I need help . . .

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
I need help . . .
7
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 1:41pm
So here is the deal. As some of you may know, my ex races motorcross and has purchased our 6 year old a motorcross bike and is teaching him to race.

In the past 3 weeks, 2 boys under the age of 10 have been involved in accidents and are now paralyzed from the neck down, and 1 boy was killed. All on the track that my son is learning on. The fatality occured during a race, and the other two boys were simply practicing on the open track.

I don't want ds to race/ride AT ALL anymore. Ex says these are just freak accidents, he's been racing for years, it's a safe sport, blah, blah, blah. I'm furious, freaked out, and I don't want him riding anymore. I can't stand the thought of something happening to him.

I've been doing some research on the internet, trying to find sports injuries/fatalities statistics - and I can't come up with ANYTHING.

Any of you have time and/or the know how and can post some links for me????

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 4:27pm
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 4:36pm
and some more here, but I'm finding a lot more motocross lobbying articles than anti...people want to do this stuff even if it's dangerous...but sheesh, getting little kids into it?

http://www.motocrossjumps.com/whatyoucando.html

Avatar for cl_beckty
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 5:45pm

Glad Candi had some luck! Min, I tried to find some and came up with nothing. But I thought maybe you might have some luck emailing/contacting someone at the motocross sites and asking where you can get stats (w/OUT saying you were interested because you want to present it to your ex as a way to keep him from allowing ds to ride)


hugs to you. I'd be out of my mind not having control of the situation. I'll pray that a good solution presents itself quickly!

Becky

Becky

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 6:12pm
Thanks, Candi. I found the one Pittsburgh article by the doctor, and she sites one of the main problems. Injuries on dirt bikes, 4 wheelers, etc., often are not reported so there is no way to track them. ACK. I also found 100 articles in response to that doctor's article. Yes, there are freak accidents, they all say, but there are more deaths in baseball every year (which actually DOES have a high fatality rate! WHO KNEW?!) than are in motorcross. EASY FOR THEM TO SAY AS NO ONE IS COUNTING!

Ex called me this afternoon and wanted to "talk about it" and "make me feel better about it". I told him that he can talk all he wants, I won't feel better about it. I feel sick about it. TT and I discussed it last night, and TT suggested having ex sign something stating if anything happens, he will be responsible for all medical bills, etc. Which is fine, but that's really not the point, and TT knows it's not, he's simply trying to think of ANYTHING that will get Jojo off a motorcycle. I don't care who is footing the bill - if he ends up hospitalized, paralyzed, OR DEAD due to motorcross, my ex better go into hiding because I'll kill him.

We had one of those huge trampolines when we were married. Loved it. Played on it all of the time. I was working with an insurance company at that time, and the claims handler (she was handling the construction defect claim I was working on for a hotel I worked at) said she couldn't believe I would have one, and sent me a packet that had all of the injuries, fatalities, etc., on it a week later. I took the packet home to my ex, and he ripped down that trampoline quicker than you could blink an eye.

But he won't take him off the bike. He won't take him off the bike even though he has a metal leg, and can't have any more kids due to having permanently injured his testicles, vas tubes, etc., during motocross. He won't take him off the bike even though 2 boys at the SAME TRACK our son practices on were PARALYZED from the neck down during practice, and one boy was KILLED during a race, and racing is why my son is practicing so much!

I called the family attorney I used to work for, and asked him if I could do anything to stop him. Take him to court, anything. And he told me no. As long as my ex provides him proper instruction and safety equipment, there is nothing I can do.

I feel sick about this.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Tue, 10-12-2004 - 6:32pm
Min! I would be sick with worry over this too. The only thing I can think of is possibly trying to meet with the parents or the kids who were hurt. Maybe they could help? It's a long shot though.

Best of luck to you with this. I know I would be a nervous wreck. Sorry there is nothing else I can say to help.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 10-13-2004 - 10:26am
maybe an insurance person could get some stats for you on motocross?
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-19-2002
Wed, 10-13-2004 - 10:58am

"I called the family attorney I used to work for, and asked him if I could do anything to stop him. Take him to court, anything. And he told me no. As long as my ex provides him proper instruction and safety equipment, there is nothing I can do."


Min, I'd ask another attorney.