Advocacy & Safety - Trans Am Hit Me Head On, Literally

Hey all. I'm new to this forum and look forward to reading about all of your experiences. I wanted to throw mine into the mix. My accident was on March 30 of this year.. and got a lot of attention in various forums, so forgive me if it is old news to you... but I still wanted to share my experience and continue to drive home the fact that if I had not had a helmet on, I believe I would be dead. My story, and some gory photos, are here: http://www.jrmints.com/blog/

http://www.jrmints.com/biking/2008/08_0330_accident/photos/Picture-427.jpg

I look forward to getting to know you all.

Paula

Welcome to the forum. :) I'm glad to hear you're still around and able to ride after your crash.

Wow, now I wish I could unsee some of those pictures. Otherwise, glad you're okay.

You're pretty! :innocent:

And I liked your gravy story!

Glad your ok a resuming your life. I read the whold blog and its an amazing story. Few cyclist victems post here with that much detail about what happens after the crash. Your a strong lady.

Thanks for all the detail and Great Pics.

Welcome to the forums. Your blog is very interesting and does a nice job chronicling many aspects of your accident and recovery. I think it very plainly shows how a sudden event that takes just a few seconds to transpire can have such long lasting effects.

OMG thank you for sharing..
if we can ask. was the driver cited if so for what and the results if you know.
Weh you did Ak did you have friends around you protecteing you ike domestiques protecting the yellow?

Glad to see you healed so well.

Welcome to the Forum. Thank you for sharing your experience. Glad to learn you are healing up.

I must admit that as soon as I read "Trans AM", I thought "The driver was male, in his early 20's, and the car had a playboy air freshener hanging from the rear view mirror." Boy, was I wrong.

Please keep us posted on this.

WOW. I'm glad you're ok!!

Very glad you're OK! What's going to happen to the stupid driver?

Welcome, and glad you're OK. Thanks for sharing the story, it's another reminder to me of why I always wear a helmet.

Good to see that you've done well as you've healed. The accident was pretty gruesome. I do hope the driver of the Trans Am had to spend some time in court and pay a fine and that he or his insurance company had to replace the bike. You may have explained that, but I didn't have the time to go through your blog.

Glad you are ok!

Very interesting/strage about the vertigo cause.

In a similar vein, have you ever heard of mirror therapy? It's wear you use a mirror down the center of your face or body in sessions for a few weeks. They use it with people with nerve damage (phantom itching, burning, phantom limb sensation. It's really fascinating, and has some pretty dramatic results.

For example, someone might have lost an arm, but feels that arm is in a really awkward position (perhaps the nerves were sending out a signal about the position when they were severed). They use the mirror to give the illusion of having the arm back, and they imagine moving both arms.

Wonder if it might be of help with your forehead pain..

(sorry for the unsolicited health advice)

Anywaya, good luck

Question: What do you think the OP could have done to avoid or prevent this accident?

Question: What do you think the OP could have done to avoid or prevent this accident?

OP? Is that Other Party?
If so, he could have adhered to the basic rules of the road probably. Not that having a blinker would have solved anything, but he did also cut the corner/turn... so he was turning into the oncoming lane of the road he was turning on to.. I was right there almost past the road when he hit me. He could have exercised patience. I am not sure if he was trying to beat me or if he was trying to beat the truck behind me.. but either way, he could have waited and made the turn when traffic was clear.

As for me, I dont know what I could have done differently. That's what's kind of hard about it. If I had done something wrong, I could say I wont do that again.. but I did everything correctly and still got hit.

I am not sure at all what happened to the driver. I was told he was found 100% at fault and ticketed but I don't know what he was ticketed for. I have never heard a word from him or about him.

I'm healing up well, but the numbness and itching almost pushes me over the edge of sanity some days.

Thanks for all the great comments!

Paula

OP? Is that Other Party?
If so, he could have adhered to the basic rules of the road probably. Not that having a blinker would have solved anything, but he did also cut the corner/turn... so he was turning into the oncoming lane of the road he was turning on to.. I was right there almost past the road when he hit me. He could have exercised patience. I am not sure if he was trying to beat me or if he was trying to beat the truck behind me.. but either way, he could have waited and made the turn when traffic was clear.

As for me, I dont know what I could have done differently. That's what's kind of hard about it. If I had done something wrong, I could say I wont do that again.. but I did everything correctly and still got hit.

I am not sure at all what happened to the driver. I was told he was found 100% at fault and ticketed but I don't know what he was ticketed for. I have never heard a word from him or about him.

I'm healing up well, but the numbness and itching almost pushes me over the edge of sanity some days.

Thanks for all the great comments!

Paula

OP means Original Post or Original Poster. This question is posed to the cyclist.

I am not sure at all what happened to the driver. I was told he was found 100% at fault and ticketed but I don't know what he was ticketed for. I have never heard a word from him or about him.

Paula, welcome to the forums and thanks for sharing your story.

Just out of curiosity, have you considered taking legal action against the driver?

Paula, welcome to the forums and thanks for sharing your story.

Just out of curiosity, have you considered taking legal action against the driver?

I haven't.
I did hire a lawyer to handle all the details, though at this point, I'm not sure why. I've done all the footwork etc.

I have no idea what the driver's story is; no clue why he hit me... but I'm certain he didn't do it on purpose.. so I'm not sure what I'd go after him for. I mostly just want my medical bills paid, my bike replaced, and maybe a little extra cash to make me feel better about the permanent damage that was done - as well as to cover any future expenses that might come up as a result of the muscle loss and numbness on that half of my head.

Paula, thanks or sharing this.

Over the years, I've had injuries/wounds/surgeries that severed nerves. The itching/burning is from stray or confused signals up those nerve paths. However, those sensations can mean you are healing, the nerves are reconnecting. Many doctors say it cannot happen, nerves don't heal.

But they can. A softball crushed a nerve along the line of my jaw, leaving me with a numb area that often burned (and was a pita to shave). It's gotten much smaller over the years and the burning has disappeared.

... permanent damage that was done - as well as to cover any future expenses that might come up as a result of the muscle loss and numbness on that half of my head.That is why you need the lawyer. Insurance companies or drivers will not provide the proper payment for the long term stuff without the lawyer on your (and lawyers) side.

I am very sorry to hear of your accident. As a survivor of a head injury sustained in a bicycle accident, I can only stress not to immediately take what the insurance company offers. The results of head injuries can be hidden for months or even years after the accident. Two years after my accident my temper is still short, my handwriting is still different, and I still have a fair amount of depression. Make sure you have seen/see a GOOD neurologist. Many doctors are really uniformed of the long term effects of head injuries as this is really just beginning to be understood.

Sorry to be sounding pessimistic, just wanted to give some advice. IT does sound as if you are recovering and keeping your spirits up. Take care of yourself and keep riding and don’t take any ---- from scummy insurance people! (No matter how nice they may seem, they are in it solely to spend as little of the insurance company money as possible, my wife was following a cement truck onthe highway when it lost its differential and drive shaft totaling her car. The insurance person for the concrete company told me that it was partially her fault. I stressed how much I would love for her to say that in a court case and she backed down. If they think they can intimidate you, they will.)

You're posting. This is good.

I'll go check your blog now. :)

I'm glad you're okay, Paula! That's insane.