Risk Management Magazine

Within minutes, the water reached our calves. Still, never once did any of us consider what could happen next. If we had, we would have put on our life jackets, but no one even mentioned it. Just as the shore came into sight, a large wave struck the boat, causing it to capsize.

The drive to Colorado was enjoyable as I saw the trees turning beautiful shades of gold, brown and red. As luck would have it, winter came early to Colorado, bringing with it the first of many snowstorms. We didn’t get a lot of snow where I lived in west Texas and, when it did fall, the highways, roads and schools all closed. Because of that, I didn’t know how to handle driving in the snow.

Considering the circumstances, I count myself lucky. When compared to the statistics, surviving a motorcycle accident is no small feat. There’s a saying that riders know all too well: It’s not a matter of if you will fall, crash or drop your bike, but a matter of when. That night, my "when" arrived.