A retired national politician vacationing in Florida changed lanes directly into a group of eight motorcycles riding in formation on an organized weekend ride. Three of the motorcyclists were thrown to the ground and injured. A young woman riding as a passenger on one of the motorcycles, who was wearing a helmet, sustained a serious head injury resulting in a prolonged coma. Through exhaustive rehabilitation efforts, the young woman was able to emerge from the comma and regain the majority of her intellectual functioning.