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Your worst accident ever?

Old 07-26-11, 07:20 PM
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Your worst accident ever?

Mine took place 16 years ago:


I had an instance in Berkeley CA, where I was riding down College Avenue and a line of cars were stopped waiting for the light to change at Clairemont Ave. I was passing a black SUV when it decided spontaneously to move into a DIAGONAL parking spot and caught my front wheel in its (passenger side) front wheel. I was thrown at least 15 feet into that empty parking spot. Luckily I had taken an anatomy class and knew that it is detrimental to fall on one's hands (wrists -- fragile, upper arm connection--fragile) so I immediately turned mid flight and landed on my back pack. All these folks were staring down at me and telling me to sue and get as much as I could. Thankfully, no harm happened to me. My front wheel was pretzeled, so I asked the SUV owner to pay the forty to replace it! He and his girlfriend drove me home, he was sure shaken.
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Old 07-26-11, 07:59 PM
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My first and worst accident was last month. I was crossing an intersection and a car decides to cross at the same time. The driver barely misses hitting me head on and I splat into the side of the car and bounce off the roof and onto the pavement. It was a T-intersection and I was going Northbound. The car the stop sign waited for me to cross and the car going South had stopped too. As I was halfway through the intersection, the Southbound car guns it and turns right where I was crossing narrowly missing me head-on. The old lady gets out all apoligetic to see if I was ok.

I called the paramedics and police then used my phone to take pics of the car and intersection. I was scared and wasn't sure if I needed to go to the hospital. Ambulance treated me on the spot, police took a report and gave me a ride back home. Next day I was good was new with just scraps on the elbows and chin, no harm no foul. I really don't think the lady meant harm. I was riding my Puch beaterbike and it suffered no damage. The lady's passenger-side door has a long gash to remember me by.

Since then, I got a call from her insurance co. They found her to be at fault based on the police report and sent me a settlement check for $750.00!

Last edited by Big_e; 07-26-11 at 08:08 PM.
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Old 07-26-11, 08:25 PM
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Incredible accident, glad he's still alive!

Hope he learned not to ride in the door zone!

That witness in this case was his guardian angel.

Last edited by Cyclomania; 07-26-11 at 08:38 PM.
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Old 07-26-11, 08:30 PM
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My only real accident was riding into a cable across a driveway at a school parking lot. I had ridden in that way several times before, and there never was a cable, so I wasn't watching for it. There was a big reflector on the cable, but it was out at the middle of the cable, but I made a right turn into one end of the cable, so the reflector was 10' off to the side of me. Gray cable, gray parking lot. I did not see it at all, just PLOP and I was on my back on the ground with my feet tangled up with the bike. Nothing broken, was real sore for a couple of days, a little sore for a week or so, broke a fender on my bike and a couple of scratches on the bike. As best I could tell, I did sort of a Fosberry Flop going over the cable.
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Old 07-26-11, 08:34 PM
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Just a few months after I switched from a balloon tire bike to a narrower tire bike, I dropped my front wheel through the slots of a deep storm grate. I still bare the scars from that incident to this day.
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Old 07-27-11, 12:45 AM
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In 1994 I was riding a trail up Mt. Spokane with a friend. We hadn't gone too far. I was coming up on a sweeper corner that people would take pretty fast if they were coming down, so I:

1. watched for oncoming riders

2. listened for oncoming riders

3. yelled around the corner to alert any hypothetical oncoming riders

4. had my escape route planned

5. and then I was being loaded onto a gurney with a big old collar thing around my neck, after being run into head-on by an oncoming rider and evidently taking a direct forehead-to-forehead hit, separated by two helmet shells. There's about an hour missing from my memory banks from the concussion, I was in a fog for days.


Pro tip: keep your helmet on, even when climbing at low speed in a quiet forest.
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Old 07-27-11, 01:20 AM
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i just broke my collarbone in a crash by myself. i have no idea what happened, but my helmet saved me. That helmet is gone, but imma keep it as a souvenir to remember my first real accident. My bike is ok so its fine.
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Old 07-27-11, 01:31 AM
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My worst accident occurred when I was descending a large hill and hit a patch of sand going about +/- 30 mph. The bike slid out from under me and I had road rash on both knees, elbows and hands. Luckily, that was the extent of my injuries. That said, picking sand, gravel and twigs out of my wounds is something I wish not to repeat again.
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Old 07-27-11, 04:32 AM
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Once I was inflating my tire but forgot to pull on the valve stem to be sure it was seated against the inside of the rim, so it ended up popping. Had the buy a new tube. Pretty dumb accident considering the number of tubes I change for other people (mechanic).

hmmh, tho another time I accidentally dropped a wrench and it chipped some paint... I dunno if I'd consider that worse though....since chipped paint is inevitable in the long run

I wasn't wearing a helmet it either incident, so I can't comment on whether or not one would have lessened any injuries... well maybe if the bike I dropped the wrench on had been wearing a helmet it might not have been chipped...

Last edited by xenologer; 07-27-11 at 04:36 AM.
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Old 07-27-11, 05:12 AM
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I describe my worst cycling accident here:

https://www.machka.net/2007/2007_200_VanIsle.htm

Crashed on a descent at the 100 km point of a 200K randonnee

Result:
-- concussion
-- separated left shoulder
-- badly bruised left hip
-- ripped up legs and knees
-- scraped up and slightly sprained right hand

But I finished the ride!!

And 3 days later I attempted a 400K and made it a little over halfway before having to call it quits ... just too painful.


I've done worse in a non-cycling incident.

Last edited by Machka; 07-27-11 at 05:15 AM.
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Old 07-27-11, 07:15 AM
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Got hit by a car backing up from driveway. However i was riding on the sidewalk. lol
rolled over the top and onto the hood, no injuries, more funny

In a road race back in 1995 , pace picked up at the beginning. I at the moment my front wheel rubbed against the guy s wheel in front of me and it overlapped, when trying to regain control, guy behind over lapped my rear and went down, taking me down and i took the guy down in front. slid on the road, and looked up and the guy from behind was spinning in the air over me and landed in the ditch and hit his head on a lamp post, but he was ok, just a he had a concussion for a month and never rode bike again, lol
so that was my experience
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Old 07-27-11, 08:25 AM
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Last summer I got hit head on going about 25-30kmh. A lady pulled out into my lane about 2m in front of me from her garden parking spot which was behind a really overgrown blackberry bush. I went flying and luckily landed with my whole right side dispersing the force through my whole body.

My shoulder was a bloody mess because I had a tank top on, my whole right leg and arm were covered in bruises and scrapes, my face got some bruising/road rash, my right ankle was sprained, and my glasses somehow cut down to the cartilage between ear and head. Luckily everything was semi-superficial. No broken bones, or lasting damage.

I ended up getting about 800 euros from the whole thing, but 200 of that went to paying the hospital bill. The money has since been converted into an MTB. Now I can ride in peace in the woods on nice soft dirt and rocks.
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Old 07-27-11, 09:41 AM
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My brother suffered his worst accident on a curvy road covered with leaves. He wasn't going all that fast either. I think he had an old Clement tubular tire on his Peugeot at the time, the tire walls were cracked and withered. But we were poor! Anyway, he's riding behind me and what sounded like "Shhha--Bam!" He went down lightening fast. Unfortunately he attempted to break his fall with his hand and hurt his wrist bad. To this day he can't lift anything greater than 25 pounds!

Last edited by Cyclomania; 07-27-11 at 10:02 AM.
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Old 07-27-11, 09:51 AM
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Mine was rather painful.
I was right hooked at 15mph in a bike lane. I was beside the car when it happened and I impacted her right front tire.
The end result after a terrible superman impersonation was a free ambulance ride to denver health.
I tore open my left knee cap, bruised every limb and both hands, scrapped up every limb, and broke my right radial head.
A month later I was on my trainer. A month after that I was riding again. Yet another month later I was riding the triple bypass. What doesn't kill you ...
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Old 07-27-11, 09:53 AM
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This is also the reason I quickly fly off the handle with motorists.
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Old 07-27-11, 10:04 AM
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Originally Posted by DataJunkie
This is also the reason I quickly fly off the handle with motorists.
Fellow flying superman (hehe!): I too have been known to use the "Faaauuuuaaaauuuaaack!" word while being threatened. Almost as obnoxious as the lengthy horn blast that motorists sometimes use on us!
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Old 07-27-11, 10:10 AM
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lol
I've taken to blowing kisses at motorists. It either royally pisses off male motorists or perplexes them.
My middle finger has been getting way too much action this year.
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Old 07-27-11, 10:59 AM
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The only accident ever and it was a doozy. I was hit by a passing pick-up/livestock trailer combo. Hit in the left leg, broke the femur, tore away the left head of the hamstring and the sciatic nerve.

Spent 2 and a half weeks in a coma(and 89 units of blood), two months in the hospital and 18 months before I could even take one step. Six months later I was able to put away the walker and wheelchair and walk with a cane.

Never regained full function in the leg and my mobility is limited but I can walk a bit with a cane.
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Old 07-27-11, 11:56 AM
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Originally Posted by runner pat
The only accident ever and it was a doozy. I was hit by a passing pick-up/livestock trailer combo. Hit in the left leg, broke the femur, tore away the left head of the hamstring and the sciatic nerve.

Spent 2 and a half weeks in a coma(and 89 units of blood), two months in the hospital and 18 months before I could even take one step. Six months later I was able to put away the walker and wheelchair and walk with a cane.

Never regained full function in the leg and my mobility is limited but I can walk a bit with a cane.
That sounds terrible. Glad to hear you've made as much of a recovery as you have. Are you back to cycling?
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Old 07-27-11, 12:11 PM
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Originally Posted by 2wheelcommute
That sounds terrible. Glad to hear you've made as much of a recovery as you have. Are you back to cycling?
Yep. I bought a handcycle. 16 metric centuries and one full century.
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Old 07-27-11, 12:14 PM
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Originally Posted by runner pat
Yep. I bought a handcycle. 16 metric centuries and one full century.
Yes, there is life after "death."
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Old 07-27-11, 02:34 PM
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My worst accident occurred at the end of June... Not sure exactly what happened (lost consciousness and memory of the event) but I was able to piece together that I believe my tire(s) slipped out on a small puddle while making a sharp right turn too fast.

The result:
Three facial fractures
14 stitches
Numerous abrasions
Ambulance ride to the hospital since I was not conscious when some trail users found me.
An overnight stay in the hospital for observation since I had a concussion and had lost consciousness
The bike had a few scratches to the handlebar tape on the side I went down.
The helmet I was wearing was unmarred
My eyeglasses (contact side) were ground to an opaque frostiness

The 24 hours in the hospital cost almost $50,000
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Old 07-27-11, 04:27 PM
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Originally Posted by myrridin
My worst accident occurred at the end of June... Not sure exactly what happened (lost consciousness and memory of the event) but I was able to piece together that I believe my tire(s) slipped out on a small puddle while making a sharp right turn too fast.
The result:
Three facial fractures
14 stitches
Numerous abrasions
Ambulance ride to the hospital since I was not conscious when some trail users found me.
An overnight stay in the hospital for observation since I had a concussion and had lost consciousness
The bike had a few scratches to the handlebar tape on the side I went down.
The helmet I was wearing was unmarred
My eyeglasses (contact side) were ground to an opaque frostiness

The 24 hours in the hospital cost almost $50,000
This is why I need to get me one of these:
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Old 07-27-11, 04:46 PM
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Testing my bent Raleigh Grand Prix frame's significant left lean I hit a pothole. When I lunged for the handlebars they were off to my left ofcourse. Did a superman and landed on my right palm to protect my face. Some scrapes and broke radial head in my right elbow.

I always wear my helmet, because you never know what will surprize you next.
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Old 07-27-11, 05:59 PM
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regarding what your said
"
The 24 hours in the hospital cost almost $50,000 "

I feel sorry for your American folks with that health care thing, Really the biggest crime in that accident was the fact u had to pay that 50000 bucks for medical care,

sucks to be you



Originally Posted by myrridin
My worst accident occurred at the end of June... Not sure exactly what happened (lost consciousness and memory of the event) but I was able to piece together that I believe my tire(s) slipped out on a small puddle while making a sharp right turn too fast.

The result:
Three facial fractures
14 stitches
Numerous abrasions
Ambulance ride to the hospital since I was not conscious when some trail users found me.
An overnight stay in the hospital for observation since I had a concussion and had lost consciousness
The bike had a few scratches to the handlebar tape on the side I went down.
The helmet I was wearing was unmarred
My eyeglasses (contact side) were ground to an opaque frostiness

The 24 hours in the hospital cost almost $50,000
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