Why is this important?
ANSWER:
Lautenberg is now chair of the transportation committee and he is anti-states rights on this issue.
This is a fluff anecdote story with no real facts.
The rider was listed as 21 and was in a mandatory helmet state. Did he have a motorcycle license? Not just an auto license, an full motorcycle endorsement.
How long was this 21 year old riding? Per some of my personal injury attorney colegues, motorcycle cause accidents generally if not always involve a less than 6 month experience rider AND/OR no license. The less than 6 month survival rate increases IF the rider has taken a safety class.
The cold fact of life is that 70% of all car / motorcycle accidents are the auto drivers fault. This is why Personal Injury attorney's like motorcycle cases. Also motorcycles are generall NOT part of the no fault insurance systems.
Ironic this comes from the LA Times since more motorcycles on the road mean a friendlier environmental impact.
Where did you pull that statistic from? Biker's World?
Did he have a motorcycle license? Not just an auto license, an full motorcycle endorsement.