Bruiser back from hospital after bike accident!

[Bruiser]

Greetings all,

This is the first time I've had a chance to post here since the "accident".

I was T-Boned by a stupid (kiwi) woman in a 4wd in Grey Lynn on Oct 26th. She executed a U-turn while driving down College Hill from Ponsonby Rd towards the city. She was on the inside of two lanes while waiting for some space. When she got the outside lane clear she hit the gas and U-turned straight into me coming the other way up the hill - smacked me side-on on the Harley - taking me out. (One witness, who I have spoken to since, was a retired woman traffic cop).

Right leg broken (3 places), broken ribs, 3 operations, 3 titanium rods now permanently inserted, total knee re-fabrication.....so far!

It's been 8 weeks now and I've had to shut down my business (was self-employed), cancelled a 2 week Sth Island trip on the bike with our mates we do every February, with a probable further 2 to 3 months of bed rest before I am up and about. My Harley (which won "Best Custom Bike" at a show the weekend before the accident) won't be back on the road til at least March 06, with about $15k of damage. Thankfully we were both insured! She has also been charged with careless use of a vehicle causing injury.

And what did this woman do? She sent me store-bought flowers and a card in hospital - apologising for hurting me! Since then she has refused to return any calls to her cellphone or her business number even after being told exactly who was calling. Her last excuse (in October) was she had an all-day conference and wouldn't be able to call me back til after work. I have her full name, address, phone numbers, all of which have done me no real good.

Meanwhile our Xmas, holidays, our business, and any immediate plans for our future are all on hold. Such is life eh.

Please be careful out there people, and take nothing for granted!

Cheers,
Bruiser

PS, Thanks to the local GP who I'm told immediately closed down his practice and spent almost 2 hours attending to me while I lay unconscious wrapped around a wheel under a parked car after the accident. You sir, have restored my faith in human nature!

[Sniper]

Sorry to hear Bruiser. Get well soon mate.

[skelstar]

Dude, good to hear you are on the mend.

[Virago]

Jeez Bruiser, what a shocker! I wondered where you'd disappeared to...

It sounds like you're over the worst, but still have a lot of healing to do. Keep us posted about your healing progress (and also that of your lovely Wideglide....). In the meantime you can always talk bikes at least!

[Calo]

I rode past the scene not long after it happened (ambulance was already there) and wondered what the hell was going on.

All the best for your recovery, mate.

[skidMark]

sad to hear mate at least your still alive thats the main thing.

Is there much damage to bike?.

Get well soon aye mate.

Cheers: MA

[Goblin]

So sorry to hear of your misfortune, that has to hurt in all areas of life... I feel your pain. Old bugga that hit me didn't even say sorry. Told me I shouldn't have been on a bike.
Good to hear the GP had a heart and helped you to survive.
The Random Riders are a cool bunch of people to ride with, did their inaugrual Poker Run and had a blast! Looking foward to the next.
All the best with the healing process and best wishes to you and your family for the new year.

[froggyfrenchman]

Its great to hear that youre on the mend, but that is some real shitty luck right there! You could get her to start talkn to you by getting some biker mates to ride round to her house, stop and have a smoke on the footpath. ocasionally pointing up the driveway and shaking heads. Ill bet she awnsers any phone that rings straight after seeing that

[Bruiser]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. One byproduct of all this has been 2 months to think about, dream about and contemplate some very nasty scenarios involving that woman lol.

A bunch of guys from the Waikato Random Riders came up to see me (on their harleys) in hospital the weekend after the accident and gave me a signed a letter to make me feel better. The following weekend during a Radom Riders cruise around the East Coast one of these guys, Kels, was killed just south of Whakatane at a railway crossing. Kels was the same age as me, leaves a wife and 3 boys and a business in Taupo. He will be remembered by everybody at Random Riders.

From that day forward I have refused to take delivery of an message even remotely resembling self-pity!

Regards,
Bruiser

[crashe]

Good to see you back on the KB site again...

[StoneChucker]

Welcome Home Bruiser, not sure if you've read any of what happened to me, but I know what you must feel like, and I know what you mean about thoughtless, insensitive drivers! It really grinds my bones when I think about those drivers, and what life would be like if they had just used common sense and driven like they're supposed to. However, thats not often, as whats done is done.

I hope your recovery goes well, it's a long process. After 6 months, I'm still really weak, not able to bend over properly, lie down in certain ways, etc... These careless drivers don't think/realise/care about how much they actually change your life, whether you have a permanent injury or not.

I also hope you're able to get your business back up and running to the level (or better) that it used to be when you're feeling able. You're probably also now dealing with ACC. They are a blessing (we have nothing like that in SA), but believe me they can also be a curse. Don't be afraid to fight for what you believe you are entitled to. I probably shouldnt go into it, but I will say, if your case manager is completely inept/inadequate, they are not infallable. (My CURRENT case manager is absolutely brilliant, so your experience unfortunately will vary).

Hang in there, and I'm looking forward to seeing you post that you're back on the road again soon.

Regards,
David.

[Vagabond]

At least your'e on the mend, get well soon and back on two wheels.

PS all the best for 2006

[Badcat]

PS, Thanks to the local GP who I'm told immediately closed down his practice and spent almost 2 hours attending to me while I lay unconscious wrapped around a wheel under a parked car after the accident. You sir, have restored my faith in human nature!

hey bruiser, sorry to hear of your accident, glad you're still with us though!
the doctor wasn't dr wong was it?
he's my GP on college hill.
k

[ajturbo]

From that day forward I have refused to take delivery of an message even remotely resembling self-pity!

Regards,
Bruiser

good one matey!!!

i got a txt last night, from a good friend who was feeling a bit down and sorry for themselves, things not going smoothly, sure was a bummer, but then i reminded them that at least they had that specical (sp?) someone, even if they were pissing them off!!..

self pity?
get over it!.. move on,

there is always someone that YOU know worse off than yourself!!!
:eyepoke:

[Colapop]

You've got a good amount of time to plan your next outstanding, show stopping custom job for your ride, B.