MOTORCYCLE RALLY OFFERS CHANCE TO DISCUSS MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS

A recent June 28 motorcycle rally held in Drums, Pennsylvania, helped raise money for veterans. The event is called the UNICO Motorcycle Charity Run and operates in partnership with the Keystone Wounded Warriors. UNICO is an acronym representing Unity, Neighborliness, Charity and Opportunity. The non-profit helps veterans wounded after Sept. 11, 2001 who are facing hardship of some kind. The rally, which was held last Saturday, marked the fourth year of the annual event

A spokesperson for UNICO’s Hazelton, Pennsylvania, chapter says that in the past UNICO was geared on only assisting seriously ill people. He says that the organization saw that there were also some veterans who also needed help. Originally, UNICO got its start as an Italian-American service organization found in 1922. The rally normally receives about 100 biker participants and brings in roughly $4,000 in charitable proceeds each year. They are expecting similar numbers for this year’s event.

A board member for the Keystone Wounded Warriors says that their organization has experienced tremendous growth in the last several years. He says that when they first began, they were able to assist about six people over the course of six months. Now he estimates that the non-profit hauls in about $250,000 per year and can reach a much wider base. Keystone Wounded Warriors prides itself on forwarding about 80 percent of all donations towards non-cash assistance to veterans, such as rent, bills and other financial obstacles.

Event organizers put together an impromptu concert by converting a flatbed truck into a stage for several music acts. There were also bikini-clad girls running a car wash, and a raffle for a custom-made motorcycle valued at $50,000.

Now that summer is in full swing, there are a lot more motorcyclists sharing the road with cars, trucks and SUVs. Due to their smaller size, distracted or impaired motorists sometimes overlook motorcycles in their path or riding in the lane next to them. Even a tap from an average-sized car can cause a motorcycle to go careening out of control. There are no airbags or seat belts on motorcycles. Too often,motorcycle accidents result in broken bones, head and neck trauma, road rash and a host of other injuries.

Motorcyclists who are injured as the result of a preventable accident may be entitled to sue for compensation. In some cases, they may be able to recover money for lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering and other damages.

Source: Timesleader.com, “Bikers hold charity ride for Pa. veterans,” June 28, 2014