Returning after an accident

[HLaB]

Bejesus Mick Although terrible, I can kinda understand a hit & run where the person genuinely didn't know they'd hit somebody, but FFS she stopped got got out, checked she hadn't kill you (assumption on my part), got back in and drove off

Hope you are on the mend now and well done on getting back on the bike.

 

[dynamick]

Well guys and girls, thanks so much for the messages and yes....like most of you say, she's one heartless b*tch for just driving off after she KNEW she'd hit me.

I decided to go out again today (made good use of the weather)....I tried keeping away from traffic as much as I can but you know....I don't think it's traffic congested roads that scare me, it's the winding country roads where careless drivers put their foot down and don't give a damn.

I decided to head off a little further to Clumber Park (12 miles away) and there are one or two traffic hotspots and many country lanes on the way....I felt more secure in traffic than I did pootling merrily down the lanes, at least with the traffic YOU know there are cars up your arse or penning you in.....on the lanes they come out of nowhere and just don't give a damn - I reckon one came past me at 80-90mph......peanuts!.

Anyway - I had a nice day and treated myself to a lovely lunch when I got to Clumber Park, cycled round the Park and then had a nice cycle back home.

I knew that as soon as my body was ready to get back on the bike (despite still being in pain in my shoulder) I had to get back on the bike or I'd probably never get on it again. I'm healing up with the road rash (although I've got a heart shaped scar on my right knee that is there forever!)....I guess the mental scars will get easier with time.

Throughout my battle of losing weight (almost 10st) and my daily battle with depression and now the fight to get back cycling......I've got a rather narcissistic picture of me finishing my first Half Marathon, crying my eyes out, realising what I'd achieved.....with this Rocky Balboa quote at the bottom.

"The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.

You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!

Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you!"

Every day I read it....and every day I just keep moving forward.

Much love peeps.

Mick xxxx

 

[HJ]

If wear a piece of polystyrene on your head make you happy, fine you do that, but why does that mean the rest of us should wear one? The scientific evidence suggest that helmets do not offer any significant protection against serious head injury and they certainly don't stop you being hit by cars. More importantly, did you report the driver for failing to stop after an accident? There were witnesses, she should have been prosecuted. It is better to take dangerous drivers off the roads than to suggest the helmets are any form of answer.

 

[dynamick]

If wear a piece of polystyrene on your head make you happy, fine you do that, but why does that mean the rest of us should wear one? The scientific evidence suggest that helmets do not offer any significant protection against serious head injury and they certainly don't stop you being hit by cars. More importantly, did you report the driver for failing to stop after an accident? There were witnesses, she should have been prosecuted. It is better to take dangerous drivers off the roads than to suggest the helmets are any form of answer.

You can't have read all my post HJ....the bit about the helmet (which of course you had an interest in) got a response......you didn't read the bit where I said the police weren't interested and the drivers just drove past apart from one old guy after the event had been and gone.

You cannot say....and I really mean you CANNOT say that I wouldn't have damaged my head if I'd not been wearing a helmet. As much scientific evidence as there may be....you can't be 100% certain that I'd have got away head injury free.

Sorry if I sound either defensive or annoyed.....but hell fire......I wouldn't want you to go through what I've been through....and I NEVER suggested a helmet is the solution.....I said that AS FAR AS I KNOW....it saved me from a head injury. What do you want me to do.....go and get knocked off again to disprove my theory?

Before you jump on a thread......consider two things. Read the first post so you get a clue what the thread is about).....and also consider that you might be WRONG!

 

[Crackle]

If wear a piece of polystyrene on your head make you happy, fine you do that, but why does that mean the rest of us should wear one? The scientific evidence suggest that helmets do not offer any significant protection against serious head injury and they certainly don't stop you being hit by cars. More importantly, did you report the driver for failing to stop after an accident? There were witnesses, she should have been prosecuted. It is better to take dangerous drivers off the roads than to suggest the helmets are any form of answer.

Actually I don't think that is the case. FM linked to a recent study which showed conclusive evidence they did. Unfortunately the thread was in 101 and has now gone so you'll have to ask him for the link again.

 

[on the road]

Hi everyone.

Those of you who read the touring forums might remember me getting all excited about my new Revolution Country Traveller..... - story Here

All was well with the world, then the last week in May....minding my own business I was riding along and got hit by a Citroen C4....no other cars around as it wasn't a busy road........I was laying in the road, in a mess, bleeding and in pain......the car had stopped 20ft up the road.....and the woman got back in the car and drove off!! To my disgust, the next 4 cars that came along the road, drove past despite me waving them down, until one old chap had the decency to stop and run me home. My mobile phone was broken, he didn't have one....so the only option was him to bring me home (before anyone says I should have called for an ambulance!)

Once I got home, my neighbour (who's a nurse) checked me over and took me straight to hospital. I had pain in my right knee, right arm, right shoulder, around the neck and really bad road rash all down my right hand side......not much skin left on there...just lots of gravel!!! LOL....anyway - the injuries to my knee (torn ligaments) weren't too severe but I'd broken my collarbone and cracked a bone in my arm too. It's taken me until today to get back on my bike, but that's not the end of the story......and I guess that's why I posted this in the "beginners and riding section".

It wasn't until a week after the accident that I went to examine all the bike gear (panniers/bike/clothing etc) to see how bad they'd got smashed up. So my Cervello kit was shredded down the right hand side (I just look slightly harder and rougher if I wear it!).....the panniers bags were just dusty and slightly scuffed (Altura from EBC)......the bike had ONE scratch on it and both handlebar endstops had broken off....NOTHING else, damn that bike's tough! Then there's my helmet (here's the kicker). I was nagged into buying a helmet when I first started cycling again a few years back...and I bought a decent one (cost £70) and I often thought...."waste of money"....well it's probably saved my life as it appears I must have hit my head at some point.....a HUGE crack where the scuff marks appear and it's quite a leveller when you think......WHAT IF? I've bought the same helmet (well slightly updated version!) THIS ONE!

So yeah, I'm back on the bike....I was as nervous as a kitten today as I took her for a run, body aching a bit, head a bit messed up....but I had to face the demons on the same set of roads as I got knocked off.....had something of a panic when I went past the spot where I got knocked off.....so much so that despite me being a bit of a tough guy (apparently).....I stopped further up the road, tears streaming down my face. I'm now fighting to get fit enough to run a half marathon in September....hopefully I'll be ok...infact even if I have to crawl round - I'll do it, my charity needs the funds! LOL

I hope the woman who hit me has had as many sleepless nights as I had....only hers caused by guilt rather than pain.

So for those of you asking the question. "should I buy a helmet".......don't even ask it.....just buy it!!!

Big thanks to the guys at Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative too........they don't only sell you a bike and the bits for it.....they were genuinely concerned when I told them about the accident.

Much love peeps.

Mick xxx

Ther's no evidence that it was the helmet that saved your life. When people see a crack in their helmet after a crash they think "that could have been my head" and "my helmet saved my life", but their's no evidence that it was the helmet that saved their life. I know what people will say, "but there's no evidence that the helmet didn't save their life", that's true, and the truth of the matter is that it can't be prooved one way or the other.

I choose not to wear a helmet and that's my choice, but if you want to wear a helmet then you wear a helmet, that's your choice.

 

[dynamick]

I choose not to wear a helmet and that's my choice, but if you want to wear a helmet then you wear a helmet, that's your choice.

Better to be safe than sorry though eh?

 

[HJ]

A helmet may give some protection against minor injury, but that is no reason to say that everyone should wear one. If you want to wear one fine, but don't expect it to some how save you life, it won't.

A far more worrying issue is that the police did not take action against the driver, that is what you should be flagging up, not some spurious advice that we should all wear helmets. From a road safety point of view, cycle helmets are a complete red herring. Why not promote driving helmets or walking helmets? Those two activities have have a greater risk of head injury then cycling.

 

[Browser]

Dynamick, well done for getting back on the bike and not letting this stop you. I've had two 'offs' in my life, neither of which resulted in injury past light bruising but scary all the same, so I know how nervous you will be when faced with the same situation as your accident.
As far as wearing helmets goes, with no conclusive proof one way or t'other, I'm going to err on the side of caution and wear one, what others do is up to them, but I can't help being reminded of motorcyclists' arguments when helmet wearing became compulsory (which were similar to those presented here).
HJ, as far as I can make out, all the police have to go on is a make and model (Dynamick doesn't mention colour) of car, which may or may not have been put through a body shop depending upon any damage caused by the collision. How are they supposed, therefore, to 'take action against' the driver of this mystery vehicle?

 

[ufkacbln]

Better to be safe than sorry though eh?

..and avoid rotational injuries by not wearing one?

 

[asterix]

Ther's no evidence that it was the helmet that saved your life. When people see a crack in their helmet after a crash they think "that could have been my head" and "my helmet saved my life", but their's no evidence that it was the helmet that saved their life. I know what people will say, "but there's no evidence that the helmet didn't save their life", that's true, and the truth of the matter is that it can't be prooved one way or the other.

I choose not to wear a helmet and that's my choice, but if you want to wear a helmet then you wear a helmet, that's your choice.

Agreed. It is tiresome the way in which after an accident people have to preach to others.

For 5 years I have been doing building work. I have 2 hard hats but hrdly ever wear one because whenever I do I am constantly bashing it on things. I never seem to hit my head when not wearing one.

Obviously there are times when something might fall on my head like when making openings in a stone wall and then it makes sense and I use one. Do I wear a cycling helmet? Yes usually, it protects me from my wife.

 

[dynamick]

A helmet may give some protection against minor injury, but that is no reason to say that everyone should wear one. If you want to wear one fine, but don't expect it to some how save you life, it won't.

A far more worrying issue is that the police did not take action against the driver, that is what you should be flagging up, not some spurious advice that we should all wear helmets. From a road safety point of view, cycle helmets are a complete red herring. Why not promote driving helmets or walking helmets? Those two activities have have a greater risk of head injury then cycling.

Again....you didn't read the original post!!! LOL so I'll quote it for you and type it in red.....(just so you're clear this time ok?!)

All was well with the world, then the last week in May....minding my own business I was riding along and got hit by a Citroen C4....no other cars around as it wasn't a busy road........I was laying in the road, in a mess, bleeding and in pain......the car had stopped 20ft up the road.....and the woman got back in the car and drove off!! To my disgust, the next 4 cars that came along the road, drove past despite me waving them down, until one old chap had the decency to stop and run me home. My mobile phone was broken, he didn't have one....so the only option was him to bring me home (before anyone says I should have called for an ambulance)

As for the police..........you had to scroll down to the 4th reply (are you still with me?)........and you got this:

I contacted the police and they were (unsuprisingly) as useless as I expected them to be. They gave me a crime number just in case the woman handed herself in at a police station (oooh look a pig flying past!)...apart from that - nothing...absolutely nothing!

Even if the police had suprised me and shown an interest.....I didn't exactly give them a lot to go on. I'll remember next time to write the make, model and number plate on the road in my blood ok?

 

[ufkacbln]

I'll remember next time to write the make, model and number plate on the road in my blood ok?

Excellent idea.,......... it has worked in previous cases

 

[AndyCarolan]

If wear a piece of polystyrene on your head make you happy, fine you do that, but why does that mean the rest of us should wear one? The scientific evidence suggest that helmets do not offer any significant protection against serious head injury and they certainly don't stop you being hit by cars. More importantly, did you report the driver for failing to stop after an accident? There were witnesses, she should have been prosecuted. It is better to take dangerous drivers off the roads than to suggest the helmets are any form of answer.

With the very greatest respect, do you feel that an incident severe enough to crack a cycle helmet wouldn't have caused at least some skull injury had a helmet not have been worn?

Im saddened to hear of your accident Mick and I wish you a speedy recovery... Glad you are back on your bike again!

 

[redddraggon]

With the very greatest respect, do you feel that an incident severe enough to crack a cycle helmet wouldn't have caused at least some skull injury had a helmet not have been worn?

Im saddened to hear of your accident Mick and I wish you a speedy recovery... Glad you are back on your bike again!

Polystyrene has far poorer mechanical properties than that of bone. I remain to be convinced that that a helmet would prevent serious injury. If you are going to get a fatal head injury it will happen whether you are wearing a helmet or not.