Sorry for your injury. It's a risky hobby for sure.

I always get a little nervous when I see a squirrel or deer nearby... never know what either of those will do, especially squirrels.

I used to be active in the Potomac Pedalers club in the DC area, and several years ago a member was killed on a fast descent, reportedly because a woodchuck came out in his path. This was on a hill where it's easy to hit 40 MPH coasting. Don't know the details - whether there was contact or whether it was from swerving to avoid contact. I guess maybe in a case like that it would be better to just keep straight and hang on.

Read another account of a squirrel getting caught up in the spokes of someone's front wheel and causing them to crash.