Neil_B

"I will someday return to riding my bike, again. The moron who created the accident will not deny me this, which is one of the great pleasures of life."

You have an amazing outlook on life to find such a positive motivation at such a time. My best wishes to you for a speedy and full recovery.

And folks, let's all look out for those car doors when we are in traffic.

banerjek

All I can say is wow.

If anything like that ever happens to me, I'll think about your story in the hopes I can handle it as well as you are.

mazpr

I read your whole story and honestly I almost stopped reading half way. BF is a good place to rev down and find some humor out of life, but your story really puts all my priorities in persepective.

I will certainly have you in my prayers as well NSJ, wish you a healthy recovery. I must say you are a very strong person.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

cerewa

I hope everybody will take this as a lesson not to ride where people can get you with their doors. I ride with a big gap between me and parked cars, as though people are trying to take me out with doors.... because in reality they're just not paying attention, which is nearly as dangerous.

Passing motorists sometimes get irritated when they can't pass in my lane, but I'll choose my safety over somebody else's convenience.

Goriot

Thanks for sharing that story NSJ. I hope every day is better and better for you. I'm glad the love for biking is unchanged.

ridethecliche

Good to hear that you're recovering well! Stay strong and keep at it!

Python

What a horrible thing to happen. Hope you make a complete recovery very soon.

This also highlights how important Blood Donors are so if anyone's been thinking about becoming a Blood Donor - go for it.

iris_moonowolf

I will hold you in my thoughts every time I go out to ride. I'm lucky - what I call traffic is a few tractor trailers up and down the hill in front of my house. I live in a rural area and people are better about noticing bikes here. I don't ride in town much, but the next time I do I'll be thinking about idiots and car doors.

Keep going - right hand up in victory!!!!!

Miles to go before I sleep.

discosaurus

Yes, according to the Family and Medical Leave Act your employer has to hold your job (or give you a comparable position when you return) and your health coverage should not end while you're out of work disabled. BUT there's usually a good deal of paperwork and beaurocracy to deal with, so it's important to have someone who can act as your legal agent to get that all straightened out (i'm pretty sure your spouse or immediate family defaults to this) if you aren't able to do it yourself.

You will be billed for insurance premiums while you're not working, but if you have disability insurance it should cover the payments. I was out for about 6 months on disability a few years ago after a bike accident. In my case, I received a bill for my insurance and sent them a check, instead of having it deducted directly from my insurance checks. Also, hospital bills are interest free, and you can usually work out a payment plan and pay them off as long as it takes. It took me about a year to pay off mine, but as long as I sent them a check every month (no matter how small) there was no problem.

bgilchrist

The parked motorist who opened his door, is no different than the motorist that makes a turn in front of a cyclist without signaling, or running a red light. The motorist has a responsibility to ensure there is no traffic coming before opening his door.

I was 'doored' by a car earlier this week. I was very lucky, the door actually hit me as a I rode by. (I was going 30 kmh, and if he had opened his door 2 seconds earlier, it would have been a different situation). My bike was fine, although I have a sore neck and tailbone and a terribly bruised arm. I was an arm's length away from the parked car when this happened.

NSJ - I am happy to hear you are recovering, and won't let this incident deter you from commuting in the future. It reminds me that I was lucky earlier this week - could have been alot worse.

Gojohnnygo.

Good lord! I hope you have a fast recovery and get back on the bike soon.

NSJ

To date, the inpatient hospital bills total 257K. Thankfully, my insurance is covering 100% of it, or so I was told initially. (I actually work for the hospital where I was treated, so I don't know if that factored in to the equation).

Under the Family and Medlical Leave Act, an employer has to hold your job for 12 weeks. I was also told by someone (not sure if it was true) that given that it was an injury/accident, my employer will hold my job for longer. Who knows if this is true?

I was given the ok to return to work this week, given certain restrictions. We'll see how this plays out. I can get around with crutches ok, drive normally now, show normally as well now. Next week, the orthopedic surgeon says I can put 50% of my body weight on the right leg, so hopefully, if a few weeks, I won't need crutches.

dydst

Holy Crap.

I hope the insurance company of the moron who hit you paid you a bundle.

discosaurus

I'm pretty sure that's true. I think it goes up to 12 or 18 months or something, for short term disability caused by an accident.

Good thing you're getting back to work! Take it easy, don't let wage slavery interfere with your recovery.

And natesi, just fwiw medical bills after my accident were about $20K. I paid around $5K of that, insurance covered the rest. It depends on your insurance plan, the severity of the accident, if it's a traffic accident depends who's at fault, lots of things. Mine was 100% my fault so I think that's why my portion of the bills was so high. That, and they only covered a couple months of physical therapy. I needed a lot more.