After the Serious Accident

[Triskeliongirl]

My husband and I both have had *very serious* accidents and we still both ride. But, after our accidents we made a set of rules. To make these rules, analyze what went wrong on your ride. If there is anything you could have done differently, make that a rule. Our rules include things like not riding in the rain, in the dark, on roads we think are too hazardous, without eye correction, outside of ourselves (trying to stay in a group that is beyond your fitness level so that you are not as stable as you should be), avoiding folks with poor bike handling skills in a group, etc.

And take it back in baby steps. After my accident, I started back really slow on a car free bike path (I had been hit by an SUV that rammed me across 4 lanes of traffic, breaking my pelvis, hip, etc. I still have a 2.2 cm leg length discrepancy after it all healed). I did commute on that road again, and cried the first time I went through that intersection. A few accidents later, albeit more minor, on that road, I stopped commuting on that road and deemed it too dangerous. But I still enjoy club rides and touring on roads I deem safe. My husband too avoids a club ride where he crashed twice, once very seriously (as in being airlifted to the hospital and staying there for 2 months) and once less so, due to poor road conditions.

As others have said, take it in baby steps. Ride when you feel ready (and your doctors clear you), and on roads you feel very safe on with people you feel very safe with. DO NOT feel guilty about using your insurance benefits. That is why you and/or your employer pay premiums. If insurance companies didn't make money they wouldn't be in business.

[Melalvai]

I've been avoiding reading this thread because I didn't want to think about it. But then I thought that was selfish of me, maybe I have something to offer. Now that I have read it, I don't actually have anything new to offer, just support everything that's been said. Still glad that I read it since I got a lot out of everyone's stories. Thank you all!

[SallyRides]

An accident is just that - an accident! That's why we pay for/have insurance. No reason at all for you to feel guilty about that.

I've had, unfortunately, more than one bike-related accident that required insurance payments for me and for bike replacement. Broke my pelvis one time, scraped off a good amount of skin from my face/concussion/cracked bike frame another occasion. First time, I blame myself for inattention in a paceline. Second time, not my fault at all. It was either crash into a curb or be under a car. (I chose the curb and major endo.)

Getting back on the bike after the first accident was tough!! I couldn't ride with a group at first. It's been 11 years and I still have slight anxiety in groups/pacelines. But.......... I was back on the bike the very first day that my Ortho ok'd me.

Second accident, I looked scary with a swollen, bruised face. But the rest of me was ok, and I was back on the bike after a week. Leery of cars, yes, but could not give up riding.

For me, being on a bike is part of who I am. Doesn't matter how many people thought I was crazy for getting back out there. Riding is in my heart and soul. You will need to decide how important it is to you. That's what matters. If we can give you support and courage here, wonderful! But it still comes down to whatever decision you make. I wish you the best, whatever that decision may be.

SR

[ivorygorgon]

I don't think this has been covered yet, but your insurance plan will usually not pay the entire hospital the bill. Most hospitals have contracts with insurers and agree to accept pennies on the dollar for the bills. In some cases I have seen hospitals accept less than half of the actual bill, and they "adjust" the remainder off. So the amount your insurance eventually pays is much less than the bill. Here is a recent example. The doctor's bill was well over $24,000.00. The insurance paid $6,000ish. The remainder was written off. So even though it looked like the bill was $24,000, the amount paid was only $6,000, and the customer was not charged the remainder.

[featuretile]

I had an accident about 8 weeks ago that I wrote about here. Unfortunately, my medical insurance seems to cover almost nothing and the costs are high.

I had a concussion, facial bruises and a broken finger. I was only in the hospital one night, so glad I did not have worse injuries. They never told me in the hospital how fatigued I would be for the first few weeks (because of the head injury). A friend of mine who is a PT told me that the fatigue was normal, and that there is also something called 'physical depression'. It eventually goes away.

After 4 weeks, I started riding my trainer again. After 6 weeks and the finger knit together, I went out for my first ride. I went down to the Monterey bike path so I would not have to deal with traffic at all. That went well, and I have worked up to 28 miles and feeling ok. I still find myself going down hill slower, not drafting anyone and looking at the ground a lot. My accident was caused by road debris, not a car.

I did 2 things to make me feel safer and have one to go. I went and got a bike fit because someone at my club said that not only could that make you more comfortable, but could also make bike handling better. I had not done it before because my bike was not uncomfortable. The fitter is a lovely women who owns a shop. She also suggested that I get 700/25 tires and fill them to 95psi instead of the 700/23 tires that I had and would fill to 110psi. The road conditions here in my county are really crappy and this would help. Saturday I am going to a bike handling skills clinic.

I have gotten in so much better shape from cycling, have so many cycling friends and go on cycling trips, that I can't imagine giving it up. That does not mean that I am totally comfortable now. I was amazed how much strength you can lose in 6 weeks. I don't remember the accident because I was briefly unconscious, so I don't have bad memories playing in my head. Still, I would have preferred to skip the concussion.

Please give yourself some time - you may still be in the time of physical depression.

[kajero]

A friend of mine who is a PT told me that the fatigue was normal, and that there is also something called 'physical depression'. It eventually goes away.

Saturday I am going to a bike handling skills clinic.

I have gotten in so much better shape from cycling, have so many cycling friends and go on cycling trips, that I can't imagine giving it up. That does not mean that I am totally comfortable now. I was amazed how much strength you can lose in 6 weeks. I don't remember the accident because I was briefly unconscious, so I don't have bad memories playing in my head. Still, I would have preferred to skip the concussion.

.

I was wondering wny I was so tired all the time. Also, I can understand myself a littlle better once you mentioned something called 'physical depression'. I have been really feel down, maybe this is part of it.

I have looked for a bike handling skills clinic in our area, but haven't been able to find one. I am not sure what happened at my accident seeing as I was unconscious. I have had heard several different scenarios, most of them different.

I also have so many friends as a result of my cycling. I don't know if I will continue to go with them on group rides, though. I guess that decision will be made when I can ride again.

We did buy a trainer and my old bike is on it. I see the doctor on Wednesday and will see when he says I can use it. If I can handle that comfortablly,I may think about riding again.

Thank you so much for your insight. I wish you the best