I was in an accident on my CX 650 on May 13. So I have not been an active biker or a blogger since that date. I now have first hand experience what it is like to hit a car while riding a cycle. Around 11:30 A.M. on said Friday a car crossed Grand Ave. in Duluth at 38th Ave. West. Traffic was heavy and the driver thought there was an opening. He didn't see me and I didn't see him until he was crossing my lane about 4 feet in front of me. I had about a second to do something and thank God I did some thing smart. I just turned slightly in the direction the car was traveling. I didn't brake or do anything drastic. The rest of the accident is just a collection of little bits of information: a bang, spinning in the air and then laying on the pavement feeling some nasty bad pain. I have been telling people that God is a very good physic and directed me to have an angle of impact with the car that allowed me a clean launch off my bike. I did not have any contact with the car (to the best of my knowledge) my bike on the other hand took the full force of the crash. The front forks were bent, the front frame is bent and the rear secondary frame along the side of my bike seat is bent. After the initial impact, the bike spun into the car and slide along its length back toward the rear of the car.I was blessed with some very good first responders, who must have gotten to me in the first minute after the accident. Ironically a few days before the accident I have just completed my EMS First Responder refresher. So while I was being cared for, I was also doing a full body assessment of myself. The ambulance was on the scene in about 4 minutes and those two fellows were also great along with a fire crew and a squad car. I was not able to know who was doing what as my pain and trauma caused me to have tunnel vision, so I didn't see or hear too much. I do know some one called my wife and a coworker happened by the scene and stayed by my side until I was transported.
So a very wonderful community of caregivers were on that street corner doing their very best to help me. I do indeed that God for those people. I is amazing to think that a group of people assembled for 10 -15 minutes did a fantastic job caring for a stranger in need, then went back to their daily lives never to assemble again.
I ended up with a broke left leg (tibia) plateau fracture and a broke left arm (humerus) that required shoulder surgery. No other injuries other than a couple of little bruises! Wearing good protective gear Darrin Rideware by Aerostich, full face helmet and good motorcycle boots gave me the necessary protection.
I am in a wheel chair and out of work, but I will heal. I am also thankful that the driver who was involved in the accident had good car insurance and was honest about his responsibility. We all make mistakes and I appreciate that this fellow allow his insurance company to take responsibility for the accident in a timely manner.
So as I have time and energy to blog; I will be relating my thoughts about post accident issues and recovery.
I plan on riding again, maybe it will have its psychological challenges but I think I will continue to enjoy biking. As I am healing may you ride safe and smart. Kickstand
