Big v. Small: we know who wins and who loses
We lost another fellow rider yesterday. There’s simply no contest between a motorcycle and a semi-truck. However, it could have just as easily been a regular pickup truck or a car. The enjoyment of the freedom and open air experience of riding is great for everyone, and all drivers of all vehicles must always exercise “the highest degree of care” when driving; that’s the legal standard. And, the law defines “the highest degree of care” as “that degree of care that a very careful or prudent person would exercise in the same or similar circumstances.” This is the legal standard for all drivers on our public roadways as set forth in Missouri Statute Section 304.012 RSMo. There is no higher standard of carefulness, and anything less than this is legal negligence. Is it a very high standard? Yes, it is because it is designed to protect life and liberty. I’m sure the truck driver feels bad about what happened. We don’t know what caused the driver to lose control of the truck, but losing control and killing an innocent member of our community is simply wrong. As I’ve long said, accidents happen, but crashes can be avoided, and this one should have been avoided through the use of the highest standard of care, and no one would have died that way, that day.
Please, be extremely careful, not just “ordinarily careful,” always use the highest degree of care when you drive, and everyone can get home safely every day.