# Florida lawyer who successfully fought Florida's motorcycle helmet law dies in a motorcycle accident while not wearing a helmet **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 25, 2022, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779 "2022-10-25T20:59:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Apodder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apodder/32/17727_2.png) [@Apodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apodder)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779/61 "2022-10-26T20:57:59Z")
Critical care nurse here: we call them “donorcycles”. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779/62 "2022-10-26T20:59:52Z")
A friend of mine worked for the fire department and his wife was a nurse. They both called them donorcycles. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779/63 "2022-10-26T21:02:18Z")
From the story: _…were on their way to a funeral…_ They just didn’t realize it was their own. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779/64 "2022-10-26T21:20:17Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > They just didn’t realize it was their own. Yeahhhhhhhh! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779/65 "2022-10-26T21:34:31Z")
I hate to rain on your (or their) parade, but we’re _all_ on the way to our own funeral. Some of us just taking more circuitous or more interesting or quicker routes than others. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779/66 "2022-10-26T21:35:17Z")
And some taking shorter, more direct routes. Like you said. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779/67 "2022-10-26T23:23:03Z")
Not so much helmetless motorcycle riders, because they are less likely to even make it to the hospital in any kind of condition resembling an organ donor, let alone alive, but all-terrain vehicles? Yep, every spring my old hospital would see one person after another admitted under Gift of Hope protocols, as an organ donor candidate. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779/68 "2022-10-26T23:28:01Z")
Years ago, one of those “stupid criminals” stories was about a bank robber who thought his motorcycle helmet would make a great disguise, and it would have, if it hadn’t had his name on it. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779/69 "2022-10-26T23:47:20Z")
Proof that having a law degree doesn’t guarantee intelligence. Not wearing protective gear when they are readily available is just plain dumb. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779/70 "2022-10-27T01:35:48Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Proof that having a law degree doesn’t guarantee intelligence. Och, the stories I could tell … ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779/71 "2022-10-27T01:38:57Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Proof that having a law degree doesn’t guarantee intelligence. Not wearing protective gear when they are readily available is just plain dumb. Or if you’re a DnD player, it shows the difference between intelligence and wisdom. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779/72 "2022-10-27T03:30:58Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Proof that having a law degree doesn’t guarantee intelligence. Not wearing protective gear when they are readily available is just plain dumb. As the saying goes, you dress for the fall, not for the ride. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779/73 "2022-10-27T11:24:21Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > You may be “tough” having bugs and rocks bouncing off your face all day, along with all the wind blasting you, but you also risk facial injuries. I have a full helmet. But one time I was wearing a brain bucket because it was exceedingly hot out and the full helmet was uncomfortable. Figured better than nothing. Except a vehicle kicked up a rock at 70+ MPH. That rock clipped my ear. BUNOVASNITCH did that freaking hurt!!! Woke up the next day with a hugely cauliflowered ear. Had to go to the doctor and get it drained. Had I worn the full helmet my ears would have been covered and that rock would have just grazed off. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779/74 "2022-10-27T13:31:59Z")
Yeah, when I was younger and rode sport bikes I took a junebug to the faceplate at a high rate of speed (100-ish). Snapped my head back pretty good, and helmetless could have been a disaster. Nothing like a sport bike, but a vehicle that only becomes fun over 70 or 80 (i.e. 2nd gear) is begging for trouble. Low speed falls–an acquaintance was walking his dog on a bike path riding his MTB at walking speeds. The dog darted in front of him and he went head-first into the pavement. Spent quite some time learning to talk again. Wear a damn helmet. I only ride dirt anymore and in full kit all the time. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779/75 "2022-10-27T13:35:15Z")
I’ve come to believe that these sort of riders should have to officially declare their helmetlessness and then pay double the insurance that helmeted riders pay. Shouldn’t be able to have their cake… ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779/76 "2022-10-27T14:02:41Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > pay double the insurance that helmeted But the insurance that needs doubling is their medical insurance, not their motorcycle insurance. At least in the US I really don’t think as a society we want to entrench the power of the medical insurance bureaucracy any farther into our lives. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779/77 "2022-10-27T14:12:08Z")
On this issue at least, I’m perfectly willing. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779/78 "2022-10-27T14:22:44Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Despite the sanctimonious opinions here, most motorcyclist deaths are caused by vehicles turning left in front of them. And a large percentage of motorcycle crashes (42% in one recent year) are _single-vehicle accidents_ - no car or truck involved. The idea of helmets is to increase your chances of coming out of an accident without a fatal head injury or lifelong disability from brain trauma, regardless of who’s at fault. As for the claim that neither of the victims in the OP’s link would have been helped by wearing a helmet, the story doesn’t establish that. '“It’s entirely possible that if they were wearing a helmet they might have survived, but again, we can’t say for sure. It certainly would have improved their odds,” said Eric Teoh, who has researched motorcycle safety at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety." An important takeaway from this story is that freedumb advocates endanger not only themselves, but others who are taken in by their arguments. It may appear unseemly to point a finger at victims of this and other types of foolishness, like that of [Kelly Canon](https://news.yahoo.com/conservative-activist-dies-covid-complications-160815615.html), but their influence can have important, detrimental repercussions. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779/79 "2022-10-27T17:57:22Z")
For me it’s about weighing the risks and deciding what’s right for me. It’s my choice to wear a helmet, leathers, boots and gloves because of the type of bike, and the riding conditions encountered. I want protection from wind, rain, road debris. I push back against those who are giving up high fives because the guy who fought against the inferior law died in a motorcycle accident. It’s a risky hobby, and they are many many drivers on the road that already hate two wheeled conveyances. This thread reinforces that hate. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779/80 "2022-10-27T23:34:18Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > That’s exactly how many in the medical community (and the racing community) label them: organ donors. I’d heard the vehicles referred to as “donorcycles”. I suspect that the lawyer in question was not an organ donor, sadly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-lawyer-who-successfully-fought-floridas-motorcycle-helmet-law-dies-in-a-motorcycle-accident-while-not-wearing-a-helmet/973779.md?page=5)