Advocacy & Safety - Dragged by an 18 wheeler

I ride between 5 and 7am. I go by a Walmart and a Costco, those big 18 wheelers are always pulling in and out of the parking lot and I always assume they see me, now I realize they could hit me and drag me without knowing it. I hope the truckers helps the victim out financially

I notice the trucker is wearing flip flops. Isn't it illegal to drive wearing flip flops?

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/jul/26/miracle-boy-teen-hit-dragged-semi-truck-talks-abou/

http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/galleries/2010/jun/22/teen-survives-being-hit-semi-truck/119535/

I guess it shouldn't be too surprising that the kind of truck driver who hits a cyclist is also the kind of truck driver who appears to not have proper insurance coverage. I say that as someone who has worked as a commercial trucker. Like any group, there are safe, responsible commercial drivers (the vast majority) and there are drivers who are ticking time bombs.

Lucky kid.

I always assume that big trucks don't see me (along with every other car on the road). Big rigs, busses, cement trucks.. all those big ones are the one type of vehicle I don't go around in traffic unless they're completely stopped, and if I do, I get past them as fast as I can. If they pass me, I slow down as they pass so they're not beside me for too long.

My coworker told me a story about a friend of his that had both legs completely shattered by a delivery truck that right hooked him then ran over him. Stories like that is why I am more cautious around trucks.

I hope the truckers helps the victim out financially

I notice the trucker is wearing flip flops. Isn't it illegal to drive wearing flip flops?
Regardless of whether the truck had the required liability coverage, the owner and operator still have a financial obligation for any damage and injuries they caused. If there's significant equity in the truck then that would be the first source of funds and then any other assets.

I've never seen any specification in the vehicle codes I've seen for particular type of footwear that must be worn while driving, or even any need for footwear at all.

My mom was hit by an 18 wheeler. He didn't know. He had to be chased down. She was in a Subaru Wagon. Never assume drivers see you.

I notice the trucker is wearing flip flops. Isn't it illegal to drive wearing flip flops?

I oft drive barefoot, or bike in flip flops.

Sorry for the kid, but by the photos, I would not be surprised to find out that the driver was pulling out of a driveway (side street) onto the highway with the kid riding the wrong way on the sidewalk.

CB HI is right. It's easy to take the kid's side against the dastardly driver, but we don't know how the accident happened, and sidewalk riding is very common there, as seen in the newspaper photos accompanying the story.

I know that road, my in laws live near there. I wouldn't ride a bike in the road there either, heck I think driving there is awful--it's stop and go traffic on six and (I would swear) eight lane roads with malls every mile or so and 'luxury golf communities' every other mile. Lots of elderly drivers, lots of SUVs, and of course the big trucks to supply all the big box retailers, really a toxic mix.

The kid is lucky, the driver's life may be ruined whether he is at fault or not.

Earlier story: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/jun/22/child-hit-vehicle-east-naples/

According to that, the guy on the bike was trying to cross the road from the sidewalk when the truck turned right out of a parking lot and hit him.

There are some locations where I get off the bike and, as a pedesterian, walk across the road. Amazing that the cars and trucks WILL stop for a pedesterian but not for a bicyclist who HAS the right of way.

For some reason I don't trust this driver. From what the driver says in Zizka's link it almost sounds like he knew he had hit the teenager.

My mom was hit by an 18 wheeler. He didn't know. He had to be chased down. She was in a Subaru Wagon. Never assume drivers see you.

That's pretty much how I drive a car, even ride my bike. The sign on the back of the truck reads "If you can't see my mirrors, I can't see you". Then there are the wide turns signs. Everyone needs to be aware of these facts and right of way means very little when a truck is involved. When I drive up along side an 18 wheeler on the road, I'm not there very long. Too often traffic boxes you in, I either lag behind so that if the truck changes lanes, I'm not there and I treat the brief time I am along side of one as a passing situation and will accelerate and go past them, even if I have to exceed the speed limit. Generally, I like to stay the hell away from other drivers, can't hit you when you're not there and I don't care what the police or highway patrol seem to think I ought to be doing. 18 wheelers are slow and cumbersome, I'll make sure I'm not around one to get hit or be inconvenienced by a delay because it takes forever to get their truck to the speed limit.

From the Zizka's link:

"However, Fowler had a slightly different story. Instead of crossing east to west in front of his semi, Fowler said Tibbs rode southwest to northeast “non-stop” while holding a drink in one hand."

From the driver's own admission, he saw the cyclist before the accident.

Even with the right-of-way, he has some explaining to do.

There are some locations where I get off the bike and, as a pedesterian, walk across the road. Amazing that the cars and trucks WILL stop for a pedesterian but not for a bicyclist who HAS the right of way.

You live in a better town then I do. They don't stop for pedestrians here.

You live in a better town then I do. They don't stop for pedestrians here.

You should try the next town up the highway from me; they even stop for pedestrains, whatever those are.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FMmcLnBVl0s/R39F4phnnsI/AAAAAAAAAAc/Gp7sYJy4tJ0/s320/CrossingSign.jpg

You should try the next town up the highway from me; they even stop for pedestrains, whatever those are.

:lol:
Pedestrain, the next sequel to Human Centipede.

I notice the trucker is wearing flip flops. Isn't it illegal to drive wearing flip flops?In general, I don't think there's any requirement that drivers wear shoes or certain types of shoes while driving.

People may say it's a bad idea (driving barefoot or with flipflops), but in geneal there's no laws against it, and I'm not so sure it's so dangerous anyways -- though I would think driving barefoot would be better than driving with flipflops.

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/24408
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barefoot

etc.

FMCSA has no regulations on foot wear. I've seen Southern drivers here in VT during winter in flip flops because they don't own any shoes or boots.

FMCSA has no regulations on foot wearMost traffic regulations come from the state or local level rather than the federal level. The fact that the federal government has no regulations on it is pretty much irrelevant, since it wouldn't have them anyways.

Pedestrain, the next sequel to Human Centipede.

It gets worse; that sign is in front of the elementary school, and it's been there for at least five years now.