Originally Posted by SSP
I was sideswiped on Feb. 18th by an idiot pulling a wide trailer and put on the ground. I was traveling 40 mph, and the guy who hit me was probably going close to 55.
Thankfully, the trailer wheels didn't run over me, I didn't bounce off the trailer, and I took a fairly good fall.
Wow, bad as your injuries were, you were fortunate your injuries weren't worse. Obviously the idiot caused you to fall, but do you think your injuries are mostly if not totally related to hitting the ground at 40 mph without being stopped by an immoveable object like a guard rail or tree. In other words, the motor vehicle caused the fall but its velocity didn't add to the trauma. I suspect your own speed would be irrelevant if your body was struck broadside by a vehicle going 40 mph. Or the motor vehicle speed would be irrelevant (it could even be stopped) if you struck the side of it at 40 mph and were instantly decelerated to 0MPH.