MOTOCROSS CHAMPION KURT CASELLI DIES FROM INJURIES IN CRASH
Thirty-year-old Palmdale native and motocross champion Kurt Caselli died Friday after losing control and crashing during a race in Mexico’s Baja California. Caselli was racing in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 when he crashed and died from his injuries. (ABC News, Motorcycle Racer Kurt Caselli Dies After Crash, November 17, 2013)
KTM Factory Team, for which Caselli was racing, said there was evidence on his bike that he collided with a small animal, causing the collision. The head of KTM Motorsports issued the following statement:
“Kurt was much more than a very talented rider; he was also an exceptional team player. He represented and lived by the values and the passion for racing that lies at the very core of KTM. Our sport has lost more than a great rider; we have also lost an excellent ambassador for off-road racing.” *
Caselli leaves behind his family in Palmdale and a fiancee. While he did not leave behind any dependents, his death highlights that no one is ever too young to invest in life or disability insurance.
“Young people always assume it won’t happen to me. They look at the odds of dying in their mid-20’s to early 30’s and think the investment isn’t worth it. Yet, you never know when disaster will strike. For those in high-risk professions like Caselli, there’s an even bigger reason to invest in those types of insurance,” says Frank N. Darras, disability lawyer to the pros.
The good news for those in their 20’s and early 30’s is that both life and disability insurance are cheap. Investing in a policy now will save young adults thousands of dollars later since they can lock in their premium at reduced rates now.
“The younger you are, the cheaper it is. The healthier you are, the lower your premiums will be. You’ll be surprised at just how minimal the investment is. If you’re offered a policy through your employer, take it. Not only will it be cheaper, but you can get it taken out of your paycheck and won’t even notice it’s gone,” says Darras.
In addition to saving money, investing in a policy while an individual is healthy will also take out the risk of being unable to obtain life or disability insurance at an affordable cost or even at all.
Once an individual’s health becomes too high risk, no one will insure them. The only way around it is to invest in an employer’s group policy that does not require a health exam and a policy like that can be difficult to come by.
“Pay the extra $50 a month and don’t look back. It will be the best decision you ever make. It may seem like a financial stretch now, but it will save you money in the long-run,” says Darras.
- Source: ABC News, Motorcycle Racer Kurt Caselli Dies After Crash, November 17, 2013