First off, sorry to hear about your accident and am glad you survived. Sometimes just being able to take the next breath is the best that can be said about a situation.

I was hit two years ago, almost to the day. Unlike most, I remember nothing. Imagine you're riding along on the highway to work and then your eyes are closed. You open them and see you're laying in a bed, in a room, that's not yours. The more you take in the more you realize you're in a hospital and it dawns on you, "Something went really wrong." That's what happened to me.

I was told by my neurologist that this is what happens when you suffer a concusion. Your brain takes about three seconds to make an experiance into a memory. Thus what happened to me took less than three seconds. Not only that, but I found out that I had about 8 hours of that day that I can't remember either. When I realized where I was I thought it was still early in the morning (heading into work at 7...figured it was about 9) when in reality it was after 6 that night.

My injuries, by many of your stories, were light. I had a dislocated big toe on my left foot, two torn ligaments in my left knee and a torn left maniscus. My left thumb had (probably) a torn ligament and I had nerve damage in my left arm so I couldn't raise it above my shoulder. I had a broken right cheakbone, broken tooth, and road rash galore on my legs with a little on my elbows. I had been wearing a full leather jacket with armor in the shoulders and elbows, jeans, Harley riding boots, full gloves, and a DOT half helmet.

I spent three days in the hospital and a month off work. I went through physical thearapy and am at about 95% today. I just started working out with a trainer at the gym and when I push real hard I can feel the nerve damage in my left arm still especially when I'm pushing weight over my head.

I chaulk it up to the fact that I can't remember a damn thing about the accident but I have few mental scars to show for the wreck. When I went to buy my Dyna, I took it for a spin. When I got back to the dealership the salesman, who I had told about the accident, asked how it felt. I responded that it was the first time I had been on a bike since the day of the accident so it felt a little strange at first but by the second turn everything was fine. He had totally forgotten I hadn't probably ridden since then.

Today I'm far more wary than I was even then...and I was pretty wary then. If I even think someone may be thinking about making a lane change, I either back off or shoot past them depending on where I am in relation to them. Keep my head on a swivel and know all those bastards are out there to kill me.

Good luck and hope you heal fast. Ride safe.

 

Man that loss of time is weird isnt it? I dont remember the accident, just coming over the hill, barely remembered a red car and then remember laying in the highway, nothing in between and most of the following week I have but maybe 3 memories...

Ryan

 

Sounds like you had a pretty bad concussion. That's what they attributed mine to and I'm sure I didn't go down nearly as hard as you did. Hell, I was saying some corny stuff. Told the nurse I had a dental bridge...I don't. Kept asking people what happened about every five seconds. Called my ex-fiance'...that was a trip because apparently I had talked to her about the accident and don't remember doing so. Just a whole bunch of weirdness...

They told me some memories may come back but they haven't yet. Kinda hoping they don't.

Like you my left leg was the first thing to hit her SUV. Funny thing was she tried telling the police that she had changed lanes then I ran into her from behind...yea...except when you look at the damage to her vehicle on the police report..."Right front fender, right front tire, front bumper..." How I went down and slid across a lane of traffic on a So Cal freeway during the morning commute and DIDN'T get turned into a speed bump I'll never know.

Tell you what though, I still wear that same leather jacket when I ride. Was "distressed" before the accident and looks mean as hell now. Saved my skin, litterally, and now you couldn't pay me enough to get rid of it.

 

Hate to here these stories but I am glad you survived. Best of luck to you in your recovery. I had a bad bike wreck in the 80's that still sticks in my head. I ride wild but cautious. Took me awhile to get back in the saddle but when I did I was glad I did.

Best of luck my friend. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

 

Thanks man!

 

STG246 glad you’re going to be alright.

 

Thought I'd update this post for anyone wondering how it turned out, I'm still in physical therapy a couple times a week, just started wearing a left shoe again about a week ago, I can finally take a few (shaky) steps on my own, using a walker still but a cane isnt too far off according to the dr and pt folks...Dying for spring to take my new Tri-glide out for a ride and got some crazy thoughts in the back of my head to build another Nighttrain based chopper at some point...

 

after a car accident in highschool I walked home from the hospital cause I did not want to ride in a car,I was scared to drive etc. you will have to push yourself just a bit out of your comfort zone daily good luck

 

Based upon your description of the impact you did pretty well. I had a bad street accident on a dual sport ten years ago that didn't involve another vehicle but put me in the trauma unit for a week. Shattered my right wrist and almost lost my left leg. I had four surgeries in three months and was on crutches for five. My leg will never be the same but it works, bends, holds me up and usually doesn't hurt. I didn't ride for fourteen months and it took a few years to get to where I am now.

I answer to your original question. I was asked by a DR that I saw a few years ago for some bad hardware pain if I remembered the crash. I told him that I remember every detail of it like it took five minutes instead of two seconds. He asked how it felt to get back on a bike for the first time. I thought about and said it didn't bother me one bit. That once the bike was started and the sounds and smells came back, I got the endorphin rush and was excited to ride again. It was a dirt bike and I was at a friends track that I used to ride a lot and I took one lap rolling the jumps and on the second lap I did all of the doubles, including the step ups. It was a mental victory. I told the DR that climbing ladders or being on the roof now scares the Hell out of me but riding is no problem. The next year I bought my Harley

If you put the accident into perspective and focus on why you started riding in the first place, I think that you will be fine. I always said that if I had quit then that would be an admission that I never should have started in the first place and quite frankly I couldn't imagine how my life would have been without motorcycles.

It was not your fault but you will probably take blind hills and corners slower and that caution is what will bring you back to a comfort zone. I don't ride 50 mph wheelies anymore.

I'm sure you have plenty of people telling you that you should quit. I was asked by a lot of non-motorcycle people (usually in a smart *** sort of way) if I was going to get rid of my bike. I always told them no and I'm not getting rid of my horse, speedboat, or my ladder even though using them is dangerous too. Of course my motorcycle friends were supportive.

I know that no amount of money can restore what you lost but I hope that woman had good insurance. And build that Night Train. That may be all of the mental therapy you need.

 

Good to hear that you're doing better, looks like the East is getting hit pretty hard weather wise; you'll have more time to get better so you can ride again in the spring.