Bookmark & share: 
Welcome to reader comments forum, which is offered as
a "public square" for our audience. We view this space as our readers'
section of the Web site, separate from our journalistic offerings.
We hope you will use the forum to advance public dialogue and community
discourse. As such, we ask that participants refrain from personal
attacks and offensive comments. If you believe a comment is inappropriate or
offensive, you can bring it to our attention by clicking on the 'report
abuse' link by the comment. It will be reviewed by online staff.
Please understand that 1) a comment is not "inappropriate" solely
because you disagree with its author; and 2) there may be a delay while
the comment is being reviewed.
Please review our Reader Comment Guidelines.
Sort by: Oldest first | Newest First
Nelson Donnell
of West Gardiner, ME
When I was a much younger man back in 72' and the legal speed limits on I-95 use to be 70 mph, I hit a raccoon at night just after a brief shower. My custom made soft-tail motorcycle broke front wheel traction and went into a high speed wobble and slide. As the bike went down and I was thrown from it, the handle bars of the bike caught the back of my helmet and shoved my face so hard into the pavement that my nose broke in several places, a hole was ground in my chin ground through to the bone, my front teeth got knocked out, torn the right portion of my upper lip in half and my left eye popped out of its socket and was hanging on my cheek when I arrived at the hospital about a half an hour later.
My head swelled up so large from the forced impact that even my family and close friends didn't recognize me when they came to visit me later in the hospital. I was back riding that same scooter again within 3 weeks after the accident.
So helmets aren't always the answer for every spill on the highway, but after that accident, I went to using a full protection helmet. I personally feel that wearing a helmet is still a decision that the legal aged rider must make for themselves.report abuse
Apr 25, 2008 10:43 PM
The article doesn't mention anything about Mr. Spencer having passed away from traumatic head injuries that wearing a helmet may have prevented. He could have just as easily died from internal injuries or a broken neck.
When I was a much younger man back in 72' and the legal speed limits on I-95 use to be 70 mph, I hit a raccoon at night just after a brief shower. My custom made soft-tail motorcycle broke front wheel traction and went into a high speed wobble and slide. As the bike went down and I was thrown from it, the handle bars of the bike caught the back of my helmet and shoved my face so hard into the pavement that my nose broke in several places, a hole was ground in my chin ground through to the bone, my front teeth got knocked out, torn the right portion of my upper lip in half and my left eye popped out of its socket and was hanging on my cheek when I arrived at the hospital about a half an hour later.
My head swelled up so large from the forced impact that even my family and close friends didn't recognize me when they came to visit me later in the hospital. I was back riding that same scooter again within 3 weeks after the accident.
So helmets aren't always the answer for every spill on the highway, but after that accident, I went to using a full protection helmet. I personally feel that wearing a helmet is still a decision that the legal aged rider must make for themselves.report abuse
Dana
of sebago, ME
Apr 25, 2008 9:03 PM
the family of this man will be in our prayersreport abusePhilip
of Lewiston, ME
Apr 25, 2008 8:38 PM
Someday an insurance company will put in their policy-If you get into a motorcycle accident and you are not wearing a helmet, you are not covered.report abuseArthur Riddick
of Portland, ME
Well, Webster's dictionary definition of the word does not agree with yours. I'll trust them for the correct use in the language.report abuse
Apr 25, 2008 8:30 PM
Nonsense, Mike123. By your definition, there's no such thing as an automobile accident at all, since they all have a cause and are therefore preventable.
Well, Webster's dictionary definition of the word does not agree with yours. I'll trust them for the correct use in the language.report abuse
You must be a registered user of MaineToday.com to post a comment. Register or log in.
