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The Helmet |
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I was involved in a
motorcycle accident around 7:50 am on the morning of Friday, October 22nd on US 75 / Central Expressway, between the Campbell Road and Arapaho Road exits in Richardson, Texas. I was seriously injured. To summarize my injuries, I suffered a severe blow to the head (helmets work!), 11 broken ribs, broken clavicle, broken nose, bruised lung, punctured lung cavity, and numerous cuts, abrasions and bruises. In addition to my helmet, I was wearing cycle boots, jeans and a heavy leather jacket that morning. Thankfully it was a cool morning and that I had made a last minute decision to grab my jacket. I spent a total of 9 days in the hospital, four of which were spent in the Intensive Care Unit. The remainder of my healing time was spent in a recliner in my home, literally. The first couple of weeks, I was practically immobile. Ever brush your teeth sitting in the living room? Even simple tasks were painful. My wife, Kris, was a godsend and an Angel! I owe her big time! Well, how did it happen? I was traveling down Central Expressway, headed to my office in Richardson, just as I had done for the previous 18 months. Traffic was heavy as usual with the typical mix of stalled and moving lanes. The lane that I was in was moving at a 55-60 mph pace when, slightly ahead of me, a van entered my lane at a substantially slower speed of 10-15 mph. A last ditch effort to avoid hitting the vehicle found my brakes locked up with the rear of the motorcycle fishtailing left and right. I recovered from the first braking attempt but did not recover from the second. I might have done a better job of braking had there been more time, but the physics of the accident did not allow it. I saw no other choice or maneuvers due to traffic in all lanes around me. I laid the bike down on the left side. The motorist behind me witnessed the event and stopped in time to avoid hitting me. He relayed the incident to the police when interviewed at the scene. The van driver was found at fault according to the police accident report. However, he/she did not stop. Probably because I didn't hit the vehicle. The witness later told my wife that there was no way the van driver couldn't have heard the squealing of my tires. I am still searching for the words to thank the witness for his good-samaritanship. When viewed a month later at a Metroplex cycle dealer, it was apparent that I had laid the bike down on the left side. My helmet, now in 6 pieces, also reflects severe left side damage. |
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Because of the severe injuries and the fact that this all occurred in a
fraction of a second, I am still debating whether to ever get back on a bike again. While healing physically, my emotional feelings are still suffering. I know that if I do ride again, it'll be with a greater appreciation of the consequences. Thankfully my insurer promptly issued a check for the repairs (one less thing to think about). UPDATE I finally returned to work this week, 6 weeks after the accident. I sincerely appreciate all of the calls, cards, emails and visits both in the hospital and at my home during my hospital stay and recovery. The nurses got a big kick out of the clutch and brake levers taped to my ICU bed. Thanks guys! :-) Robert Wiley Plano, Texas |