It's been nearly 3 years since my last accident, I guess I was due another. On my way to work on the 27th of May I apparently hit or swerved to miss a Great Dane, which had run out of it's yard onto the road. I say apparently because I don't remember anything except waking up in hospital. The dogs owner called my wife after I gave her the number, and my wife (Anna) drove me to the Hospital. Anna said that I was conscious after the crash and was talking but was very confused. The last thing I remember is leaving my housing estate, I don't remember the 12km ride or the next 4 hours after the crash. I landed on my right side. Along with concussion and damaging my helmet above my right eye, I bruised my right shoulder, hip, face, elbows, wrists and got a black eye. I damaged my neck and left knee also. Other than some dizziness and concentration problems, most of the injuries were bruising. My left knee still has internal swelling (10days later). I was in Hospital for the day while they put me on a drip and took a heap of X-rays. I was released in the evening and spent the next 9 days sleeping and using heat packs for my neck and ice packs for my knee. The Physio said I can do a few short sessions on the trainer, I did 35 minutes yesterday and that felt good, I will gradually increase the intensity and duration for the next few days before getting back on the road. I was only doing 25kph.
Fortunately the Hospital bills are all covered by Medicare (free public hospital system), my only bills are a few "gap" payments to cover the Doctor and Physio all up about $80. And I need a new helmet. It isn't worth me getting lawyered up and taking this any further. The dogs owner told Anna that the gate is always closed and that it is only open when leaving the driveway. However on Saturday when I revisited the scene, the gate was wide open and the dog came bounding over from the house to the road. I will contact Mt Barker council and let them deal with the owner. I have filled a Police report also.
I am very lucky the injuries weren't any worse. BTW my bike is fine, hardly a scratch.
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I am very lucky the injuries weren't any worse. BTW my bike is fine, hardly a scratch.
Well, at least you've got your priorities in order! ;)
I'm just wondering, are you sure it was just the crash and nothing else? That seems like a lot of damage to do to one's self at 25km/h. I also suspect that the dog owner's claim about the gate "always being closed" is a complete crock. This might be something else worth mentioning to the cops/council.
In anycase, I'm glad you're out of hospital and at least able to type this. Heal fast.
NZLcyclist
sounds worse than my 55kmh smash nearly 2 years ago.... take care.
Allister
It's been nearly 3 years since my last accident, I guess I was due another.
That'd be the roundabout incident no? This sounds worse. Hope it all ends well.
Fortunately the Hospital bills are all covered by Medicare (free public hospital system), my only bills are a few "gap" payments to cover the Doctor and Physio all up about $80.
:) Socialism ain't all bad.
And I need a new helmet. It isn't worth me getting lawyered up and taking this any further.
Very wise.
I am very lucky the injuries weren't any worse. BTW my bike is fine, hardly a scratch.
I love a happy ending.
BeTheChange
Good luck with the rehab. I'd take it to court, cause you just can't trust some people. They said the gate was always closed but when you went by a second time it was open. Time is most likely a factor so I'd let a good lawyer handle this for you. Get well soon. Peace.
SchreiberBike
Glad you weren't damaged any worse, and the pessimistic side of me says to wait until you are really confident in your recovery before you absolve the dog owner of responsibility.
I had a similar accident and I had no idea what the cause was because of my concussion. I just remember riding along - then finding myself miles away struggling to get to a pay phone to call my wife. Later when riding on the same road, the memory came partway back, and I was able to visualize the dog under my front wheel.
Still gives me the willies to think about.
John E
Good luck with the rehab. I'd take it to court, cause you just can't trust some people. They said the gate was always closed but when you went by a second time it was open. Time is most likely a factor so I'd let a good lawyer handle this for you. Get well soon. Peace.
I concur with BTC on this one. You are dealing with an irresponsible dog owner who needs a genuine education. Also, traumatic brain injury is a scary thing; make sure you have fully recovered before accepting any closure/settlement. You are entitled to compensation for time lost from work, etc.
I hate to admit it, but yours is the sort of situation in which a recumbent is somewhat safer than a conventional bicycle.
I suffered a concussion and clavicle fracture 28 years ago, when a motorist abruptly turned left across my path. When I failed to arrive home from work, my wife started phoning the various local emergency rooms, and soon learned that I was at UCLA, with unspecified "multiple injuries." The doctors terrified her with talk of potential brain damage, and she has done very little cycling in traffic ever since. (She tolerates my road cycling, but worries about me.)
AdrianB
Hope you're all up and running again soon.
I'm very surprised there were no witnesses. Worth doing a doorknock around the area where it happened?
greywolf
Hope you get better soon, take it easy.
Dutchy
Allister, yes the round-about incident was in August 2001, you have a sharp memory. AdrianB, there were no witnesses as it was on a quite country road. After several years of commuting on major roads I thought I would try some quieter back roads, hence the lack of witnesses. I will take Chris L's lead and head back to the busy roads, more witnesses and more people to help out if something does go wrong. I am feeling great today, I did 30 minutes on the trainer last night and the knee felt fine. I am heading to the Grampians National Park on the weekend for an organised metric century with 2300m of climbing, however my Doctor reckons I should just spectate, I agree with him.
CHEERS.
Mark
madpogue
Dunno what the laws are in S.Aus, but in pretty-much every state in the US, when a dog leaves her/his owner's property and is not on leash, the owner is in violation of the law. You should get the owner cited for that first, if it applies. Then you can use that fact in any civil action you take against her. Hearing what happened to you, you definitely should seek damages. I wouldn't even take the condition of your bike for granted. Have it looked at, just in case. And of course, the dog owner owes you a new helmet at the very least.
Glad to hear that at least you're in one piece. Those lost-memory bits are unnerving, though. About 20 years ago (last time I EVER rode without a helmet) I was knocked out after doing an endo; out for only about 5-10 minutes, and my memory the time between just seconds before the crash and getting to the hospital was all patchworky, and missing in parts. It's disturbing, to say the least. Missing several hours must really be unsettling.
Dutchy
do you have pics of the injuries?
Sicko!:D I don't have any pics, my camera was out of film. It is Winter here, so I was fully covered from head to toe, so I didn't loose any skin.
Dunno what the laws are in S.Aus, but in pretty-much every state in the US, when a dog leaves her/his owner's property and is not on leash, the owner is in violation of the law.
Yes, we have the same laws here. I wrote an e-mail to the Council yesterday. I have asked the Council to send me any information about the action they will take, in case it happens again, to me or anyone else I know that rides.
CHEERS.
Mark
Pat
I had a similar injury in a crash. Getting a severe concussion can really take it out of you. I was running out of steam and taking naps in the afternoon for weeks afterwards. It is far different then in the movies where they are all the time "knocking people out" and the victom late wakes up, gets up and runs around like nothing happened.
You have my sympathy and I hope you heal soon Dutchy.
erraticrider
Hitting a great dane must be like running into a cow -- except the great dane probably moves faster.
LittleBigMan
Dutchy, I'm so glad you are ok. I know your wife is, too.
I agree with those who say that the owner of the dog is responsible for that dog's behavior. It's better to forgive someone after you've proven them responsible than to let them off the hook before they admit their guilt.
seacycle
Glad you're o.k. I was chased by a Great Dane once...uphill. My riding partner said he had never seen my legs rotate so fast.
I would engage the services of an attorney as a service to other cyclists. The next person riding by may not be as lucky as you.
Chris L
I am heading to the Grampians National Park on the weekend for an organised metric century with 2300m of climbing, however my Doctor reckons I should just spectate, I agree with him.
It's a shame you're going to miss out on that, the riding in the Grampians is awesome! I spend some time there in November 2002 -- really interesting scenery, particularly some of the rock formations you see on the climb(s).
MediaCreations
Nasty business. The worst thing about accidents is that you can be 98% better for a long time but still have nagging soreness that causes irritation.
Get well very soon.
Tom_The_Bikeman
I am very lucky the injuries weren't any worse. BTW my bike is fine, hardly a scratch.
Get well soon, and I'd perhaps do a re-think about the lawyer thing. Sorry to hear about your crash!
Take care,
Tom
John E
Mark, I still do not remember my incident of November 1976, although I still have a scar across my left cheekbone and a bump on my left clavicle. I hate to be the messenger of bad news, but ask you doctor how long you need to wait to resume cycling; I think he will tell you that you need to be sure that you have completely recovered from the concussion, because nothing is worse than re-injury. I did some walking or jogging plus riding transit for a few months after my concussion.
Take care,
John E.
mrdoright0405
Fortunately. I havent crashed yet. "Knock on Wood".
ps. Get well soon.
wabbit
My goodness! Lucky that your injuries weren't permanently debilitating. However, a head injury is not something to take lightly. A friend of ours had similar injuries in a car accident (with another car) and it does take a while sometimes to get back things like concentration, etc. Make sure you're cleared before getting on a bike and take things slow and easy!
At least there's one silver lining-the bike is okay so when you're ready, it'll be there.
John C. Ratliff
Dutchy,
'Glad you're feeling okay, and hopefully will recover fully. This is very similar to my situation just over two years ago, where I woke up an hour after my last memory of my commute home, trying to signal a turn to a middle lane. I was dizzy for two weeks, seriously at first, and gradually better. It's gone now, but I surely remember the recovery. It took me about a month to get back on my bicycle (had a hip injury too), and about three months before I was back to commuting again. I had to reassess my whole situation. In your case, with a dog as the problem, it should be easier to get going again, but watch out for those critters ;-) Best wishes for a speedy recovery.