Witnessed an accident today

[maillotpois]

Well done, you, for holding it together and being such a help. Even more so given the similarities to your dad's bike, etc.

How can someone ride without a helmet??? I can't even imagine. I feel vulnerable enough the days I commute to work on the bike and wear JEANS instead of my protective riding pants (with my protective jacket). Cannot even imagine leaving the head exposed!

I'd like to think I'd be composed and helpful in a situation like that but you NEVER know until you are put to the test. Which you passed with flying colors.

[berkeley]

How can someone ride without a helmet??? I can't even imagine. I feel vulnerable enough the days I commute to work on the bike and wear JEANS instead of my protective riding pants (with my protective jacket). Cannot even imagine leaving the head exposed!

There's no law in CT on motorcycle helmets. Of the bikers I see out, I'd guess 75% DON'T wear helmets. In fact, we saw probably another dozen bikers out without a helmet today on our way home after the accident!!

I don't get it myself. At all. My dad is a very cautious biker, and always wears his helmet, thankfully. Otherwise, he'd be getting an earful right about now!

[KnottedYet]

If he was diabetic and had very high or very low blood sugar, he might have taken risks he normally wouldn't have. My mom is diabetic and I am hypoglycemic; weird stuff happens when the blood sugar is off.

Not wearing his helmet, exiting onto a semi-truck weigh station ramp, driving into a closed gate; all could be blood sugar related.

Berkeley, I am so proud of you for handling the situation the way you did. Whatever lead that biker to crash, you certainly helped save him!

[Tuckervill]

How fortunate the man was that someone like you was available to help him.

It's going to keep coming back for a while. If I were you I'd make a concentrated effort to find out where he is and see him in better condition. It will help you focus on the rest of the story.

When the streetsweeper knocked my Beetle around the intersection and I slammed my shoulder into the card door, I was sooooo grateful to the woman who stopped and checked on me, held my hand while we waited for the ambulance, and called my husband and very carefully let him know I was going to be okay, but that I would need him at the hospital. I never got a chance to thank her more formally since I was carried off in the ambulance.

Your beneficiary may not get a chance to thank you, but I'll thank you on his behalf. It was a kind thing you did. I hope you find a way to get past the trauma. Come and talk about it as much as you want.

Karen

[mimitabby]

what a story {{{{BERKELEY}}}}
you're a hero!

[crazycanuck]

Berkely, thank you for helping out as much as you could.

Take care of yourself , you're a good person.

[latelatebloomer]

((((bear hug))))

I have so much respect for you that you were able to hold it together and help despite the horror. We all wonder if we'd be capable, and you proved you are made of very strong stuff.

Please do not hesitate to get yourself to a counselor. There is a specific therapy to help those who have dealt w/ a visual trauma as you did, and I hear it helps a lot. Someone here will surely know the name of it, it uses eye movement. And it may help to get this sooner rather than later.

Working in a brain-injury rehab, I think often of those first-on-scene - EMTs, brave citizens, and then, emergency room staff. Those who choose to ride without helmets seem never to think about those who will deal with the aftermath of their choices.

A positive word - although the people in our rehab suffered life-changing injuries, they are, every single one, happy and grateful to be alive. You done good.

((((another hug)))

[OakLeaf]

((((((((Berkeley))))))))

so sorry you had to witness that. THANKS for taking care of him, holding it together as long as you needed to. Now feel what you need to feel, and take as long as you need to do it. (I'm still having posttraumatic nightmares about my stupid biopsy, after two weeks, if that gives you any reference at all.) Let yourself be angry, if there's anger there (there would be if it was me); feel the grief, the fear, whatever you need to do to process that. Journaling is a big help. Take care of yourself.

[andtckrtoo]

Wow! What a thing to have had to experience! I'm so glad you were there, though to help. You kept your head and did the right thing. You are indeed a hero. You should definitelyu be proud of yourself!

I will also echo the recommendation for a trauma counselor. I have done search and rescue and have seen some things that were similar in scope. Our team always had a debriefing and a trauma counselor after each incident. It helped a lot. Such an emotional experience can manifest itself in really weird ways. Seriously. It's not weakness to see a counselor, it's the same as making sure you carry fuel on a long bike ride. It's simply taking care of yourself.