Bruiser back from hospital after bike accident!

**Warr** · 30th July 2006, 23:33

Originally Posted by Bruiser

...............
So, there's the story. ACC have a self-employed policy where you can buy additional income protection regardless of how much levy you pay. I only found this out after my accident unfortuntaly.

Bruiser

Hi there, sure sounds like a big chunk to miss out from working and being screwed but the ACC.
What is this "Additional Income Protection" is it something you can nominate to have with ACC?

**Bruiser** · 30th July 2006, 23:42

Originally Posted by Warr

Hi there, sure sounds like a big chunk to miss out from working and being screwed but the ACC.
What is this "Additional Income Protection" is it something you can nominate to have with ACC?

ACC have an optional extra cover for employers/self-employed where you pay more than the standard levy and get additional cover.

Wish I'd known - I'd be about $28k better off right now!

Bruiser

**Zapf** · 31st July 2006, 00:53

Originally Posted by Bruiser

ACC have an optional extra cover for employers/self-employed where you pay more than the standard levy and get additional cover.

Wish I'd known - I'd be about $28k better off right now!

Bruiser

The question then is if they are going to ask that you have to prove that you'll have made that $28k. (fairly concerned as I am self employed as well)

**Bruiser** · 31st July 2006, 09:10

Originally Posted by Zapf

The question then is if they are going to ask that you have to prove that you'll have made that $28k. (fairly concerned as I am self employed as well)

And the answer is no you have to prove nothing. If you take out this extra cover with ACC it is a fixed contract which requires no proof of income. Treat it like any other commercial income protection cover.

Cheers,
Bruiser

**Warr** · 31st July 2006, 10:05

Thanks for the info Bruiser.
I am self employed and are in my 3rd year of trading, so are paying tax and all that.. Among with ACC levies hopefully based on my type of industry.
Have been on the phone to ACC and they said I'd be covered at the 80% level in the event of an accident. When I asked about some extra cover laldy said there was something called cover+ where you nominated a cover amount and were paid 100% at that rate. I havent checked out the web site as to what that costs, but to know I'm covered at the 80% level os ok as far as I can see. Unless you think of something that I havent

**terbang** · 31st July 2006, 10:17

Why is it that it is allways a woman in a 4 wheel drive involved in these sort of things. Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that its some perfectly manicured woman in a 4WD that seems to be the one to tailgate you?

**Goblin** · 31st July 2006, 10:27

Originally Posted by terbang

Why is it that it is allways a woman in a 4 wheel drive involved in these sort of things. Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that its some perfectly manicured woman in a 4WD that seems to be the one to tailgate you?

Thats because they think their shit doesn't stink and that they are above everyone! Especially the dirty biker people!

**Bruiser** · 25th September 2006, 13:40

Hi all,

The bike finally arrived (Wally rode it up from Tokoroa) and I took it out for my first ride in 10 months a couple of weeks later, just local, about 70k's and taking it very easy.

A mate (on his Heritage softail) and I then had a hit-out a few weeks ago. Coming out of a sideroad onto TeAtatu Rd I missed the gap in traffic and stupidly lost traction on putting the feet down. Pushed out my bad (still limping) right leg and it collapsed under the bike and I. We were at standstill by then but I couldn't help the harley going over, although I did have the presence of mind to push the bars (14" apes) around to square so they took the weight of the bike as it fell over onto my right leg - ouch!

Chris lifted the bike so I could get my right leg out from under the bike and we put it back on the stand. A quick check shows only a couple of almost invisible scratches on the new V&H bigshots bottom pipe. The right handlebar saved the paint and chrome - whew!

Having said that, I did manage to sprain my right ankle and pop a tendon, which put me back on crutches for four weeks :-(

Oh, and the chick who hit me finally had her day in court, convicted, $230 court costs and ordered to pay $3,000 to me as reparation. Her lawyer and I had already negotiated this one (she only had $4k in the bank so it was about the best I could hope for) and the judge rubber stamped the deal. She wasn't fined because the agreement was that any fine came out of the 3 grand and the judge thought my need was greater than Helen's - so, all to me. She has since paid this into the court and I will recieve it in a week or two.

Anyway I've got my website design/hosting business back up and running from a spare room at home, and am putting in a few hours a day (anybody need a quality low-cost site? hehehe) and although still limping I'm looking forward to getting back on the bike bloody soon!

Cheers to all who have kept my spirits up with your posts of advice and good wishes here.

**sunhuntin** · 25th September 2006, 18:22

good to hear she got fined...might think twice next time.
loving the paint too...looks good!

hopefully you wont be on crutches too long this time!

**paturoa** · 25th September 2006, 18:32

good that u didnt scratch the tank paint job - thats a stunner!

**Macktheknife** · 25th September 2006, 20:24

Good save on that awesome paint job Bruiser! Bummer about the fall though. Hope you are doing ok soon.
Cheers
Mack

**Colapop** · 25th September 2006, 20:31

I'm actually surprised that you'll get the money. Maybe I'm a cynic but 9 times out of 10 the f*cking loser who gets convicted pays the 'reparation' at $5 a week and even then there's the courts money that gets paid first so it's unlikely you ever get to see the money (can you tell I've been/am on the receiving end...) Excellent, you've done well to see it through. A few more weeks won't hurt too much eh?

**Bruiser** · 25th September 2006, 22:35

Originally Posted by Macktheknife

Good save on that awesome paint job Bruiser! Bummer about the fall though. Hope you are doing ok soon.
Cheers
Mack

Thanks Mack,

Yeah it almost makes me feel a bit better about being so bloody stupid as to take it out when obviously my leg wasn't up to it.

I am off crutches now for a couple of weeks and about where I was before the fall. Should be able to get back on the bike in a few more weeks but this time I have had various threats from the war department and a business partner against doing so until I can run around the block, and its a bloody big block! lol

Still, that next ride will be so sweet, and I will never take for granted having the harley in the garage and a body up to riding it as and when I want!

Cheers,
Bruiser

**Bruiser** · 25th September 2006, 22:40

Originally Posted by Colapop

I'm actually surprised that you'll get the money. Maybe I'm a cynic but 9 times out of 10 the f*cking loser who gets convicted pays the 'reparation' at $5 a week and even then there's the courts money that gets paid first so it's unlikely you ever get to see the money (can you tell I've been/am on the receiving end...) Excellent, you've done well to see it through. A few more weeks won't hurt too much eh?

The court assures me they have been paid the whole $3k plus court costs and I can expect a cheque anytime soon. I made sure in my report to the court that this was already agreed, and her lawyer agreed. I'm still pissed about it only being 3k but its better than a boot in the arse and I can sure do with it after 11 months of $247 a week from acc!

Thanks christ I have an understanding and supportive lady. Taking her to Rarontonga in December to say thankyou.....of course the fact we're going with a fishing mate and his wife and will be doing a bit of gamefishing is purely coincidental ;-)

Cheers,
Brusier

**Bruiser** · 20th January 2008, 00:02

After 4 stays in hospital with infections in my bad leg. The one involved a 2 week stay at North Shore hospital to have the infection operated on again, with a second op to have the titanium rod pulled out of the right tibia. It turns out that the rod was the cause of the constant infections from the get-go. It isn't going to be replaced!

I'm now back home again and on crutches and the leg looks it will finally be free of infection. Now got an IV in my arm which is ported into an artery just above the heart, and a portable pump feeds antibiotics into me 24/7 for the next 6 weeks to cure the last of the infection. Heres hoping!

So although not quite out of the woods yet, after over 2 yrs 3 mths since the accident it is surely time to start looking forward to getting some serious riding in again.

While I've been recovering it occured to me that I should give something back to the biking community (which also gave me something to do to while away the recovery), so with a mate we set up a website to help fellow bikers in trouble. It is early days but we hope that it succeds and is useful. The details are in my signature at the bottom of this post.

We decided not to re-open the office and instead have set up a small home-office which will see me out. Over the 2+years we are down about $125k in income, with a loss of enjoyment which you can't put a price on, however we treasure what we have, and are hopeful that the worst is now over. Once the antibiotic pump is gone and the leg repairs heal from the last infection and operations we are looking forward to getting back out on the Harley and making up for lost time.

The promised written apology from the woman who hit me never arrived, but having said that we've decided to let it go and just get on with our lives.

Thanks to all of you who have kept in touch, and who've offered your support during the recovery. You KB folk are without doubt responsible for keeping our spirits high over what has been a very trying period in our lives.

We are eternally grateful!

The coffee is always on for any KB'er passing by our home in West Akl. Just PM me for details.

Regards,
Bruiser and Marsha