OH shit

[Yikes]

I am so glad to hear that you are on the mend and that you are looking forward to walking and riding again.  And especially glad to hear that the police action is merely a formality.  I just do not see how you were at fault legally or otherwise.  It really was bad timing and bad luck what happened to you, so please resist thinking that this would not have happened if you had done things differently.  You did the best you could in that split second of time.

Tradgedies like this remain tradgedies if nothing good comes out of them.  Everyone here reading your story will now be much more vigilent about gearing up for every ride and about being more observant of pedestrians.  Crashing into a pedestrian is not something I ever even thought about, and now I do, every time i see someone who could potentially cross my path.  So please take some comfort knowing that there are people all over the world that are learning from your tragic accident, and your experience may very well help to save a life.

Once you're better, we do want to hear about the R65 and its fate as a project or a parts bike.  Till then good luck with your therapy and a speedy recovery.  And good luck n general.  You are due a big fat portion of good luck.  

John M

[k_enn]

Sorry to hear about the accident.  Glad to hear you are mending, and hope all heals well.  

<snip>My parents whent to see the family of the pedestrian but they just want lots of money so they are going to leave  the case to the police. <snip>

Can't speak about the legal system where you are, but here if his family were to sue I would recommend countersuing his family for your injuries, suffering, and property damage.  Of course, that assumes that there are any assets.

k_enn

[steve_wicks]

K enn ... it's bit different here. The family don't want to sue, they just want money. A nice simple quick cash payout of a few hundred USD would be more than enough.

Sad fact of life here is that there are 100s of these so called informal settlements (squatter camps) and the idiots tear down fences or anything else that might be in their paths. Laws mean nothing to them. This one is huge and grew rapidly. It is only a few hundred metres from the track. I use the road mainly coming back from the track.

I know the road well and what happened to Brendan could have happened to anyone. A few months ago a motorcyclist tavelling at very high speed hit a pedestrian not far away (near N1 split) with fatal results to both.

Brendan .... glad you're awake ... enjoy the morphine, bud!!

[lairhead]

HI guys
well it has been a week since the accident and i have just left my bed on my own for the first time feels strange to walk with the frame but i must just be glad for modern orthopedics!!well the frame got cought on the bedding and i neerly fell on my face,saw a picture of my bike for the first on my fathers phone it does not look that bad needs a new front end ,tank ,tappet covers a left crash bar and footrest and exhaust,should be able to salvage my bike from the donor bike and EBAY ,but i will see how the bike realy looks once discharged ,the ortho doc says it maybe up to 9months till i can ride again and advises against it (says will bikers never learn!!)
No complications yet from the op so i may be able to leave the hospital on Thursday thanx for all the well wishes and keep then going
till next time ride safe
Brendan

[steve_wicks]

..... and you're already up and about! Keep up the good work.

[donbmw]

With every step we are all behind you.

Don

[Melena]

Brendan!  Good for you!  YAY!    What DonBMW said above!  

It does feel good to be up and about again, eh?  Well, sort of about anyway.  Now, just do what the doc says for the next 9 months and you'll be near to new.   After that, well.......................  



 

[aussie]

9 months, huh? Are you in practice to say to any prospective spouse that you know what it's like to be confined for this time period and that you can empathise with their frustration?  

Good to hear that you're up and about already - God they just shunt you out pronto don't they?

Take care and let us know what the final outcome is for the bike - oh and you....  

[lairhead]

Hi guys
well i had to pay a high price today for moving around yesterday with the pain killers in my system i was invinceble ,but today i can not move for the pain in my leg ,they are starting to slowly remove me from the drugs ,i saw the gash on my face today after they removed the dressing for the plastic sturgeon , i told him why stop at the gash why not make me pretty ,he did not think it was funny
all is on course for going home on thursday and i have dropped out of university because of my fall but i can resume my course next year !!
gave good week and ride safe
Brendan

[suecanada]

I'm back online after a trip to MI. All went well despite horrific wind. Brendan, I want you to know that you willl be back riding too just as you say! I love your confidence and up beatness, Brendan. You are an inspiration! Sounds to me that you are the lucky type of person who gets things done if they put their minds to it.
 
Please don't spend too much time trying to analyse this horrible event as it may just serve to depress ya enough to slow down healing. A big smile is hard to come by I realize but even little smiles and happy thoughts may help the healing.
Boy, the bike looks salvageable eh??? We all will have something to look forward to in the coming months.
Keep up the good work!

[Semper Gumby]

Take your time Brendon.  Your body has taken a terrific beating!  Take the time to heal it.  Hang in there!!!

[trolle]

Brendan

I hope that you got through surgery and that you are healing well.

the fact that you came out of the accident alive and without serious damage to the most important parts, ie. your head and your hands because your were dressed correct will be in my mind every time I feel tempted to ride without dressing up!

You will be in my thoughts.

greetings from a sunny and slightly windy north

[steve_wicks]

Yo Terror!

I'm intrigued .... how, where etc did you get a gash on your face wearing a f/face helmet?

[lairhead]

HI guys
although Arai helmets are the BEST the visor is not absolutely shatterproof and the chin bar is made to deform and brake to reduce injuries the helmet did its job and in doing so took a huge force to hte front and top of the helmet,i am seriously considering sending the helmet to the Arai agent in south Africa to be used for advertising ,cant believe the damage it took and i got away only with swelling of the brain and an laceration ,i was not conceious for for a day after the accident so i do not know if it was the visor or the protective fiberglass shell of the helmet that cut me because the whole helmet inside is thickly lined with blood .
i am doing much better and do not have much pain anymore ,i am not on a drip anymore and use tablets for the pain (not many) i am returning home tommorow and can wait for the ortho doc to release me ,the cut on my face has healed well and i did not have any plastic work done as yet but may in the future!
the case against me is not closed yet but it is about finnished (No worries) first thing tommorow i am going to have a propper Guys meal and going to say away from the meds so that i can enjoy a beer
thanx for the suport ride safe
Brendan

[steve_wicks]

Hey Terror,

Firstly enjoy being at home ..... then let me know if you want to send the helmet to the importers (Kawsaki SA), I know them and am on good terms with them - in fact I'm getting a road test bike bike from them soon. I'm pretty sure we could turn it into a positive story in exchange for you getting a new lid.

Just say when, and I'll get the ball rolling. In the meantime I suggest taking some pics of your battered face before it gets too pretty again!

Cheers