says, guess what, your insurance company is giving you the bumb steer.
In both cases, the only way to protect one's self and in the case of Shirley Plourde - provide for her family, the only way to get the job done is through a lawyer. As a motorcyclist, one of the BEST things you can do for yourself is to consult a good accident injury lawyer - in fact, you should have a lawyer on speed dial in your cell phone.
If you are fortunate enough to survive a crash, the first person YOU should talk to is your lawyer.
The BDB Network has two great lawyers that can serve you with more coming on board soon.
In the lower mainland of BC you can call our good friend Daryl Brown, Motorcycle Lawyer. Daryl is an avid rider, a former drag racer and he understands your needs as a rider and a human. He can serve you any where in the province of BC and is a wonderful man to talk to.
The other fabulous law firm that we are connected to is Braithwaite Boyle.
Ken Braithwaite is a rider. Again he knows what you need, what you should and shouldn't do. In fact, in the Little Black Book, Ken has a card of crash facts (the link here goes to the downloaded version of the book) - something you should fill out immediately after a crash so that you can remember everything that happened. It can be left in the book, or taken out and folded and put in your insurance folder. It is a wonderful tool in the protection game. And I have some personal experiences with this law firm - I know of some Alberta riders who have used these guys and sing their praises. A young female rider who was injured in Southern Alberta has Ken and his team as her law firm and I know for a fact that she is being well taken care of. Ken's firm can help you out in Alberta, BC, the Yukon and NWT.
No matter where you live, whether you are involved in a crash or the family of a victim, consulting with an accident injury lawyer should be one of the first things you do when you are physically able to (after being checked out by a doctor).
It sounds rather morbid, but you should know which lawyer you are going to work with BEFORE a crash happens. That will be one less thing to think of when your time comes - better to be prepared for the worst case scenario, and if you never need that lawyer all the better.
This year was a really bad year for crashes and injuries, and sadly deaths. There are a lot of people who need a good lawyer and, they aren't all that easy to find. Using the yellow pages is not necessarily the best way to find a lawyer, especially if you ride.
So, another question I want to ask you today, do you have an accident injury lawyer in your area? Have you checked out their reputation, do you know what lawyer you will use should you ever need to?
I would LOVE to know.
There is a ton of interesting news in the feeds today over at www.beltdrivebetty.com where we sift through the news so you don't have to.
And, today is Thursday, which means paper and newsletter day. I hope you are enjoying your Busted Knuckle Chronicles and your provincial newsletter...
Have a wonderful Thursday everyone, tomorrow I am on a plane to Ontario for the Classy Chassis Cycles Auction on Saturday...hope to see some of you out there!
Ride safe if you are fortunate enough to be riding today and please ride like everyone is blind and out to get you!
Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
I am confident that those who read the news today will be pleased that the woman who passed when unsafe to do so and ended up taking Shirley's life was charged. I am also confident that they will not be pleased with the $160 fine.
I want to ask you all something...when a life is taken or altered forever, because of driver error, aggression, inattention, what do you think the result should be?
I want you to look at that question as if it was YOU who made the error. It's all well and fine to call for jail and other measures but what if it was YOU that took a life, you who put someone in a wheel chair or took their ability to function normally away? What would be the right sentence? The right fine? The right restitution?
Should there just be the fine and then civil court to get funds to help the family or victim? That's the way the system works right now...
Or should there be something more?
I was speaking to a man who was involved in a one vehicle crash, someone had flipped a cigarette out of their vehicle and the cigarette got lodged in between a riders eye and his visor, causing his eyelid to be burned and him to loose control. Even with witnesses, even with the person who flipped the butt out stating he had been a dumb ass and had in fact discarded his cigarette in an inappropriate way, even with a police report that states the same thing....this man's insurer says that since there was no other vehicle involved in the crash that he is in the wrong and is refusing to help him.
I recommended a good accident injury lawyer to him and the lawyer says, guess what, your insurance company is giving you the bumb steer.
In both cases, the only way to protect one's self and in the case of Shirley Plourde - provide for her family, the only way to get the job done is through a lawyer. As a motorcyclist, one of the BEST things you can do for yourself is to consult a good accident injury lawyer - in fact, you should have a lawyer on speed dial in your cell phone.
If you are fortunate enough to survive a crash, the first person YOU should talk to is your lawyer.
The BDB Network has two great lawyers that can serve you with more coming on board soon.
In the lower mainland of BC you can call our good friend Daryl Brown, Motorcycle Lawyer. Daryl is an avid rider, a former drag racer and he understands your needs as a rider and a human. He can serve you any where in the province of BC and is a wonderful man to talk to.
The other fabulous law firm that we are connected to is Braithwaite Boyle.
Ken Braithwaite is a rider. Again he knows what you need, what you should and shouldn't do. In fact, in the Little Black Book, Ken has a card of crash facts (the link here goes to the downloaded version of the book) - something you should fill out immediately after a crash so that you can remember everything that happened. It can be left in the book, or taken out and folded and put in your insurance folder. It is a wonderful tool in the protection game. And I have some personal experiences with this law firm - I know of some Alberta riders who have used these guys and sing their praises. A young female rider who was injured in Southern Alberta has Ken and his team as her law firm and I know for a fact that she is being well taken care of. Ken's firm can help you out in Alberta, BC, the Yukon and NWT.
No matter where you live, whether you are involved in a crash or the family of a victim, consulting with an accident injury lawyer should be one of the first things you do when you are physically able to (after being checked out by a doctor).
It sounds rather morbid, but you should know which lawyer you are going to work with BEFORE a crash happens. That will be one less thing to think of when your time comes - better to be prepared for the worst case scenario, and if you never need that lawyer all the better.
This year was a really bad year for crashes and injuries, and sadly deaths. There are a lot of people who need a good lawyer and, they aren't all that easy to find. Using the yellow pages is not necessarily the best way to find a lawyer, especially if you ride.
So, another question I want to ask you today, do you have an accident injury lawyer in your area? Have you checked out their reputation, do you know what lawyer you will use should you ever need to?
I would LOVE to know.
There is a ton of interesting news in the feeds today over at www.beltdrivebetty.com where we sift through the news so you don't have to.
And, today is Thursday, which means paper and newsletter day. I hope you are enjoying your Busted Knuckle Chronicles and your provincial newsletter...
Have a wonderful Thursday everyone, tomorrow I am on a plane to Ontario for the Classy Chassis Cycles Auction on Saturday...hope to see some of you out there!
Ride safe if you are fortunate enough to be riding today and please ride like everyone is blind and out to get you!
Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
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