Helmets
Banned
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 405
Likes: 1
From: Midwest
Oh man babe - that doesn't look good. Take it that was days even after the accident? Oh - I could go back and read - but you were hit? From behind / side - guess that really isn't important as long as your ok. Say you don't ride as much. Why? If I may ask. I only ask because the very people I know that "use" to ride stopped due to an accident. One was my Brother and his girlfriend at the time died three times - but they were able to revive her. He said "I had to reconsider that in one second on a bike your life can be over." Is that what you are feeling? My brothers hated me getting a bike.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,592
Likes: 6
From: Florida
To give you an idea of how much I used to ride, I put 35000+ miles on my 05 from 8/04 to 8/06. On 8/12/06 my wife and I were on our way home from dinner just south of Destination Daytona on US 1. It was kind of an off night and we decided to head home a bit early. I didn't even drink much that night...I had a margarita and a beer with dinner. We made it back to Palm Coast and about two miles from the house a drunk illegal mexican heading south turned left into us. We hit it at the front right wheel and smashed over onto the road. I took out his windshiels with my left leg and landed on my back. My wife smashed into the back of me on impact and I think may have saved us both by holding on to me as long as she could. I kind of flipped through the air and landed on my side or back. My wife somehow landed on her feet but tumbled to the ground with a severe compound fracture to her lower left leg. Amazingly, that was her only major injury. I, on the other hand, was not as well off. I broke both my legs and the right one required surgery to repair so it's plated and bolted together. I also broke 5 ribs and cracked my scull. My wife was home in only three days and me in five.
Unfotunately, the insurance companies have these hospitals kicking people out as soon as possible and they sent me home with internal bleeding. Six days later I woke up with 60 over 40 blood pressure. Soooo....911 and off to another hospital. After 4 days of hell, they finally cut me open and found the problem. My spleen was slashed by the broken ribs and my liver and left kidney were also cut but had already started to scar over. They removed my spleen and sewed me back up.
Let me tell ya, waking up and seeing a bandage that ran from the center of my chest down past my belly button gave me one hell of a shock!
If all of that wasn't bad enough, my wifes leg refused to heal because the section of bone that was shattered was very large. thirteen months after the wreck our doctor finally managed to talk the insurance company into paying for a very expensive synthetic bone marrow graft. Just the synthetic bone marrow was $5000 a chunk and she needed 5 of them! It's kinda strange, the stuff is like putty and is actually more of a bone marrow extract. They figured out what it is in bone marrow that makes the bones grow and heal and they make into this putty in a concentrated form. Two months after the surgery we went back to see the doc and found out the good news...it was working.
Hopefully, someday she'll walk better...but at least we can both walk again.
Most people at work think I'm nuts and tell me so. I just tell them that they probably thought that of me long before the wreck and they generally concede that fact...LOL
I try to get on gettin' on if ya know what I mean, but it aint easy when everything you do physically makes it pop right back in your head everytime you move.
All i can say is, use extreme caution especially at intersections. I posted some of the pics of me and my wife from the wreck. You can find them easy if you look at my latest posts. I'm pretty sure I put some up yesterday or today.
Most people I have showed them to at work can't handle looking at them. For me it's just a reminder to watch my *** while I'm out there riding.
The biggest reason I don't ride as much is that my wife will no longer ride...and we're broke!
Be careful out there, i think their trying to kill us and most of them don't even know it.
Unfotunately, the insurance companies have these hospitals kicking people out as soon as possible and they sent me home with internal bleeding. Six days later I woke up with 60 over 40 blood pressure. Soooo....911 and off to another hospital. After 4 days of hell, they finally cut me open and found the problem. My spleen was slashed by the broken ribs and my liver and left kidney were also cut but had already started to scar over. They removed my spleen and sewed me back up.
Let me tell ya, waking up and seeing a bandage that ran from the center of my chest down past my belly button gave me one hell of a shock!
If all of that wasn't bad enough, my wifes leg refused to heal because the section of bone that was shattered was very large. thirteen months after the wreck our doctor finally managed to talk the insurance company into paying for a very expensive synthetic bone marrow graft. Just the synthetic bone marrow was $5000 a chunk and she needed 5 of them! It's kinda strange, the stuff is like putty and is actually more of a bone marrow extract. They figured out what it is in bone marrow that makes the bones grow and heal and they make into this putty in a concentrated form. Two months after the surgery we went back to see the doc and found out the good news...it was working.
Hopefully, someday she'll walk better...but at least we can both walk again.
Most people at work think I'm nuts and tell me so. I just tell them that they probably thought that of me long before the wreck and they generally concede that fact...LOL
I try to get on gettin' on if ya know what I mean, but it aint easy when everything you do physically makes it pop right back in your head everytime you move.
All i can say is, use extreme caution especially at intersections. I posted some of the pics of me and my wife from the wreck. You can find them easy if you look at my latest posts. I'm pretty sure I put some up yesterday or today.
Most people I have showed them to at work can't handle looking at them. For me it's just a reminder to watch my *** while I'm out there riding.
The biggest reason I don't ride as much is that my wife will no longer ride...and we're broke!
Be careful out there, i think their trying to kill us and most of them don't even know it.
Banned
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 405
Likes: 1
From: Midwest
Wow - My Brother had an old lady back out of her bush lined driveway - my Brother did not see her and she did not see him. His front wheel jammed in the front of the back passenger tire. Bike stopped standing up. My brother landed on his feet and was skiing - until his boots caught fire. His girlfriend had massive head trauma - but today - is ok.
Well God bless you both. I am glad you both pulled through. I can certainly understand your hesitation about riding. Those reminders would scare the crap out of me as well. But - I also have to commend you on the spirit of not giving up. Odd how riding a bike is such a passion for so many.
Understanding more - I apologies for anything I may have said to offend. God speed on your recovery and your wifes. Glad your both here. Sue the hell out of that guy. Or - let me guess - he had no insurance???? Hospitals suck - hard to believe how fast they kick people out. Your lucky you did not die. I have never found myself in a position to sue anyone - but I think you are. Sorry this has caused hardship financially. Ever need anything - PM me. One biker to another - I will always have your back.
Well God bless you both. I am glad you both pulled through. I can certainly understand your hesitation about riding. Those reminders would scare the crap out of me as well. But - I also have to commend you on the spirit of not giving up. Odd how riding a bike is such a passion for so many.
Understanding more - I apologies for anything I may have said to offend. God speed on your recovery and your wifes. Glad your both here. Sue the hell out of that guy. Or - let me guess - he had no insurance???? Hospitals suck - hard to believe how fast they kick people out. Your lucky you did not die. I have never found myself in a position to sue anyone - but I think you are. Sorry this has caused hardship financially. Ever need anything - PM me. One biker to another - I will always have your back.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 3
From: Parts Unkown
i have a half helmet when its hot and a full face modular when it is cold/rainy. if you feel comfortable not wearing a helmet then do so. you have the freedom to do that(unless you live in a state that mandates helmets). unless those other people are paying your bills, i wouldnt worry about what they think. just ride.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
Don't waste another minute worrying about what other people think.You do your own thing.I for one do not wear a helmet and certainly see nothing wrong with those that do.It should Always be "Let Those Who Ride Decide"!!!!!!!!!
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,592
Likes: 6
From: Florida
Wow - My Brother had an old lady back out of her bush lined driveway - my Brother did not see her and she did not see him. His front wheel jammed in the front of the back passenger tire. Bike stopped standing up. My brother landed on his feet and was skiing - until his boots caught fire. His girlfriend had massive head trauma - but today - is ok.
Well God bless you both. I am glad you both pulled through. I can certainly understand your hesitation about riding. Those reminders would scare the crap out of me as well. But - I also have to commend you on the spirit of not giving up. Odd how riding a bike is such a passion for so many.
Understanding more - I apologies for anything I may have said to offend. God speed on your recovery and your wifes. Glad your both here. Sue the hell out of that guy. Or - let me guess - he had no insurance???? Hospitals suck - hard to believe how fast they kick people out. Your lucky you did not die. I have never found myself in a position to sue anyone - but I think you are. Sorry this has caused hardship financially. Ever need anything - PM me. One biker to another - I will always have your back.
Well God bless you both. I am glad you both pulled through. I can certainly understand your hesitation about riding. Those reminders would scare the crap out of me as well. But - I also have to commend you on the spirit of not giving up. Odd how riding a bike is such a passion for so many.
Understanding more - I apologies for anything I may have said to offend. God speed on your recovery and your wifes. Glad your both here. Sue the hell out of that guy. Or - let me guess - he had no insurance???? Hospitals suck - hard to believe how fast they kick people out. Your lucky you did not die. I have never found myself in a position to sue anyone - but I think you are. Sorry this has caused hardship financially. Ever need anything - PM me. One biker to another - I will always have your back.
Thanks. I really have no hesitation about riding. I actually bought my new one before I could walk. I did wait until I could ride it to pick it up! LOL
Vinnie from Orange County Chopper's dad is a salesman at Destination Daytona (I think only in the winter months) and i bought it from him.
Super nice guy and Vinnie knows exactly what he's gonna look like as he get's older, I tell ya!
And after a few changes:
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,185
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
No helmet law here in Illinois. However I wear one all the time. Its a promise I made to my wife when I bought the bike. Small price to pay. Its realy no big deal and who cares what other people think?