Mission

What is The Down Rider Foundation?

The Down Rider Foundation is a non-profit organization formed and driven by members who believe that the camaraderie and fraternity of the motorcycle community compels us to take care of our own, whenever possible, because we recognize that someday the next person who needs help could very well be ourselves.

How Does It Work?

We provide prompt, short-term financial assistance to motorcyclists who have been injured while riding, due to no fault of their own, so that they can keep a roof over their heads, food on the table, and have basic transportation to get to the doctor until they can get back on their feet again. These are grants, not loans – the rider is not required ever to pay it back, although he or she may wish to once their financial circumstances permit (more on that later).

Why the Need For The Down Rider Foundation?

It’s simple physics: In a collision between a motorcycle rider and an automobile, the car wins every time. Accidents that might result in a minor fender-scrape for a car represent potentially severe or even fatal injuries for a motorcyclist. Serious injuries typically take from three to four months to recover, and the “down rider” can’t work. Faced with an employee who can’t work, employers will often terminate the injured rider. While it is ideal and prudent to have three months’ worth of living expenses in savings, probably 95 percent of us do not have that sort of a cushion, and the insurance company might take years to pay a claim. With no income, and no way to work, the “down rider” can’t pay the heat or food bills, can’t pay for his medicine, and worse, could lose his house and transportation.Many of us depend on a motorcycle for transportation, and circumstances often prevent riders from being able to purchase insurance. For these riders, there is no financial safety net. But even for those of us with insurance, the gap in time between an accident and a fair settlement can place us at risk of losing everything. If we go down, we run the risk of becoming a burden to our family, our friends and/or fellow club members. The Down Rider Foundation provides a desperately needed safety net until you get back on your feet.

At the same time, the foundation provides resources and other services related to the accident, including financial planning, debt counseling and legal advice.