A common factor that we see in motorcycle accidents involves a driver's inability to see a motorcyclist. All too often, this is the result of driver inattention or a driver's failure to look for a motorcycle.

On September 12, 2011, a student was leaving his college campus on his motorcycle when he suffered the unthinkable. As he was driving, he was compelled to swerve his bike to avoid a motorcycle accident with a vehicle that pulled out in front of him, apparently without seeing him. In an effort to protect himself, he attempted to lay his bike down and skidded before he collided with a third vehicle, a BMW. The man became pinned beneath the vehicle.

The victim's motorcycle and the BMW came to a halt and both quickly became engulfed in flames. Had it not been for almost a dozen concerned bystanders who rushed to his aid, the man may very well have died. As several bystanders lifted the vehicle, another man pulled the victim from the wreckage. The victim was originally taken to the hospital where he was stated to be in critical condition. The man suffered road rash, a burn on his left foot, and several broken bones.

It was also reported that the victim remembered everything about the motorcycle accident. Several of the people, who did not think twice before putting themselves in danger to offer assistance, have spoken out about the ordeal expressing their heroism as an act any decent human would have done if faced with a similar situation. The victim and his family have expressed their deepest gratitude to all those who, with quick thinking and compassion, came to his rescue and essentially saved his life.

Source: Desert News, "USU motorcyclist thankful to bystanders for gift of life," Shara Park, Sept. 13, 2011