Tragic Story........

[FinanceDude]

Couple with 3 kids under 18 goes on a motorcycle ride. They crash and both die. I know the people, a real tragedy. Turns out there they have NO life insurance of any kind........

The community has been doing fundraising and other things to help, but those kids face a tough road ahead, in life and financially. The relatives who are guardians are not well off at all........

 

[pb4uski]

That is tragic. Hopefully the SS survivor benefits will be of help to them and the guardians. It floors me how many families don't have any life insurance - even a good term policy would be pretty reasonable at child rearing ages.

My Mom's and my DW's families face similar tragedy (not quite as bad) when the main breadwinners died early (auto accident and plane crash). They had their challenges but persevered.

 

[marko]

No life insurance + 3 kids + limited financials....and.....we thought it was a good idea to get a mortorcycle.

Brilliant!

Sad.

 

[Bestwifeever]

Sad.

Why do you think they didn't get life insurance, financedude?

 

[FUEGO]

Truly tragic. Hopefully the SS survivor's bennies will be adequate. In my personal case they would be close to $40,000 a year (in total) for our kids. We don't carry any extra life insurance other than the $10k and $150k provided by work.

 

[Dawg52]

That is sad. Sometimes when the word gets out(via tv), lots of donations come in. Last night on 60 minutes they replayed a story about homeless families living in trucks and cars. The family that was featured had 2 kids and they were awarded scholarships along with the family receiving a home rent free for a year.

A tough situation. Maybe the story will get some local media play which will inspire a lot of donations.

 

[Sue J]

A a 33 year old co-worker at my summer part time job got a strep infection, took a medication, had a tragic reaction and died of anaphylactic shock. He and his wife are both public school teachers so I hope he had life insurance. He also left a 2 year old daughter.

We got our first life insurance policies at age 26. DH left his job to get his master's degree and I wanted him to have the money to finish if I died before he graduated. It was small term policies. A few years later when we added a house and kids, we got much larger term policies and increased them again when we were in our mid 40's.

 

[FinanceDude]

Sad.

Why do you think they didn't get life insurance, financedude?

It is my experience that until people hit about 40-45 years old, they think they are invincible. It was just poor planning.........

 

[sheehs1]

Very sad...hopefully there is some insurance from their employer(s) and the SS survivor benefits should help.

 

[soupcxan]

A a 33 year old co-worker at my summer part time job got a strep infection, took a medication, had a tragic reaction and died of anaphylactic shock. He and his wife are both public school teachers so I hope he had life insurance. He also left a 2 year old daughter.

That is a real tragedy. Two idiots who choose a risky hobby, knowing the risks despite the fact they had kids, is just...idiotic.

 

[FinanceDude]

Very sad...hopefully there is some insurance from their employer(s) and the SS survivor benefits should help.

Life insurance from employers was a no, self-employed. I doubt there will be enough for three kids from SS to make a big difference.........

 

[frayne]

That is a real tragedy. Two idiots who choose a risky hobby, knowing the risks despite the fact they had kids, is just...idiotic.

They could have been killed in an auto accident just as easily, the real tragedy is they didn't provide for their children in the event of their untimely demise.

 

[ERD50]

That is a real tragedy. Two idiots who choose a risky hobby, knowing the risks despite the fact they had kids, is just...idiotic.

They could have been killed in an auto accident just as easily, ...

Just as easily? A car provides far more protection, you have seat belts, air bags, and metal around you. Motorcycles are far more dangerous than cars.

Motorcycle safety - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2006, 13.10 cars out of 100,000 ended up in fatal crashes. The rate for motorcycles is 72.34 per 100,000 registered motorcycles.[1] Motorcycles also have a higher fatality rate per unit of distance travelled when compared with automobiles. Per vehicle mile traveled, motorcyclists' risk of a fatal crash is 35 times greater than a passenger car.[1]

... the real tragedy is they didn't provide for their children in the event of their untimely demise.

The real tragedy is that they won't be around to raise their kids. Money can be replaced.

I have relatives, a husband and wife, who are both very responsible in all ways I can see, except for their motorcycle hobby. I bite my tongue, but fear someday I'll be kicking myself for not speaking up.

-ERD50

 

[frayne]

I'm 61 years old and have been riding a motorcycle since my teen years and well aware of the hazards of riding on two wheels and the accident stats associated with riding. Also a graduate of MSF training and have read the HURT report and familiar with many of the aspects of motorcycle accidents.

Yes it is tragic that they won't be around for their kids but IMHO it is irresponsible almost to the extent of being criminal not to have any life insurance in the event of one or both parents being killed or disabled. Term insurance is not that expensive or hard to get.

 

[frayne]

HURT Report

Summary of Findings
Throughout the accident and exposure data there are special observations which relate to accident and injury causation and characteristics of the motorcycle accidents studied. These findings are summarized as follows:

1. Approximately three-fourths of these motorcycle accidents involved collision with another vehicle, which was most usually a passenger automobile.
2. Approximately one-fourth of these motorcycle accidents were single vehicle accidents involving the motorcycle colliding with the roadway or some fixed object in the environment.
3. Vehicle failure accounted for less than 3% of these motorcycle accidents, and most of those were single vehicle accidents where control was lost due to a puncture flat.
4. In the single vehicle accidents, motorcycle rider error was present as the accident precipitating factor in about two-thirds of the cases, with the typical error being a slide-out and fall due to over-braking or running wide on a curve due to excess speed or under-cornering.
5. Roadway defects (pavement ridges, potholes, etc.) were the accident cause in 2% of the accidents; animal involvement was 1% of the accidents.
6. In the multiple vehicle accidents, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle right-of-way and caused the accident in two-thirds of those accidents.
7. The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision.
8. Deliberate hostile action by a motorist against a motorcycle rider is a rare accident cause. The most frequent accident configuration is the motorcycle proceeding straight then the automobile makes a left turn in front of the oncoming motorcycle.
9. Intersections are the most likely place for the motorcycle accident, with the other vehicle violating the motorcycle right-of-way, and often violating traffic controls.
10. Weather is not a factor in 98% of motorcycle accidents.
11. Most motorcycle accidents involve a short trip associated with shopping, errands, friends, entertainment or recreation, and the accident is likely to happen in a very short time close to the trip origin.
12. The view of the motorcycle or the other vehicle involved in the accident is limited by glare or obstructed by other vehicles in almost half of the multiple vehicle accidents.
13. Conspicuity of the motorcycle is a critical factor in the multiple vehicle accidents, and accident involvement is significantly reduced by the use of motorcycle headlamps (on in daylight) and the wearing of high visibility yellow, orange or bright red jackets.
14. Fuel system leaks and spills were present in 62% of the motorcycle accidents in the post-crash phase. This represents an undue hazard for fire.
15. The median pre-crash speed was 29.8 mph, and the median crash speed was 21.5 mph, and the one-in-a-thousand crash speed is approximately 86 mph.
16. The typical motorcycle pre-crash lines-of-sight to the traffic hazard portray no contribution of the limits of peripheral vision; more than three-fourths of all accident hazards are within 45deg of either side of straight ahead.
17. Conspicuity of the motorcycle is most critical for the frontal surfaces of the motorcycle and rider.
18. Vehicle defects related to accident causation are rare and likely to be due to deficient or defective maintenance.
19. Motorcycle riders between the ages of 16 and 24 are significantly overrepresented in accidents; motorcycle riders between the ages of 30 and 50 are significantly underrepresented. Although the majority of the accident-involved motorcycle riders are male (96%), the female motorcycles riders are significantly overrepresented in the accident data.
20. Craftsmen, laborers, and students comprise most of the accident-involved motorcycle riders. Professionals, sales workers, and craftsmen are underrepresented and laborers, students and unemployed are overrepresented in the accidents.
21. Motorcycle riders with previous recent traffic citations and accidents are overrepresented in the accident data.
22. The motorcycle riders involved in accidents are essentially without training; 92% were self-taught or learned from family or friends. Motorcycle rider training experience reduces accident involvement and is related to reduced injuries in the event of accidents.
23. More than half of the accident-involved motorcycle riders had less than 5 months experience on the accident motorcycle, although the total street riding experience was almost 3 years. Motorcycle riders with dirt bike experience are significantly underrepresented in the accident data.
24. Lack of attention to the driving task is a common factor for the motorcyclist in an accident.
25. Almost half of the fatal accidents show alcohol involvement.
26. Motorcycle riders in these accidents showed significant collision avoidance problems. Most riders would over-brake and skid the rear wheel, and under-brake the front wheel greatly reducing collision avoidance deceleration. The ability to countersteer and swerve was essentially absent.
27. The typical motorcycle accident allows the motorcyclist just less than 2 seconds to complete all collision avoidance action.
28. Passenger-carrying motorcycles are not overrepresented in the accident area.
29. The driver of the other vehicles involved in collision with the motorcycle are not distinguished from other accident populations except that the ages of 20 to 29, and beyond 65 are overrepresented. Also, these drivers are generally unfamiliar with motorcycles.
30. The large displacement motorcycles are underrepresented in accidents but they are associated with higher injury severity when involved in accidents.
31. Any effect of motorcycle color on accident involvement is not determinable from these data, but is expected to be insignificant because the frontal surfaces are most often presented to the other vehicle involved in the collision.
32. Motorcycles equipped with fairings and windshields are underrepresented in accidents, most likely because of the contribution to conspicuity and the association with more experienced and trained riders.
33. Motorcycle riders in these accidents were significantly without motorcycle license, without any license, or with license revoked.
34. Motorcycle modifications such as those associated with the semi-chopper or cafe racer are definitely overrepresented in accidents.
35. The likelihood of injury is extremely high in these motorcycle accidents-98% of the multiple vehicle collisions and 96% of the single vehicle accidents resulted in some kind of injury to the motorcycle rider; 45% resulted in more than a minor injury.
36. Half of the injuries to the somatic regions were to the ankle-foot, lower leg, knee, and thigh-upper leg.
37. Crash bars are not an effective injury countermeasure; the reduction of injury to the ankle-foot is balanced by increase of injury to the thigh-upper leg, knee, and lower leg.
38. The use of heavy boots, jacket, gloves, etc., is effective in preventing or reducing abrasions and lacerations, which are frequent but rarely severe injuries.
39. Groin injuries were sustained by the motorcyclist in at least 13% of the accidents, which typified by multiple vehicle collision in frontal impact at higher than average speed.
40. Injury severity increases with speed, alcohol involvement and motorcycle size.
41. Seventy-three percent of the accident-involved motorcycle riders used no eye protection, and it is likely that the wind on the unprotected eyes contributed in impairment of vision which delayed hazard detection.
42. Approximately 50% of the motorcycle riders in traffic were using safety helmets but only 40% of the accident-involved motorcycle riders were wearing helmets at the time of the accident.
43. Voluntary safety helmet use by those accident-involved motorcycle riders was lowest for untrained, uneducated, young motorcycle riders on hot days and short trips.
44. The most deadly injuries to the accident victims were injuries to the chest and head.
45. The use of the safety helmet is the single critical factor in the prevention of reduction of head injury; the safety helmet which complies with FMVSS 218 is a significantly effective injury countermeasure.
46. Safety helmet use caused no attenuation of critical traffic sounds, no limitation of precrash visual field, and no fatigue or loss of attention; no element of accident causation was related to helmet use.
47. FMVSS 218 provides a high level of protection in traffic accidents, and needs modification only to increase coverage at the back of the head and demonstrate impact protection of the front of full facial coverage helmets, and insure all adult sizes for traffic use are covered by the standard.
48. Helmeted riders and passengers showed significantly lower head and neck injury for all types of injury, at all levels of injury severity.
49. The increased coverage of the full facial coverage helmet increases protection, and significantly reduces face injuries.
50. There is not liability for neck injury by wearing a safety helmet; helmeted riders had less neck injuries than unhelmeted riders. Only four minor injuries were attributable to helmet use, and in each case the helmet prevented possible critical or fatal head injury.
51. Sixty percent of the motorcyclists were not wearing safety helmets at the time of the accident. Of this group, 26% said they did not wear helmets because they were uncomfortable and inconvenient, and 53% simply had no expectation of accident involvement.
52. Valid motorcycle exposure data can be obtained only from collection at the traffic site. Motor vehicle or driver license data presents information which is completely unrelated to actual use.
53. Less than 10% of the motorcycle riders involved in these accidents had insurance of any kind to provide medical care or replace property.

 

[LeavingOhio]

Couple with 3 kids under 18 goes on a motorcycle ride. They crash and both die. I know the people, a real tragedy. Turns out there they have NO life insurance of any kind........

The community has been doing fundraising and other things to help, but those kids face a tough road ahead, in life and financially. The relatives who are guardians are not well off at all........

My wife and I each have policies that would pay off the house and give about $150,000 on top of that to the kids if one of us were to die. If we were to both die, the house could be paid for and they'd get about $400,000 after that plus a year's salary from my job. Not enough for them to not work ever, but enough to help them and their caregivers a bit. We have term policies that run out once the kids are done with college. I have no plans to get more life insurance after that...at that point we will have no debt including owning our home outright. At age 60, we will buy long-term health care insurance, but no more life insurance after kids are done with college.

 

[Jay_Gatsby]

My wife and I each have policies that would pay off the house and give about $150,000 on top of that to the kids if one of us were to die. If we were to both die, the house could be paid for and they'd get about $400,000 after that plus a year's salary from my job. Not enough for them to not work ever, but enough to help them and their caregivers a bit. We have term policies that run out once the kids are done with college. I have no plans to get more life insurance after that...at that point we will have no debt including owning our home outright. At age 60, we will buy long-term health care insurance, but no more life insurance after kids are done with college.

All wise advice.

 

[veremchuka]

My wife and I each have policies that would pay off the house and give about $150,000 on top of that to the kids if one of us were to die. If we were to both die, the house could be paid for and they'd get about $400,000 after that plus a year's salary from my job. Not enough for them to not work ever, but enough to help them and their caregivers a bit. We have term policies that run out once the kids are done with college. I have no plans to get more life insurance after that...at that point we will have no debt including owning our home outright. At age 60, we will buy long-term health care insurance, but no more life insurance after kids are done with college.

I hope you have a revocable living trust to "inherit" the money, children can't inherit money. The state you live in would step in and I doubt that'll end well. Just sayin'.

 

[winger]

That is a real tragedy. Two idiots who choose a risky hobby, knowing the risks despite the fact they had kids, is just...idiotic.

As a long-time rider, I'm somewhat in agreement with you. It is a risky hobby, but the risk can be mitigated.

It's always been my theory that no one under 30 should have a street bike. It's not surprising that the Hurt Report shows alcohol or inexperience involved in many accidents.

I looked on the net for the 10 deadliest occupations in the US. If someone works in these fields and has small children, are they also idiots?

1. Logger
2. Pilot
3. Fisher
4. Iron/Steel Worker
5. Garbage Collector
6. Farmer/Rancher
7. Roofer
8. Electrical Power Installer/Repairer
9. Sales, Delivery, and Other Truck Driver
10. Taxi Driver/Chauffeur

 

[growing_older]

It isn't only people with risky hobbies, like motorcycling, that can die. Any parent should have adequate life insurance. No matter what occupation or hobbies they have, parents can die before their children can support themselves, and that's what life insurance is for.

 

[rescueme]

Couple with 3 kids under 18 (snip)

How much under 18?

 

[ls99]

Life lived without taking risks is boring. At least IMHO. Not providing for kids in the event of demise is not good.

OTOH the kids now have good motivation to do well. Or not. Their choice.

 

[marko]

Life lived without taking risks is boring.

I'm sure their children aren't bored right now.

 

[Sue J]

As a long-time rider, I'm somewhat in agreement with you. It is a risky hobby, but the risk can be mitigated.

It's always been my theory that no one under 30 should have a street bike. It's not surprising that the Hurt Report shows alcohol or inexperience involved in many accidents.

I looked on the net for the 10 deadliest occupations in the US. If someone works in these fields and has small children, are they also idiots?

1. Logger
2. Pilot
3. Fisher
4. Iron/Steel Worker
5. Garbage Collector
6. Farmer/Rancher
7. Roofer
8. Electrical Power Installer/Repairer
9. Sales, Delivery, and Other Truck Driver
10. Taxi Driver/Chauffeur

When I was 19 I was a taxi driver in Cleveland, OH for the summer. I didn't realize how dangerous it was until a survey like this came out years later. I had no children, no debt and no one depending on me for financial support. I enjoyed the job and saved every penny including the tips.

I'm older and wiser now and would not take a risky job like that again. Too many kooks/drunks/low-lifes out there who would see a cab driver as an easy target.

 

[Dreamer]

Life insurance from employers was a no, self-employed. I doubt there will be enough for three kids from SS to make a big difference.........

I hope that they were the type of people to claim all of their earnings from self-employment. I have seen a few cases where they either had very low earnings from self-employment or losses for a lot of years. They were primarily concerned with shielding their income and not having to pay taxes. It can come back to hurt you or in this case their children. I hope that they did well in their business and their children will receive a high social security benefit.