Did your accident change you and how so?

[Gnigma]

In 1970 I was a DOA after a head-on with a Plymouth Fury III that couldn't stay in his own lane. I got a jump start, spent 96 days in a coma, and a total of one and a half years in the hospital. I was 14--- with a permit to operate a motorcycle--- Tennessee used to do that back then. I was on a '65 Honda Dream with a 305 top end. I was going all of 25 mph on a rural road.

Did it change my enjoyment level? No, but I now have a messed up left shoulder and hand, so I don't wave much. I still love to ride.

Did I learn something that would prevent the same thing happening again? Maybe. I mean, maybe I could take the ditch, or something, but when the land yacht driver came over on my side I was still looking at an escape route by him to my right. I was in a fairly gentle left curve. He got thirty feet from me and hit his brakes. The Plymouth turned sideways across my front. I hit about the back door and went over the car. His move was stupid; you can't fix stupid.

What am I more cautious about now? Cars! ALL of them.

Any words of wisdom? They're ALL trying to kill you; never forget it. NEVER.

Other accidents? None, really. I've low sided a couple of times on loose gravel, sand, etc., at low speed, and once my old GL1000 threw me down in the driveway when the front brake cylinder froze up. I am an ATGATT rider now, though, so all those times I got to jump up and look around and see if anybody saw me. Oh, and I flipped my 1100 Shadow sideways once when the hook broke off on one side of the ramp as I was loading it into a Penske rental truck. Almost made it all the way around to land on the rubber! Broke a light on the light bar and tore off the windshield--- I had two cracked ribs and bruises like I'd been doing Roller Derby.

[Rev.SpongebobSP]

Did it change your enjoyment level?
A little, but it is coming back with each ride.

Did you learn something from it that would prevent the same exact accident from happening again?
Nope, could not avoid it with any means beyond simply not riding.

What are you more cautious about now?
Deer in general. If I see one, I am pretty much done riding for the day, that or it is a very slow drive the rest of the day or evening.

Any other words of wisdom?
Watch for deer, and if you see them, slow down and stay frosty.

[Bjori]

Did it change your enjoyment level? When in town yes.. i am always on the lookout for any stupid cagers.. and therefor i don't enjoy the ride as much.

Did you learn something from it that would prevent the same exact accident from happening again? Never ever trust anybody in the traffic. At least not cagers.

What are you more cautious about now? Again, Do not trust cagers and no one for that matter.
Any other words of wisdom? Wear only the best gear you can afford.If you cant afford the gear, sell your bike or put it in the garage untill you do. Dont skip out of putting the gear on.. no matter how short your ride is going to be

Lastly, I'm also curious how many accidents you've had if you're willing to share. Two in 6 years if riding

[TexasShadowRider]

Did it change your enjoyment level? Not even a little. I love to ride; to feel the wind in my face, smell the great out doors, to have that feeling of freedom that only a biker knows, 1st hand.

Did you learn something from it that would prevent the same exact accident from happening again? Yes! Ride carefully, keep focus, and watch in all directions including and especially behind.

What are you more cautious about now? Absolutely more cognisant of my surroundings! Road rash and broken bones are no fun. But I wouldn't let someone else's bad driving habits stop me from my passion for riding. I always look for a way out. Hopefully someplace softer than concrete. Grass is your friend if you're going to go down, keep yourself close if at all possible to a softer landing. And don't tense up when you fall. Go limp. Remember uncooked spaghetti breaks when it hits the floor, Cooked does not.

Any other words of wisdom? Don't let anyone steal your joy. And riding is a joy!

Lastly, I'm also curious how many accidents you've had if you're willing to share. Been riding since I was 13 years old 59 now. Started with a Honda 65 and have had over a dozen bikes. Several were a total because of accidents but I learned to be more cautious, keep my eyes moving, and relax only when I'm on the road by myself. As for how many accidents, from bone breakers and hospital visits, to simple road rashes and bruises over a dozen. But I rode dirt bikes too and I'm including many trail incidents also.

Ride on Brother! and keep the Shiny side up and the greasy side down my friends.

[GilaMinumBeer]

Originally Posted by canonelan2

1.)Did it change your enjoyment level?

2.)Did you learn something from it that would prevent the same exact accident from happening again?

3.)What are you more cautious about now?

4.)Any other words of wisdom?

5.)Lastly, I'm also curious how many accidents you've had if you're willing to share.

Thanks,

Craig

1.) No. I brought me back to reality in that I am simply a bug on the tarmac and so long as I am not on top of my game, I'm stuck in a radiator.

2.)Yes. Don't drink and ride, look where you are turning, and take riders courses to advance your skills and practice to build habits for muscle memory.

3.)Line and leaning in turns and looking where I want to go.

4.)Accidents happen cause you let them. - Hough

5.) 1 crash. 2 or 3 accidents.

An accident is forgetting to put the kickstand down before dismounting your ride. A crash is when you lose the bike or eat a bumper and survive.

Everything else is a fatality statistic.

[shadowmaker07]

Nope the school bus hitting me last year didn't bother me but I will be DAMNED if I ever let another so called doctor "fix what ain't broke"/make something worse by so called fixing it!!!

[proto]

Did it change your enjoyment level?
Immediately I felt no impact and wanted to get right back up and ride my bike again. Today I took my bike out for the first time since the accident, patched it up myself, and found myself have a few minor moments of very high anxiety - possibly PTS kicking in?

Did you learn something from it that would prevent the same exact accident from happening again?
Yes - don't ever pass vehicles on the right! even loud exhausts didn't help, they still didn't 'see me'.

What are you more cautious about now?
I definitely am definitely keeping more space between myself and other vehicles, especially if they are in another lane near me. I'm also finding myself paying more attention to my lane position. If there blinker is not on, I assume they are most likely going to turn. If there blinker is on, I assume they are most likely not going to turn.

Any other words of wisdom?
Be very alert and anticipate traffic movements, assume your invisible blah blah blah...nothing special, just drive defensively.

Lastly, I'm also curious how many accidents you've had if you're willing to share.
1 - but technically only 3 weeks of riding experience, so pretty bad...

[Impster]

Did it change your enjoyment level?
Wasn't a motorcycle accident, but it did make me overly paranoid of blind curves for a good long while. Which in turn kept me from getting a motorcycle for many (10) years.

Did you learn something from it that would prevent the same exact accident from happening again?
I might have, but I can't remember that entire day.

What are you more cautious about now?
Entering blind curves and going over limited sight hills in rural areas.

Any other words of wisdom?
Sometimes, there's nothing you can do about, or anticipate, what will happen.

Lastly, I'm also curious how many accidents you've had if you're willing to share.
Just this one.

The mangled hunk of metal in the background of the pic was my car.