Florida Harley Motorcycle Dealer Killed
Anyone from Daytona Beach, Florida knows the area is synonymous with Harley-Davidson motorcycles and also is synonymous with one of the largest Harley-Davidson dealers in the country, Bruce Rossmeyer. Ironically, Rossmeyer was on a motorcycle trip around the country when he died in a motorcycle crash on his way to a rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, according to a report.
Rossmeyer, 66, and five of his friends were traveling on Highway 28 around 11 in the morning when they approached a pickup truck pulling a camper. Four of the motorcycles passed on the left, but when Rossmeyer tried to do the same thing, the driver put on his left turn signal and turned left. Rossmeyer hit the truck’s driver door. He was not wearing a helmet and died at the scene.
We are so sorry for the passing of this man who was as known for his contributions to the community and children’s charities. He helped found the Camp Boggy Creek for children with life-threatening illnesses as well as the Boys & Girls Clubs. Rossmeyer always said the kids in the club reminded him of himself when he was a young man and got in a lot of trouble. He leaves behind his wife Sandra and five children.
Rossmeyer was an entrepreneur with 13 Harley dealerships in Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Mississippi and Tennessee.Additionally, Rossmeyer co-owned three car dealerships. He also owned a complex in Daytona Beach that includes shops and restaurants which employed about 500.
Ironically, Florida does not have a helmet law for adult motorcycle riders and neither does Wyoming, the state in which Rossmeyer died.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, while helmet laws change, by 2003 about 21 states require all riders to wear helmets. The others require their use for younger riders, age 20 and below while adults are exempt.
But motorcycle fatalities have steadily increased over the past decade to 5,154 in 2007; the last federal statistics available from NHTSA.
That’s why May 2009 was designated “Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month”. All motorists were urged to safely share the road with motorcyclists while motorcyclists were urged to make themselves visible to motorists, in case they were not looking out for riders on bikes.
Motorcycles are some of the smallest vehicles on our roads, often hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot. Part of the “Share the Road” cooperation between motorists and motorcyclists encouraged motorists to check for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic and at intersections.
Again our condolences go out to the many family and friends who are suffering with the loss of Rossmeyer.
If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle accident in Florida, the skilled Jacksonville motorcycle accident lawyers at Farah and Farah can help you receive compensation for damages and financial struggles associated with your injuries. If you have lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, our personal injury attorneys are also experienced in wrongful death litigation. Call Farah and Farah today for a free consultation.
