Would appreciate some post crash advice

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Comments

  • apreading
    apreading Posts: 4,535
    As its a specialized, you may be able to replace cheaper using their Assisted Replacement Program - (https://www.specialized.com/us/en/warranty)

    Wont help with the damage to you unfortunately...
  • willnewtonclare
    willnewtonclare Posts: 35
    Look after yourself Bud ... BC and your Insurance a good bunch. Depending on your spinal damage 12 months seems quite a lot but I'm sure they'll keep CT scan / Xraying you to check healing and keep you informed. I had a pretty brutal bike v car thing 18 months ago and am much better :) I guess the thing I realise most now is broken bone...easy to understand.....Brain/spine not so. Get good Drs and Lawyers and enjoy day to day stuff as much as you can!
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    apreading wrote:
    As its a specialized, you may be able to replace cheaper using their Assisted Replacement Program - (https://www.specialized.com/us/en/warranty)

    Wont help with the damage to you unfortunately...
    When I contacted Specialized on FB - for help on identifying a bottom bracket cable guide - they posted one to me - FoC! Yes, it's a higher price brand - but I've never had an issue with their customer service.
  • craigus89
    craigus89 Posts: 887
    Just a thought, any chance of CCTV catching the accident? Was it in a rural area or town? Pub nearby?

    I'm sure it wouldn't change anything but maybe just for your own sanity...
  • redvision
    redvision Posts: 2,958
    Just thought I would post an update on my accident and everything. It's been almost two months since the accident and the police are still conducting their investigations, however I have been told that it does appear I was entirely at fault.

    British cycling were fantastic and their insurance company have handled absolutely everything, so I have not had to stress about the legal side of things, so big thank you to them.

    Specialized have also been great, as have my lbs, and I'm having a replacement bike heavily discounted through their crash replacement scheme.

    Injuries.... this is where things aren't improving much. Back and forth to the QE, so many consultants and assessments but basically it does look like it will be a long long time before I'm riding again. They initially estimated a year and now the injuries are more clear I am understanding the road I face ahead. The one injury i am only just discovering though is damage to my teeth. Up until now, due to the jaw and neck injuries, I have been hardly able to open my mouth, yet have had constant toothache. Finally today I have been able to open my mouth wide enough for a full dental examination and I have multiple, irreparable fractures. To make matters worse, the nhs no longer offer dental implants for tooth loss caused in an accident. So when the damaged teeth are removed I face either paying thousands for private implants, or a plate. Just hard to accept being in my mid thirties, and having such extensive dental trouble. The last thing you think of when going out on your bike is potential damage to teeth :cry:

    Anyway, i have to admit, for the first time, I am starting to question whether I will ever get back on the bike. The consultant sat with me and went through everything in great detail the other day, going through all the scan results and what has improved and what hasn't yet. He also made it clear that it was more serious than i was telling myself, to quote him, 'the impact and damage was so severe i shouldn't be here today to tell my story.' Puts everything in perspective. I love biking. It was my whole life. But I have been so fortunate, and will make a full recovery. Just made me realise that perhaps it's just not worth the risk though. Perhaps this accident was the warning and now it's time to call it a day.

    Thanks to everyone for all your advice and comments over the last few weeks. The bike radar community really is something else and really helped me get through some of the troubled and stressful days immediately after the accident. So a big thank you to you all.

    Be safe on the roads people.
  • timothyw
    timothyw Posts: 2,482
    Really sorry that you find yourself in this situation - I'm a similar age and it sounds like a horrible thing to have to go through.

    Don't worry about riding again would be my thought - however bad your accident was, however much damage you managed to cause yourself, you are still here, you are still young and have an awful lot of life to look forward to on the other side of this - maybe you won't ride again for another twenty, thirty years - you don't have to rush anything. Do it when you're ready.

    Good luck, and the very best wishes for a good recovery.
  • Vino'sGhost
    Vino'sGhost Posts: 4,129
    Redevision,

    A terrible accident when you are obviously committed to this and I'm sure you will have low moments. Just remember the old adage that it's always darkest before the dawn.
    You're also a young man with a future
  • backo
    backo Posts: 167
    Sorry to read about your accident redevision...hope your body mends itself, sounds like you should be extremely happy to be here to tell the story.
  • photonic69
    photonic69 Posts: 2,844
    Sorry to read about your accident and ongoing injuries. It's still early days in your recovery in the grand scheme of things. Mending takes time. Some bits, especially the mentality, take a lot longer. You need to rest and recover but do try to stay active as much as your situation allows.

    I too went through a very bad biking accident 5 years ago. I suffered extensive nerve damage and lost the use of one of my limbs through paralysis! You cannot believe the dark moments I went through in the early days of recovery. I really thought I would never be able to work again let alone ride a bike. I was worried sick about how I could provide for my family in the future. I was extremely fortunate to have great support from family and friends and also the paralysis recovered eventually as the nerves very very slowly healed.

    I was off the bike for a year. If anything my injuries made me more determined to get back on the bike again and to go out and enjoyed what I loved doing. In fact I cycle even more now than I did before my accident. I'm more cautious for sure and take fewer risks but I'm doing what I love and keeping fit and active and have a lot of cycling friends.

    Stay strong and keep positive


    Sometimes. Maybe. Possibly.

  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    redvision wrote:
    Anyway, i have to admit, for the first time, I am starting to question whether I will ever get back on the bike.
    It's a fair question - and without knowing what caused you to have the accident, it's certainly a tricky one to answer. But - ask yourself why did you ride before - did you enjoy it - what's changed to make it more risky? As far as I can tell, from your posts, you have no idea why you crashed and it sounds like it's an isolated event. What do you consider the chances of it happening again? It's impossible to answer with any certainty.

    If you enjoy riding - ride again (when you can) - perhaps in company to start with :)
    redvision wrote:
    Be safe on the roads people.
    absolutely! We all hope for that.
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    Blimey RV. I don't know what to say - but I wish you all the best with your recovery.
  • redvision
    redvision Posts: 2,958
    Thanks guys, really appreciate your comments and concern.

    I know questioning cycling at this point is possibly an ill judged rushed reaction to a mountain of issues which have all landed at once. And as pointed out, there is no rush to make such a drastic decision, the focus should be recovering physically and mentally.

    PhotoNic, really sorry to hear the injuries you suffered and glad to know you have recovered. Sets a great example of how things will get better, and also how my injuries could have been so much worse. So whilst I may be feeling low at the moment, I have to remain positive as it could have been so much worse.

    Thanks again all for your comments. Really appreciate them.
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    redvision wrote:
    Thanks again all for your comments. Really appreciate them.
    No probs - let us know when you want to start getting irritated by us posting pictures of our bikes out in nice locations ... I'm sure we can oblige ;)
  • sloppyschleckonds
    sloppyschleckonds Posts: 8,019
    There must be some dentists on here who can offer a discount or some good advise surely
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • redvision
    redvision Posts: 2,958
    Almost 8 months to the day since I picked a fight with a bus and I finally got back out on the road today!
    Have done a little bit on the turbo over the last couple of weeks, following physio advice, but god it felt good getting back on the roads.

    Only downer was how little I had in the tank and legs are now like jelly. Still, was great to ride properly again, even if it was only a few miles.

    Thanks again to everyone for the messages and posts last October and beyond, really helped me keep my chin up and definitely persuaded me to get back on the bike when I could.
  • timothyw
    timothyw Posts: 2,482
    Great update! Congratulations on a successful first ride back.
  • redvision
    redvision Posts: 2,958
    TimothyW wrote:
    Great update! Congratulations on a successful first ride back.

    Thanks :D
  • jeddy11
    jeddy11 Posts: 16
    Witnesses can be spoken to by the motorist whilst the op was out of it, so their account of events can be skewed unintentionally..

    It would be worth contacting these witnesses and even going door knocking to find any others and check for cctv some houses have it ..

    Regards

    AKH wrote:
    Could they have brake checked you? If it wasn't at a junction (unsure from posts so far), how could a bicycle possible catch up to a car? Unless it was stopped in the road around a blind bend or something.

    Where was this witness?
  • lesfirth
    lesfirth Posts: 1,382
    redvision wrote:
    Almost 8 months to the day since I picked a fight with a bus and I finally got back out on the road today!
    Have done a little bit on the turbo over the last couple of weeks, following physio advice, but god it felt good getting back on the roads.

    Only downer was how little I had in the tank and legs are now like jelly. Still, was great to ride properly again, even if it was only a few miles.

    Thanks again to everyone for the messages and posts last October and beyond, really helped me keep my chin up and definitely persuaded me to get back on the bike when I could.

    That's Great news. I am almost in tears reading that. :D:D
  • gt8374uh9jiodpo
    gt8374uh9jiodpo Posts: 51
    Great to hear you have exceeded the consultants expectations.

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