Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => On The Road => Topic started by: DrMekon on 20 September, 2016, 09:58:30 am

Title: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 20 September, 2016, 09:58:30 am
Knocked off in Headingley on way to work. No front teeth, face a mess. New bike bent. Tips?

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160920/c02a5e4669828d28fa61fa10a8063387.jpg)

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160920/5e3d75d511abe123076742a737e899fc.jpg)

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160920/1210eb15b3d489d044ec7a280eefc6ee.jpg)(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160920/3b09fedebf28b4cb79dced1e40a61661.jpg)

Got loads of pictures, load of witnesses. Bike secure.

When to tell the wife?
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Karla on 20 September, 2016, 10:01:42 am
Ow, fuck  That's nasty, very sorry for you.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: peliroja on 20 September, 2016, 10:03:18 am
Shit shit shit! So sorry. (Tell the wife NOW.)

http://www.slatergordon.co.uk/personal-injury/cycling/what-to-do-in-the-event-of-an-accident/
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Peter on 20 September, 2016, 10:09:56 am
That's awful, Ian.  Not sure about when to tell your wife, though.  If you've been checked over and otherwise ok, you might leave it till she'd expect to see you anyway (or possibly a little earlier, to warn her about your appearance.  When I was knocked off early on a 200, I didn't tell my wife until I arrived home that night in an ambulance.  She wasn't expecting me till late, so there seemed no sense in worrying her while I was patched up.  She was fine with that, though I think she would have been fine either way.

Get well soon.

Peter
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Dibdib on 20 September, 2016, 10:11:14 am
Get well soon bud.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Hot Flatus on 20 September, 2016, 10:18:20 am
Wow. Awful. Sorry to hear this. How did it happen?
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: tonyh on 20 September, 2016, 10:23:40 am
Best wishes to you (and also to yours) Dr M.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Tim Hall on 20 September, 2016, 10:29:12 am
Shit, that doesn't look pretty.  Tell your wife before she finds out through other means (postings on YACF for example).
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 20 September, 2016, 10:40:54 am
Oh dear . . .

teeth repairs can be expensive and difficult. I'm sure you know this. Do go for max claims, use a solicitor, remember that if they'd bumped a car the claim for bodywork repairs would be in the thousands, your face and smile are worth more than some ruddy paint and metal on a blasted car!
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: hellymedic on 20 September, 2016, 10:50:57 am
Ouch!

Get thee to A&E and a dentist!

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/131099/#comment8835739 (https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/131099/#comment8835739)

Might need LFGSS registration

Mend well and fast.
Itemise every penny you spend on anything.
Don't settle too soon; some long-term problems can take ages to appear in both body and bike.

Get well soon!
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 20 September, 2016, 10:51:15 am
Recommended solicitor?
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 20 September, 2016, 10:53:59 am
Slater gordon - Peli gave linky above.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: red marley on 20 September, 2016, 10:59:06 am
Really bad luck Dr M. Get well soon.

You asked what you needed to do. One further bit of advice I would suggest is to write down as much as possible of the details and your feelings about the incident now, just as a personal diary. It can be a ramble, stream of consciousness type stuff. You will be in shock at the moment (don't be surprised if you spontaneously burst into tears at some point in the next week; it's just the body coping and perfectly normal). Capturing your experience before your mind starts to erase some of the gory details may prove helpful later on. If nothing else it will provide you with "interesting" reading a year from now.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Peter on 20 September, 2016, 11:07:05 am
Jo, that is interesting about the late bursting into tears: in my case (referred to above) I was chirpy right up to the moment (10 hours later) when I was helped into the house, when I blubbed like an utter wet and a weed on seeing my wife.  She does not normally have this effect, so it must have been as you describe!

Good luck, Ian
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: simonp on 20 September, 2016, 11:07:23 am
Ian, I'm really sorry this has happened, I hope you get it all sorted out satisfactorily.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: mattc on 20 September, 2016, 11:23:46 am
If you've been checked over and otherwise ok, you might leave it till she'd expect to see you anyway (or possibly a little earlier, to warn her about your appearance.  When I was knocked off early on a 200, I didn't tell my wife until I arrived home that night in an ambulance.  She wasn't expecting me till late, so there seemed no sense in worrying her while I was patched up.  She was fine with that, though I think she would have been fine either way.
That's more-or-less what worked for me. I was commuting home, but arrival time varies by about 2 hours. So once I was in A&E - and I was _fairly_ confident I wasn't dying - I phoned N shortly before she might start wondering where I was.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: L CC on 20 September, 2016, 11:27:42 am
Don't send pictures to MrsM.

And avoid mirrors.

Yowza. Take care, doc.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: JJ on 20 September, 2016, 11:30:30 am
So, so sorry for you Ian.  Sending tons of GWS thoughts your way.
I'm confident that they'll fix you up, and you'll heal quickly.  The NHS is great in a crisis.

Your kids' reaction will put it all in perspective when you see them, I betcha!
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 20 September, 2016, 12:03:02 pm
Ouch! My advice is to take other people's advice and listen to the doctors.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 20 September, 2016, 12:58:39 pm

I was riding to work, through Headingley in the cycle lane with traffic. At the cross roads, I filtered with traffic, riding on the nearside.  Beside me was moving traffic. As i crossed the junction, going from north to south, a grey uber taxi turned in front of me through a gap in the traffic, hitting me and sending me over the bonnet. I recall the initial impact, but then a brief gap in my memory until a gentleman had me sat on the pavement and was asking if I was okay. I was sat on the kerb bleeding heavily from my mouth. Someone gathered Various details. I took many photos as I could before the pain became too much. Various concerned members of the public gathered around me. A paramedic, ambulance and police car attended. I was taken by ambulance to LGI. I have minor injuries to my hands, feet, knees, shoulders and neck. I have significant injuries to my face, with two teeth missing and more damaged beyond repair. Pain was 7/8 out of 10 initially, reducing to 5 on morphine.

I had an exceptionally bright front light on continuous + flashing mode (exposure six pack). I was wearing a high visibility chartreuse gillet with contrast banding, and a high visibility jersey (green and chartreuse, with contrast banding).

As well as the exposure front light, I had an exposure red eye and a high end Bontrager rear light.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: LMT on 20 September, 2016, 12:58:51 pm
Fucking hell, not sure if your question was rhetorical or not so:-

Report it to the Police with details of the respective witnesses.

Join CyclingUK (CTC), IIRC you can use their free service to do with bike injuries retrospectively. Slater & Gordon ime have been superb with the two incidents that I had in getting my claim settled.

Keep receipts for absolutely everything to do with the crash, any medicines bought, trips to the dentist, doctors etc. S&G if you go with them should set up a Doctors appointment for you x amount of weeks from now where you can go and get your injuries assessed post incident and see how you are holding up.

Take photos of the crashed bike, this 'should' do for making a claim but if you want to get the bike assessed at the LBS then do that.

Buy a new bike.

Heal well, that looks a nasty incident.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: mattc on 20 September, 2016, 01:29:00 pm


I was riding to work, through Headingley in the cycle lane with traffic. At the cross roads, I filtered with traffic, riding on the nearside.  Beside me was moving traffic. As i crossed the junction, going from north to south, a grey uber taxi turned in front of me (Skoda kn61 oup) through a gap in the traffic, hitting me and sending me over the bonnet. I recall the initial impact, but then a brief gap in my memory until a gentleman had me sat on the pavement and was asking if I was okay. I was sat on the kerb bleeding heavily from my mouth. Someone gathered Various details. I took many photos as I could before the pain became too much. Various concerned members of the public gathered around me. A paramedic, ambulance and police car attended. I was taken by ambulance to LGI. I have minor injuries to my hands, feet, knees, shoulders and neck. I have significant injuries to my face, with two teeth missing and more damaged beyond repair. Pain was 7/8 out of 10 initially, reducing to 5 on morphine.

I had an exceptionally bright front light on continuous + flashing mode (exposure six pack). I was wearing a high visibility chartreuse gillet with contrast banding, and a high visibility jersey (green and chartreuse, with contrast banding).

As well as the exposure front light, I had an exposure red eye and a high end Bontrager rear light.
I'm guessing that DrM doesn't have paper-n-pen with him currently :)

GWS mate.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: marcusjb on 20 September, 2016, 01:29:35 pm
Fark.

Are you aiming to single-handedly manipulate the collision statistics in Yorkshire?

That really is a bad smash. But I am sure all can be sorted over time (but no doubt it will cost a lot of money  and will not be easy). Whatever good looks you had before will be back I am sure ;)

I, touch wood, have little experience to share, so can only offer you my best wishes.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 20 September, 2016, 03:15:17 pm
Awful.  Well done you for getting the pictures - I don't think I'd have had such presence of mind.
Another vote for Slater Gordon, I found them helpful, patient and friendly.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: hellymedic on 20 September, 2016, 03:20:07 pm
https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=97584.0 (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=97584.0)
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Basil on 20 September, 2016, 03:22:15 pm
Oh dear.  And bother.
I've  no advice to give, but I wish you a speedy recovery and hope for a successful outcome.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: sg37409 on 20 September, 2016, 03:28:05 pm
Very best wishes mate. Hope you heal completely and get back to enjoying the bike soon.
-steve
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 20 September, 2016, 04:03:48 pm
Morphine has worn off. Lord, everything hurts.

Just out of surgery to stitch up face and mouth, and pick out the shattered bits of teeth. Splint in. Two front are gone. They don't think they'll save the next two, but maybe the two after that.

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160920/d862fb66f36a256950b3a207076ff67d.jpg)
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: hellymedic on 20 September, 2016, 04:08:28 pm
Heal well!
Get maximum painkillers down you NOW and really try to get on top of your pain before bedtime.
Get well soon!
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Si S on 20 September, 2016, 04:19:04 pm
GWS
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Ashaman42 on 20 September, 2016, 04:21:33 pm
Ouch. GWS
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 20 September, 2016, 04:33:23 pm
Having teeth smashed out ranks right up there with my nightmares about snakes (and when you grow up in a country full of poisonous snakes, nightmares about snakes take on a special meaning; there really is something under the bed in old wooden country farmhouses).

much sympathy.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Jaded on 20 September, 2016, 04:57:53 pm
Ouch!

I reflect the comments already made - GWS

but also,

teeth - painful and long term  :(
don't jump to a settlement - make sure you are pretty sure of where you are going to end up before going final. You should be able to get interim payments to cover immediate losses and damage.
that's going to go blue then purple!
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 20 September, 2016, 05:35:08 pm
Eek!
Glad it's not worse and heal well soon.
Hope the cops and the lawyers get the perp what they deserve.

As Jaded says about the teef - don't let them get off cheap. Pingu was over £3000 to get just 1 implant fitted.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 September, 2016, 05:41:23 pm
Really sorry to see/hear this. I hope you heal as well and quickly as possible

My daughter lost her front teeth when she was 10 (new bike, a bit too big, and a pile of wet leaves on the cycle path). Although the hospital put them back, they were dead (it took me 30 minutes to find them), and they kept them going for 17 years with filigrees of calcium posted in the back. Then one of them broke and she needed implants. £5500.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: red marley on 20 September, 2016, 05:43:02 pm
Look on the bright side. If you go for gold implants you can have that LA gangsta look you've always craved.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: drgannet on 20 September, 2016, 05:43:47 pm

Join CyclingUK (CTC), IIRC you can use their free service to do with bike injuries retrospectively. Slater & Gordon ime have been superb with the two incidents that I had in getting my claim settled.


No, you will have to have been a member of CTC at the time of the accident to use the free service. However, Slater Gordon do have a no win no fee service run by Slater Gordon Legal Solutions (part of the same group, but a different legal entity). I was passed on to them by SG following a minor accident earlier this year, but decided not to use them, for various reasons.

GWS and hope you heal quickly and then receive appropriate compensation. As others have said, take your time settling the claim (there is a long time limit). If the police find the motorist liable and once you have the notification of final outcome from criminal justice there's nothing for the insurers to do excpet pay out.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Jakob W on 20 September, 2016, 05:47:33 pm
Ouch - GWS.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: zigzag on 20 September, 2016, 05:54:49 pm
omg, symphathies - i had similar injuries* after the incident five years ago. i've been dealing with bikeline (alyson france) which i can recommend. get well soon.

* four broken teeth, chin and lip lacerations, broken nose and elbow
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: SoreTween on 20 September, 2016, 05:56:55 pm
Jeepers.  GWS.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Pickled Onion on 20 September, 2016, 06:08:15 pm
No, you will have to have been a member of CTC at the time of the accident to use the free service.
Is that a new thing? I used the service and was asked to join after the crash, and lots of others have in the past. Though I'm not entirely sure what the difference is between the CTC free thing and a no-win-no-fee deal.

Quote
If the police find the motorist liable and once you have the notification of final outcome from criminal justice there's nothing for the insurers to do except pay out.

One might hope so, but unfortunately you are mistaken on several levels.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Pingu on 20 September, 2016, 06:56:49 pm
What do you need to do? Put the pics in the OP in spoiler tags, that's what  :-X

Anyway, I hope the treatments and recovery go well  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: TheLurker on 20 September, 2016, 07:41:01 pm
No advice to offer; just sympathy and to add the general wish that you heal quickly.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: woollypigs on 20 September, 2016, 07:44:09 pm
GWS! But how's the bike? :)
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: perpetual dan on 20 September, 2016, 08:13:45 pm
Wot they said ^^ - police, [CTC] lawyers, write it all down, keep recording what happens, talk to your other half sooner rather than later. And, above all, get well soon. Glad it wasn't worse.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Canardly on 20 September, 2016, 08:25:41 pm
Strewth. GWS and hope you get some suitable recompense.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Aidan on 20 September, 2016, 08:47:14 pm
cant add much to the advice already given , but  ouch!  hope you get sorted and GWS
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 20 September, 2016, 09:35:47 pm
Back home after a day of picking shattered teeth out of my mouth and stitching my mouth and face back together. Everything hurts - ankles, wrists, knees, shoulder and hands. Bike will be a write off.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Jurek on 20 September, 2016, 09:45:58 pm
Morphine has worn off. Lord, everything hurts.

Just out of surgery to stitch up face and mouth, and pick out the shattered bits of teeth. Splint in. Two front are gone. They don't think they'll save the next two, but maybe the two after that.

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160920/d862fb66f36a256950b3a207076ff67d.jpg)
Oh f*ck!
GWS
J
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: red marley on 20 September, 2016, 09:55:04 pm
Bike will be a write off.

Oh dear. Was that your beloved Domane? Does a 2017 model beckon?
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: citoyen on 20 September, 2016, 10:38:50 pm
Can't offer any advice, only plenty of sympathy. Heal well and fast, Dr M.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Feline on 20 September, 2016, 11:17:48 pm
 :(
Get well soon Ian.
Claiming on the insurance can never put you back in the same position you were before this- there is no financial compensation that makes this right. If the guy on your photos is the driver of the taxi- he doesn't look anywhere near sorry and remorseful enough for the pain and suffering he has caused you  >:( Go for all the compensation you can get. Hopefully the police will prosecute him.

Don't forget to record the emotional and psychological impact of an injury like that. I think it should be considered in the league of life changing injury- cannot be easily repaired to give an 'as before' result. But dentists can do amazing things- Zigzag has a fantastic smile so is proof of this!
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 20 September, 2016, 11:31:23 pm
Yes feline - thank you.

Yes jo, New bike will need gold accents to match gangsta teeth
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Deano on 20 September, 2016, 11:35:08 pm
Fuckity fuck, that's awful, Ian - hope you're getting some good TLC.

On the bright dark side, you'd fit right in on the York-Whitby Goths ride.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: seraphina on 21 September, 2016, 10:53:50 am
You poor soul- that looks horrific.

MrS has dental implants after smashing out front teeth on a canal boating holiday (don't ask). They are indisinguishable from the real thing and are definitely a lifetime replacement, however do your research and go for a well-regarded dental implant specialist. They take a few months and a few surgeries to put in and are not cheap, but the insurance should cover it. He had a temporary plate thingy whilst the grafts took.

GWS.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: hellymedic on 21 September, 2016, 10:58:22 am
Seems there's quite a lot of bone damage there that might make dental implants more 'challenging' but I am not a dentist.

Hope you get fixed really well!
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: andyoxon on 21 September, 2016, 11:00:56 am
 :(  Sorry to hear about what's happened - like others, hoping you get a good outcome.  GWS.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 21 September, 2016, 12:01:36 pm
No, you will have to have been a member of CTC at the time of the accident to use the free service.
Is that a new thing? I used the service and was asked to join after the crash, and lots of others have in the past. Though I'm not entirely sure what the difference is between the CTC free thing and a no-win-no-fee deal.

Quote
If the police find the motorist liable and once you have the notification of final outcome from criminal justice there's nothing for the insurers to do except pay out.

One might hope so, but unfortunately you are mistaken on several levels.

Agree with Pickled Onion.  My own case was watertight as far as blame was concerned but the bone of contention was the level of compensation plus removing the element of 'contributory negligence'.

The CTC's bods were very good at sorting out independent specialists who assessed my injuries and provided what must have been very expensive reports.  My compensation was many times what I expected but as Feline says it's always better if the injury never happened and it's important to consider the chance of future medical care being needed.  The latter is something insurers try to get waived in return for a quick or higher initial settlement and your legal rep should be able to get advice on that.

Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: mattc on 21 September, 2016, 12:08:09 pm
...
  My own case was watertight as far as blame was concerned but the bone of contention was the level of compensation plus removing the element of 'contributory negligence'.

The CTC's bods were very good at sorting out independent specialists who assessed my injuries and provided what must have been very expensive reports.

...
Did you have to pay up-front for any of these specialists?

I'm being asked to pay a medical expert's fees, then hope to claim them back as part of my compensation.  :-\
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 21 September, 2016, 12:12:41 pm
...
  My own case was watertight as far as blame was concerned but the bone of contention was the level of compensation plus removing the element of 'contributory negligence'.

The CTC's bods were very good at sorting out independent specialists who assessed my injuries and provided what must have been very expensive reports.

...


Did you have to pay up-front for any of these specialists?

I'm being asked to pay a medical expert's fees, then hope to claim them back as part of my compensation.  :-\

No, I paid for nothing, the solicitor arranged everything.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Ham on 21 September, 2016, 12:47:55 pm
Very ouch! and a slightly late GWS, but you've still got one or two bits of GW to do I reckon
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Jeff in Wales on 21 September, 2016, 12:55:01 pm
Sorry to see what's happened.

Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Steve GT on 21 September, 2016, 03:45:12 pm
Sorry to hear that Doc.
GWS.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Chris S on 21 September, 2016, 03:50:19 pm
Jeez, Doc - now you'll have to put that Male Modelling backup career on hold.

I like the Gold Teeth idea - they'd go well with your hair  :P.

I bet that hurts like fuck. Take ALL the drugs - you have form; we saw the carrier bag of drugs you had at LEL after a previous attempt at eating cars. Seriously - hope you feel better soon.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Peter on 21 September, 2016, 03:52:42 pm
Never be a better time to claim Therapeutic Use Exemption.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Pedal Castro on 21 September, 2016, 07:53:04 pm
Shit, that doesn't look pretty.  Tell your wife before she finds out through other means (postings on YACF for example).

When I crashed at Reading Track during a school/university training session and was taken to hospital with concussion the school thought it wise to send the school chaplain round to tell Mrs PC! The sight of the dog collar and "Your husband has been in an accident..." was not very calming.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: dim on 21 September, 2016, 09:26:57 pm
Yikes ... :'(

get well soon mate ....

that's my worst nightmare ... I commute over 300km per week in heavy traffic and have had a few close calls with reckless drivers... last week, I took out the Wiggle Elite bike insurance ... I insured 2 of my bikes (a Specialized S-Works Transition E5 which I use as my daily commuter, and my Giant TCR) ...

I insured the Specialized for £1250 (it's an older model with Campy Chorus Groupset, and my Giant TCR for £1000) .... the Elite package covers theft, vandalism, accident, 1 million 3rd party, £300 towards dental/physio, free legal aid, taxi fare if you have a breakdown, etc etc etc

costs me £17 and a few pennies per month for both bikes

hopefully, I won't need to use it, but it's worth considering if you commute in heavy traffic

I will also be buying the Cycliq Fly6 action/video camera at the end of this month
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: hellymedic on 21 September, 2016, 09:33:54 pm
Yikes ... :'(

get well soon mate ....

that's my worst nightmare ... I commute over 300km per week in heavy traffic and have had a few close calls with reckless drivers... last week, I took out the Wiggle Elite bike insurance ... I insured 2 of my bikes (a Specialized S-Works Transition E5 which I use as my daily commuter, and my Giant TCR) ...

I insured the Specialized for £1250 (it's an older model with Campy Chorus Groupset, and my Giant TCR for £1000) .... the Elite package covers theft, vandalism, accident, 1 million 3rd party, £300 towards dental/physio, free legal aid, taxi fare if you have a breakdown, etc etc etc

costs me £17 and a few pennies per month

hopefully, I won't need to use it, but it's worth considering if you commute in heavy traffic

£300 for dental?!?!

That is NOTHING!!! (I'd guess DrM's dental bill will be £4K-£10K)

£17 per month is £200 per year. This doesn't impress me but I'm a cynic
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: jsabine on 21 September, 2016, 09:42:46 pm
£17 per month is £200 per year. This doesn't impress me but I'm a cynic

That's a bit over 2/5 of what we're paying to Pedalcover for buildings and contents insurance (including 3rd party liability and legal cover), with bikes covered as unspecified personal possessions, and limits that are more than comfortable for anything we own.

Anyway, I'd be surprised if Dr M didn't already have insurance cover he was happy with, and I don't know that waving premium numbers around is going to be terribly helpful at this point.

(Nor are good wishes from internet strangers, really, but he's welcome to them too.)
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: dim on 21 September, 2016, 09:51:40 pm
Yikes ... :'(

get well soon mate ....

that's my worst nightmare ... I commute over 300km per week in heavy traffic and have had a few close calls with reckless drivers... last week, I took out the Wiggle Elite bike insurance ... I insured 2 of my bikes (a Specialized S-Works Transition E5 which I use as my daily commuter, and my Giant TCR) ...

I insured the Specialized for £1250 (it's an older model with Campy Chorus Groupset, and my Giant TCR for £1000) .... the Elite package covers theft, vandalism, accident, 1 million 3rd party, £300 towards dental/physio, free legal aid, taxi fare if you have a breakdown, etc etc etc

costs me £17 and a few pennies per month

hopefully, I won't need to use it, but it's worth considering if you commute in heavy traffic

£300 for dental?!?!

That is NOTHING!!! (I'd guess DrM's dental bill will be £4K-£10K)

£17 per month is £200 per year. This doesn't impress me but I'm a cynic

suppose that you have a point, but irrespective, it's worthwhile taking out an insurance (any insurance) if you ride your bike as the insurance will handle the legal side of things and if your dental treatment costs £4k, you will have lawyers on your side for free... and if you are at fault and bang a Bentey or a Rolls or a Ferrari, or ride over an old woman crossing the street, you will be covered

Wiggle was the one that impressed me the most, based on price and reviews
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Jurek on 21 September, 2016, 09:53:49 pm
I can see dental being  a four figure sum.
Claim.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Samuel D on 21 September, 2016, 11:07:41 pm
That is dreadful. Well done on having the presence of mind to get pictures taken. I hope they patch you up nicely and the driver has his Uber insurance go through the roof (it’s apparently expensive at the best of times).

Can we call you Štybar from now on?
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 22 September, 2016, 01:48:31 am
Yes, £5-£10k dental costs have been mentioned. A couple of weeks back, I was CoI on a big grant with dentists. First thing I did on arrival was email colleagues and ask for help. A consultant came up to check what was being done, and I'm being put in touch with an adult reconstructive surgeon. No idea what he'll do different than usual implants.

However, that's all a way off. They want to try to stabilise the remaining teeth first, and the surgeon was concerned that the upper jaw was fractured. I will have the splint for a month. In good news...

1) tracked down bike and mate retrieved. It's a write off, but it's nice to know it's safe.
2) got OIC name and badge, plus incident number. Neighbour is a PC, and is helping me stay on top of that - hoping for driving without due care and attention.
3) emailed Slater Gordon
4) got 200 tablets of codeine from GP
5) arranged physio to look me over.
6) bought nutribullet < can't eat solids

Not bad for someone who's not left his bed. Trying not to think about how long it's all going to take to fix my teeth. Focused on getting my costs all sorted and thinking about quite how nice a replacement bike I might get.

Ankles, hands and neck are all too tweaked to zwift yet. To be honest, the hardest bit is seeing my wife and kids reacting to the state of my face. It scares my boys, and it's made my wife nearly faint twice. I've asked her to write all this down.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: simonp on 22 September, 2016, 02:49:55 am
Somewhat amazed that you're thinking about the turbo already.

You might want to consider something like Huel or other meal replacement drinks.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: TimC on 22 September, 2016, 06:07:55 am
Another with no advice, but huge best wishes and GWS! I hope S&G do the biz for you.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 22 September, 2016, 07:23:23 am
Somewhat amazed that you're thinking about the turbo already.

You might want to consider something like Huel or other meal replacement drinks.

I've just been adding protein powder to smoothies so far, but the issue I've got is that my mouth is so full of stitches, I cant really suck. Am basically tilting my head back, gulping, and hoping for the best. My tongue and lips are all so cut, I can't really feel what's going on.

On the upside, the nutribullet has cheered by boys up. They made a concoction of nuts, ice cream and bakewell tart for themselves last night.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: bumper on 22 September, 2016, 08:17:05 am
That's nasty DrM. Wish you a speedy recovery, gws.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 22 September, 2016, 08:35:49 am
I had a really close friend who had a bad horse riding accident. All her upper teeth, most on lower one side smashed out, all the bone on one side of her face smashed to small pieces (the surgeon told me not one piece larger than his little fingernail), they had to remove the bone and cartilage from her nose completely. She lost sight in one eye.

These days the only trace of the accident is a thin scar under her eye.
It took a while.

So, horrific as things are at this time, they will not stay like this. It will be a long hard road.
Don't let the kids monopolise the nutribullet.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Pingu on 22 September, 2016, 08:55:21 am
There's a thread about dental implants here: https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=78428.0

Anecdatum: for me it took a year from the decision to go ahead with an implant to the end of the process (there were a couple of short delays) and it cost well into four figures for one implant (private) + crown (NHS).
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: LMT on 22 September, 2016, 09:57:07 am
Yes, £5-£10k dental costs have been mentioned. A couple of weeks back, I was CoI on a big grant with dentists. First thing I did on arrival was email colleagues and ask for help. A consultant came up to check what was being done, and I'm being put in touch with an adult reconstructive surgeon. No idea what he'll do different than usual implants.

However, that's all a way off. They want to try to stabilise the remaining teeth first, and the surgeon was concerned that the upper jaw was fractured. I will have the splint for a month. In good news...

1) tracked down bike and mate retrieved. It's a write off, but it's nice to know it's safe.
2) got OIC name and badge, plus incident number. Neighbour is a PC, and is helping me stay on top of that - hoping for driving without due care and attention.
3) emailed Slater Gordon
4) got 200 tablets of codeine from GP
5) arranged physio to look me over.
6) bought nutribullet < can't eat solids

Not bad for someone who's not left his bed. Trying not to think about how long it's all going to take to fix my teeth. Focused on getting my costs all sorted and thinking about quite how nice a replacement bike I might get.

Ankles, hands and neck are all too tweaked to zwift yet. To be honest, the hardest bit is seeing my wife and kids reacting to the state of my face. It scares my boys, and it's made my wife nearly faint twice. I've asked her to write all this down.

If you still find the pain uncomfortable then ask your GP for a scrip for Tramadol. I had these after I fractured my hip and they take away the pain as well as making you high as a kite. ;D

Regarding the nutribullet - if you are not allergic to soy and I believe you are a vegan? If so I recommend blends of fortified soy milk, chia seeds, ground flax seeds, oats, spinach, bananas and broccoli. These should satisfy your dietary needs regarding being plant based and all the essential fats you'll need.

GWS.

EDIT: Forgot to add to the above, some Brazil nuts.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 22 September, 2016, 10:17:46 am
Thanks so much for the food advice. Currently coping on codeine. Only thing I'm finding tricky with smoothies is that they have to be really runny, as I have to pour them pretty much straight down my throat. Other than fruit based stuff with soya yogurt and seeds, I've been putting half a bag of salad in with a tin in lentil soup. That was almost manageable.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 22 September, 2016, 10:31:52 am
Get some senna pod. Codeine is evil and will bung you up. Takes about 3 doses to do that to me, I've never lasted more than 4 days before swearing to never take the stuff again.



Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: velosam on 22 September, 2016, 01:15:57 pm
err not much more to add, get well soon, that does look horrific.

Its going to take time, but you seem to be looking forward anyway, so that is a good sign.

Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: jiberjaber on 22 September, 2016, 01:18:36 pm
Yes, £5-£10k dental costs have been mentioned. A couple of weeks back, I was CoI on a big grant with dentists. First thing I did on arrival was email colleagues and ask for help. A consultant came up to check what was being done, and I'm being put in touch with an adult reconstructive surgeon. No idea what he'll do different than usual implants.

However, that's all a way off. They want to try to stabilise the remaining teeth first, and the surgeon was concerned that the upper jaw was fractured. I will have the splint for a month. In good news...

1) tracked down bike and mate retrieved. It's a write off, but it's nice to know it's safe.
2) got OIC name and badge, plus incident number. Neighbour is a PC, and is helping me stay on top of that - hoping for driving without due care and attention.
3) emailed Slater Gordon
4) got 200 tablets of codeine from GP
5) arranged physio to look me over.
6) bought nutribullet < can't eat solids

Not bad for someone who's not left his bed. Trying not to think about how long it's all going to take to fix my teeth. Focused on getting my costs all sorted and thinking about quite how nice a replacement bike I might get.

Ankles, hands and neck are all too tweaked to zwift yet. To be honest, the hardest bit is seeing my wife and kids reacting to the state of my face. It scares my boys, and it's made my wife nearly faint twice. I've asked her to write all this down.

Ouch - the initial post brought back a lot of memories of when I smashed my 2 front teeth by walking out in front of a bus (it was parked at the time, it was the car overtaking the bus that hit me!) I had to have a sit down after opening the thread!

I finally went for implants after over 20 years of falsies, circa £2K per tooth.  They do take a lot of aftercare compared with normal teeth (if you don't already floss etc).

What swung getting them for me was a consultation with  Dr. Anthony Clough (he's the principal dentist at my dentist in Chelmsford).  "He was appointed Senior Dental Advisor to LOCOG during the recent Olympic Games held in London . He also acts as a Dental advisor for the IOC, British Boxing team, The rowers and Alpine ski Team." which means he has a lot of experience with sports related dental fixing (i.e. smashed out teeth)

http://www.sharrow-dental-care.co.uk/ourteam

Sounds like you might have it all in progress, but hope the above helps.

GWS!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Jasmine on 22 September, 2016, 01:45:51 pm
Ouchy ouchy.  It sounds like you've got most things under control(ish).  The reaction of your family is definitely one to mention to your solicitor - that's a real impact on you and your kids/wife that is very hard to quantify.

My only advice beyond what has already been said is to be wary of needing to tell everybody that you meet about it.  When you get out and about, people will see you and naturally ask what happened (whether you know them or not).  I found that repeatedly telling people what had happened was actually really bad for my mental health and was quite upsetting and draining.  Don't be afraid of telling people that you had an accident but don't want to talk about it.  You might find talking helps; but you might not. 

I am, however, quite impressed that you were able to type so coherently after being given morphine. 
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: tonyh on 22 September, 2016, 01:56:40 pm
Also, definitely impressed by your activity on another thread (or perhaps more than one!)
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Riggers on 22 September, 2016, 03:54:43 pm
Really sorry to come across this and what's happened to you Mekers. You might also be suffering from whiplash and concussion, which might not become immediately apparent due to the drugs the hospital have given you. Things might come 'out' physically (and mentally) a few days further down the line.

Keep a daily diary of of how you feel, all the aches pain, inability to sleep, because you will forget. The brain will try and protect you by making you forget what's happened, like mine did.

Keep all the packages of the meds you're taking.

Receipts of everything.

Get a solicitor involved too.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: citoyen on 22 September, 2016, 08:08:03 pm
They made a concoction of nuts, ice cream and bakewell tart for themselves last night.

That's nasty DrM.

Yeah, sounds revolting.

On a slightly more serious note, I'm impressed at how on top of things you seem to be - I would probably have just been lying in bed crying the whole time. Hope the painkillers are doing a job at least.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 22 September, 2016, 08:33:18 pm
There's been lots of tears. My eldest is going through the process of autism diagnostic testing at the mo, and as you can imagine, he's really struggling to cope. He refuse to come home yesterday, and told my wife that he can't cope with seeing me and is staying away from me so he doesn't have to think about it.

I listened in on a teleconference earlier, but by the end, I was shivering and shaking and collapsed in to bed and slept for two hours.

Early days
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Chris S on 22 September, 2016, 08:54:24 pm
There's been lots of tears. My eldest is going through the process of autism diagnostic testing at the mo, and as you can imagine, he's really struggling to cope. He refuse to come home yesterday, and told my wife that he can't cope with seeing me and is staying away from me so he doesn't have to think about it.

I listened in on a teleconference earlier, but by the end, I was shivering and shaking and collapsed in to bed and slept for two hours.

Early days

This is hard to handle. I had the same when I had chickenpox so bad that I turned into some nightmareish freakshow (face swollen beyond recognition, both eyes closed like I'd been punched, pus everywhere - you get the picture) and my young'uns wouldn't/couldn't go anywhere near me; even in the same house. It's a temporary thing, and kids (even autistic ones) are robust.

Man up Doc - your kids'll be fine - look after yourself.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 23 September, 2016, 10:45:07 am
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160923/df2abbb293ed406bc8e07f5459dbee8f.jpg)

Hmm... Not sure whether this is in error or not. In the phone call yesterday, they said they did want to take it on.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 23 September, 2016, 10:58:13 am
 Called me back - computer error. Phew.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: tonyh on 23 September, 2016, 11:33:16 am
Phew indeed!!
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Jaded on 23 September, 2016, 11:45:54 am
Crikey - that must have got your pulse rate up!
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 23 September, 2016, 12:00:52 pm
Yes indeed, albeit my dead Garmin means I can't quantify that for you.

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160923/21723983f612a3d656970157d69a3f03.jpg)
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Andrew Br on 23 September, 2016, 06:21:34 pm
Oh dear, just seen this.
GWS DrM and good luck with both healing and claiming.

Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: basset on 23 September, 2016, 06:49:53 pm
Just seen this after a few days in doc myself after stacking it myself and frankly your making me feel a lot better about my fractured pelvis and sacrum , get well soon hope to see you on the road next year (maybe both on new bikes) 😉
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: hellymedic on 23 September, 2016, 10:13:57 pm
Best wishes, pieman!
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: ElyDave on 24 September, 2016, 11:51:35 pm
There's been lots of tears. My eldest is going through the process of autism diagnostic testing at the mo, and as you can imagine, he's really struggling to cope. He refuse to come home yesterday, and told my wife that he can't cope with seeing me and is staying away from me so he doesn't have to think about it.

I listened in on a teleconference earlier, but by the end, I was shivering and shaking and collapsed in to bed and slept for two hours.

Early days

This is hard to handle. I had the same when I had chickenpox so bad that I turned into some nightmareish freakshow (face swollen beyond recognition, both eyes closed like I'd been punched, pus everywhere - you get the picture) and my young'uns wouldn't/couldn't go anywhere near me; even in the same house. It's a temporary thing, and kids (even autistic ones) are robust.

Man up Doc - your kids'll be fine - look after yourself.

Funny, having a 13 year old with severe learning difficultiies, autism, seizures and mobility problems, he manages to end up in situations causing him to shed blood or otherwise end up calling paramedics or visiting minor injuries.  As a result I have a 12 year old that has no qualms at the site of blood and gore and local paramedics and nurse that are flabbergasted how calm we can be after dialling 999 etc. 

I realise I'm rambling here, but basically kids, even those on the spectrum are robust and can even see the "cool" in the grotesque. Perhaps there's a way to involve him in a way that makes it fun or interesting?
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 28 September, 2016, 10:08:14 am
Some can't cope. My daughter doesn't know the details of the operation on my arm. She knows it was moderately major, and she knows she can't cope with the idea of bones being sawn, etc. If she'd seen the xray of my arm with the displaced and shattered bones she would have probably been physically sick.

In DrMekon's case, it's not an injury that can be hidden away under a cast, it is literally in their faces and connected with how they identify their father/partner. That's a very hard thing to deal with.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: closetleftie on 28 September, 2016, 05:33:13 pm
Some can't cope. My daughter doesn't know the details of the operation on my arm. She knows it was moderately major, and she knows she can't cope with the idea of bones being sawn, etc. If she'd seen the xray of my arm with the displaced and shattered bones she would have probably been physically sick.

In DrMekon's case, it's not an injury that can be hidden away under a cast, it is literally in their faces and connected with how they identify their father/partner. That's a very hard thing to deal with.

When I had my recent, um, little episode with a broken leg and some external fixators, the younger two kids took some days to come to terms with it. My daughter, in particular, was very squeamish and it took Mrs L "putting her up to painting Daddy's toenails! for her to be willing to come near it.  ;D

Good luck DrM. I'm in theatre tomorrow - on call on Friday so will text if there isn't transplant work to do. Coffee?
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 29 September, 2016, 05:28:50 pm
Coffee would be ace.

I have to say, I feel very lucky to have collaborators in dentistry. Felt really looked after yesterday. However, the news wasn't great. Fracture right across my midface (consultant to student - "look, you can see the whole of it is mobile by the way the teeth wobble all together), which has lead to my sinuses filling with blood. Also, fracture to the upper jaw, and tooth socket broken. Upshot of that was that they did't want to remove the splint until the end of November. Howvever, they've since relented, and it's been moved forward to the end of October. However, the good news is that the teeth that got bashed have a 70% chance of survival. The only other bad news was that I might need a bone graft for the planned implants - "not the legs doctor, anywhere but the legs"
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: perpetual dan on 29 September, 2016, 09:55:44 pm
Crikey. Even with friendly care, that's rough. Thinking of you.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: closetleftie on 30 September, 2016, 08:11:57 am
Coffee would be ace.

I have to say, I feel very lucky to have collaborators in dentistry. Felt really looked after yesterday. However, the news wasn't great. Fracture right across my midface (consultant to student - "look, you can see the whole of it is mobile by the way the teeth wobble all together), which has lead to my sinuses filling with blood. Also, fracture to the upper jaw, and tooth socket broken. Upshot of that was that they did't want to remove the splint until the end of November. Howvever, they've since relented, and it's been moved forward to the end of October. However, the good news is that the teeth that got bashed have a 70% chance of survival. The only other bad news was that I might need a bone graft for the planned implants - "not the legs doctor, anywhere but the legs"

Blimey. Who are you seeing? And have they got the max-facial surgery folks involved?
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 30 September, 2016, 08:14:15 am
Saw Mr Palmer in maxfax, but  long term, seeing Dr Bhakta in adult restorative.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: TigaSefi on 04 October, 2016, 12:24:47 pm
Coffee would be ace.

I have to say, I feel very lucky to have collaborators in dentistry. Felt really looked after yesterday. However, the news wasn't great. Fracture right across my midface (consultant to student - "look, you can see the whole of it is mobile by the way the teeth wobble all together), which has lead to my sinuses filling with blood. Also, fracture to the upper jaw, and tooth socket broken. Upshot of that was that they did't want to remove the splint until the end of November. Howvever, they've since relented, and it's been moved forward to the end of October. However, the good news is that the teeth that got bashed have a 70% chance of survival. The only other bad news was that I might need a bone graft for the planned implants - "not the legs doctor, anywhere but the legs"

Jesus H Christ.... either way. I hope it all works out ok! Sue for maximum amount of money to cover this!
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: toontra on 04 October, 2016, 12:31:29 pm
If it's of any reassurance, bone graft material in my case was a powder (bovine I think) stitched into the gum and allowed to bond with the jawbone.  I think that's a fairly common way of doing things.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 04 October, 2016, 12:44:53 pm
Yes - that's the expected route - however, he's of the view that it may be significant enough to need to take it from me (not legs, probably inside my jaw).
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: sg37409 on 04 October, 2016, 01:19:40 pm
For me it was shavings from my hip, packed into my femur.  (I can still feel the notch in it.) Do they like to take bone form close to where they will do the graft ?
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: hellymedic on 04 October, 2016, 02:40:15 pm
I think the iliac crest (uppermost part of the pelvis) is a popular harvesting site for bone grafts for almost any recipient site.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 04 October, 2016, 06:06:03 pm
Well I said "not the legs Doc, anywhere but the legs - I'm a cyclist". He said that that was useful to know, as I'd limp a bit. He said inside the jaw would be fine. The face is a state anyways.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: hellymedic on 04 October, 2016, 06:26:07 pm
The iliac crest is hardly 'legs' as it's only just below the waist, though the sartorius muscle originates on the anterior superior iliac spine...
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Paul on 04 October, 2016, 06:39:30 pm
I'm lost for words. GWS.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: closetleftie on 04 October, 2016, 07:41:09 pm
The face is a state anyways.

Blame your parents?  :P
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Hot Flatus on 04 October, 2016, 09:20:39 pm
Harsh

 ;D
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 04 October, 2016, 09:56:18 pm
But fair
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: closetleftie on 06 October, 2016, 07:31:12 pm
 ;D ;D
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Bunker22 on 08 October, 2016, 03:56:42 pm
I can see dental being  a four figure sum.
Claim.

5 figures if it's 4 implants (or even 2 and a bridge) and bone grafting (particularly if block graft). Plus you have to build in replacement costs, as they are not lifelong, and will need at least the crowns replacing during your lifetime. Crowns and possible root canal treatment on any fractured saveable teeth. Plus the risks of later pulpal issues. You will be having multiple appointments, and therefore loss of earnings/time off over the next year. It all needs to be claimed for.

GWS DrM, you look like you have a good dental team lined up.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 08 October, 2016, 04:30:31 pm
Thanks. The only thing that's playing on my mind at the mo is what they'll do about the broken tooth socket. At the mo, it feels like the back side has been knocked right back, and it makes me lisp dreadfully.

One of the teeth they are trying to save looks like it's gone grey, and despite the splint, looks loose.

Brace wax is an absolute godsend. I wish it had been mentioned to me on discharge. The sharp edges of the splint was scouring the sides of my cheeks to the point that blood blisters were forming.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Bunker22 on 08 October, 2016, 05:04:21 pm
If it is changing colour it has probably died. I assume they have xrayed it to see if the root is fractured. If it is restorable it will likely need root canal treatment, post and crown. These are not always pedictable long term and so need to have replacement costs in the future ( implant etc), claimed for now.

The fractured socket should fill in and remodel over time.

Assume any restoration has an average lifespan of 10-15 years and replacement costs on that schedule over your lifetime in your claim.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 10 October, 2016, 01:56:22 pm
The iliac crest is hardly 'legs' as it's only just below the waist, though the sartorius muscle originates on the anterior superior iliac spine...

Despite my going all doom and gloomy about my recent experience of this, it is recovering very fast.

5 weeks + 4 days post op and I can do situps, cough without pain, lift leg in any direction. There is a substantial lump and scar over the graft harvest site but little sign that there is any permanent muscle disability.

I had assumed that they were taking a 20p piece out of my hip but having seen the xray and now able to feel my arm, what has gone into my arm is more the size of a 50p piece, so they must have  chopped substantially into my hip to have got enough to have turned that into the right shape of wedge and it still be so large.

So I don't think you need to worry about illiac crest harvesting interfering with future cycling. If they do take from there, it will feel terrible at first (like they've cut half the muscles in your belly and you'll have pain walking and lifting your leg) but it will rapidly pass.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Ham on 10 October, 2016, 02:00:03 pm
Just wondering, is it possible that Boris Johnson had a similar cycling accident in the past and they grafted bone from his hip into his mouth, only they used the bone nearer his posterior orifice?

(GWS anyhow)
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 22 October, 2016, 12:23:30 am
So, yesterday saw the metal splint that had been taking lumps out of my cheeks hacked off, and got the "best guess" denture they fashioned from the mould they managed to take while I had the splint in and my face was all wobbly.

Yes, it's pretty terrible - cosmetically, it works. That's great. Speech - lispy, incredibly effortful, and uncomfortable. Eating - the teeth are useless.

The issue appears to be that the busted right hand front tooth socket has blown out at the back, and the big lump where it currently resides has to be accommodated.

Unfortunately, the blown out socket isn't currently a viable site for an implant, and the "gate" it has left is right near a nerve and blood vessel that would be a risk. Current plan is to look again in 3 months, when they'll take another mould and give me another denture. Hopefully some animal bone product will suffice to patch up whatever the mess that's there remodels itself in to, but if not, I get a visit from the "harvester". I've been told to expect having the implants buried for 4 months before the crowns are fitted. My expectations are being managed for a 12 month process.

The prospect of lecturing over the next year isn't something I'm relishing, given current reactions to my speech, but maybe it'll improve. If not, I'm going to have to see how my teaching load can be managed.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Feline on 22 October, 2016, 09:38:54 pm
I had been thinking about this- how I would manage teaching if I couldn't speak as normal? Huge problem.
Your employer should be able to come up with a solution that involves you not having to speak publicly for now- be it someone doing that bit for you or an online alternative. If not then they would have to accept you being off sick more long term, at least for part of your contractual obligations. I hope your employer is being supportive about this?
GWS xx
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Kim on 22 October, 2016, 09:49:06 pm
I had a lecturer with a speech impairment.  Larynx damaged by a tumour, IIRC.  For lectures he would whisper robotically (but reasonably intelligibly) into a special microphone, backed up with excellent slides and handouts, and it wasn't really a problem.  The course structure was such that I didn't have much interaction with him outside of lectures but the general impression I got was that he was quite happy to repeat himself or write/draw things as needed, and since he took the lead, people coped.

So I suppose it's a case of finding a way to make things work, and being confident with it.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 25 October, 2016, 01:23:35 pm
The cosmetic improvements will hopefully help a lot with things at home.

I can imagine your frustration with eating. Are you able to now use molars to chew?
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 25 October, 2016, 04:25:47 pm
It sounds a nightmare and all because of a stupid f***ing driver.

Hoping it starts going a bit better v. soon.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 25 October, 2016, 04:52:25 pm
The cosmetic improvements will hopefully help a lot with things at home.

I can imagine your frustration with eating. Are you able to now use molars to chew?
Yes - exactly. I've never seen my eldest (the one being tested for autism) as happy as when I smiled with my denture. He went scarlet with happiness. The molars work okay. I'm introducing quorn, mushrooms and sweetcorn.

I'm not sure how to handle work - whether to ask to be signed off for longer so I'm in control, or trust them to manage my role. Am really uncomfortable with the prospect of 2hrs teaching on a Friday PM, albeit I'll have new dentures in January.

Colleagues have confirmed that they'll just keep covering my teaching this term - bless them, because SMT won't give this a second thought.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: barakta on 25 October, 2016, 08:18:49 pm
As a disability adviser who supports people with speech impairments public speaking can be done, it isn't always easy but there's no reason people shouldn't make an effort to listen to you - I agree with Kim, confidence to pretend you believe you have the right to be heard helps...

I often point my students at speakers with speech impairments to copy their ideas and find their own way of doing public speaking:
* Laurence Clarke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U_byvTzW4w
* Jess Thom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jmTlQld2Z8
* Francesca Martinez https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYqcql8wSh0
* Jody McIntyre (50s onwards) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku2sWnwe3CQ

It's not so much the content, it's how each of these people manage the cadence of their speech which I find interesting - the pauses, 3 of them are comedians, less is more for some of them. I'm deaf so find impaired speech really hard work, but I can follow these speakers if I focus. 

One issue about 'speech' impairment specifically is the instinctive reaction by many people to "switch off". But that is overcomeable and I often say to people, push through the discomfort of listening to a speech impaired person, it does get easier. (and a dose of welcome to my life all the time!).

I don't know what you lecture in but could you try mixing and matching text to speech software content? Some of the voices are not bad and it would spice things up a bit.  I considered doing this the other week at a job interview and maybe should have done it today as I've 50% lost my voice cos lurg...  I had my mum's new mac which does 'reading out any text' by a keypress and I think windows has some stuff in it too which I haven't played with yet.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Bunker22 on 25 October, 2016, 09:10:41 pm
So, yesterday saw the metal splint that had been taking lumps out of my cheeks hacked off, and got the "best guess" denture they fashioned from the mould they managed to take while I had the splint in and my face was all wobbly.

The prospect of lecturing over the next year isn't something I'm relishing, given current reactions to my speech, but maybe it'll improve. If not, I'm going to have to see how my teaching load can be managed.

You should be able to adapt surprisingly well and quickly to your new denture. As your current limitations are due to a lump of plastic where you didn't have one, rather than any actual nerve or muscle damage (I assume?) your adaptive capability should mean your speech returns towards normal fairly rapidly.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: closetleftie on 26 October, 2016, 07:14:00 am
Goodness, it's rough. When my leg was disfigured, I got pretty withdrawn pretty quickly. The thought of repeating the same conversation ("Found a rabbit hole on the moor. No, really. Yes, of course it hurt.") yet another time was simply too much some days. And that was my leg - facial disfigurement must be rough.

Regarding the speaking, teaching & so forth - even small lumps in the mouth can make a big difference, so as the splints become less guesswork and more accurate over time things should improve pretty quickly. Good luck. Truly.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: tonyh on 26 October, 2016, 11:14:10 am
Ongoing good wishes Ian.

(And a small point just in case it helps - when my voice was even a bit dodgy [eg bad cold] I used to indicate that I would teach without speaking at all, resorting to writing/signs/etc [minor entertainment possibilities], and then make small use of voice as last resort - when its dodginess was no surprise, and its input actually welcomed!)
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: fimm on 08 December, 2016, 03:40:37 pm
I hope you are doing OK.
I registered chiefly to post the following then forgot...
My O/H had a chunk taken out of his hip to go into the roof of his mouth because he'd been born with a hare lip/cleft palate. He's got an impressive scar on his hip. Big caveat that he was 17 when this was done but since then he's cycled loads (including some 260km Alpine thing); done a lot of triathlons including 4 Ironmans and one double-iron-distance; and then got into ultra marathons and run about a dozen of those including UTMB (100 miles round the Mont Blanc massif). So it doesn't seem to have had any long-term consequences.

Hope that's of some reassurance.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 08 December, 2016, 03:59:43 pm
Thanks for the reminder, re hip grafts, wisob!

When I did the 25miles last weekend, I didn't even notice the graft site on my hip, not even when riding out of the saddle. Sure, I wasn't putting in much effort, but I'm still only just 3 months post-op and I didn't notice it at all. Yes, there is a 4-5" scar on my hip and it is a bit lumpy (although you have to have a good grope to feel the lumps, phnaar), but I didn't feel any tugging or weakness.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: hellymedic on 08 December, 2016, 04:07:22 pm
I think 'donor' bone graft sites are chosen to cause minimal disruption.

This seems to have been successful for the two posters.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: caerau on 08 December, 2016, 04:14:11 pm
Cripes, :jurek:  only just seen this, went a bit AWOL on this site for a while.


Looks like you're gradually recovering.  I hope you get more sympathy at work than I did earlier in the year when I had a month off after surgery.  But I think the face is a little more outward looking than a tendon.
How's it going with Slater and Gordon?  When I claimed through them some time ago now, they quite quickly got an admission of liability from the other party's insurance company and I was offered fairly unlimited private rehab which they would pay for immediately.  Completely unnecessary in my case, but in yours...




GWS!
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 08 December, 2016, 04:54:44 pm
Thanks for these replies.

I've got an appointment with the bone harvester in the new year. I've asked for them to use my jaw rather than leg on the basis that Zwift is keeping me sane.

I went with http://www.alysonfrance.co.uk/ based on recommendations and a couple of people I know having had sub-optimal experiences with SG. That SG screwed up some correspondence with me was the final straw.

Work have been pretty good. Signed off from teaching, phased return for other duties. There seems to be some proper planning in place, whereas when I had my hernia op, they bodged it.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Blodwyn Pig on 08 December, 2016, 05:11:34 pm
Gosh! i've only just noticed this thread  :facepalm:,  get well soon, small words , but meant with the utmost sincerity. :)
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Moultonaught on 08 December, 2016, 08:25:26 pm
Likewise. Ye gods!! Heal swiftly DrM...

Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: CrinklyLion on 10 December, 2016, 10:04:52 am
Get well soon but also, perhaps even more importantly, get well properly. 
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: handcyclist on 10 December, 2016, 01:19:21 pm
I think 'donor' bone graft sites are chosen to cause minimal disruption.

This seems to have been successful for the two posters.

I had a fair chunk taken from my hip to stuff into my femur. Almost no problems with the donor site, apart from the minor inconvenience of tight or heavy belts tending to bruise the area where the notch is.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 22 February, 2017, 05:33:10 pm
Just wondering if there's any progress on the bone graft and stuff?
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 22 February, 2017, 05:56:07 pm
No - I think I'll find out more in the 3rd week of March - I think he's decided he can do it with animal product.

He's said there's not really enough room for implants - 2mm less than desirable. However, I said I'm willing to risk nerve damage and him "having to butcher me if it goes wrong" (his words) over plastic teeth.

I've got a few dentist mates, and they said the chances of him nicking the nerve are really low, and using the thinnest implants just means I'll have to be diligent in caring for them.

Am so sick of my grandma teeth.

He said the fracture is still obvious on the scan, but I didn't clarify whether he meant my jaw or my face.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 22 February, 2017, 05:57:39 pm
Well, here's wishing you... teeth.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: hellymedic on 22 February, 2017, 10:02:45 pm
All he wants for Christmas is a few front teeth...
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 22 February, 2017, 11:22:15 pm
True that!

It's pretty dispiriting - I find the denture really uncomfortable, albeit it looks okay. The loose tooth that requires root canal is so wobbly, and the gum has receded a lot. My usual dentist made noises to the effect "I don't know why they left that in but I suppose they are the experts".

Got diagnosed with acute stress reaction - PTSD minus the arbitrary 6 month cut off. I'm doing graded tasks, and have been referred for EMDR

https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/

Fortunately, a tacx neo an zwift means I don't have to worry about traffic. I was fine on a recent 200 in to wales, and fine on my MTB around Gisburn. The thought of riding through Headingley fills me with fear and dread. Feel shitty about driving in, but cycling in doesn't feel like an option. It does suck.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 10 October, 2018, 12:06:57 pm
Latest version of the plastic teeth they are trying to shape my gums with today. Must be about two years in, and still not done.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181010/382116078f62859cd2de420c80365c86.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181010/692f1877a3eb926bfa84f251e9ae9044.jpg)

Sent from my Lenovo P2a42 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: tonyh on 10 October, 2018, 12:11:34 pm
Best wishes to you Dr M!
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: citoyen on 10 October, 2018, 12:21:02 pm
Sorry to hear you're still having ongoing problems with the teeth. That's a bit shit.

How is the mental state these days? Are you back to cycle commuting?
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 10 October, 2018, 12:28:03 pm
Sorry to hear you're still having ongoing problems with the teeth. That's a bit shit.

How is the mental state these days? Are you back to cycle commuting?
No, haven't got the heart for it. Plus loads of changes to my circumstances. Am running and going on Zwift to stay in shape - but I'm doing more like 7hrs a week rather than 20hrs. Will probably do an SR this year, and am targeting the Dark Peak trail Ultra this time next year. Still fearful around junctions, taking about the crash makes me anxious.

Sent from my Lenovo P2a42 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: citoyen on 10 October, 2018, 01:11:47 pm
No, haven't got the heart for it.

 :(
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Craigus on 16 October, 2018, 11:02:51 am
Just been reading through this, sorry to hear you're still having problems.

I can relate to feeling anxious, I was knocked off while descending a couple of years ago but got away with just cuts and bruises amazingly but was always aware that I was very fortunate. Still don't like going downhill as all I think about is the off I had.

Glad it hasn't put you off completely though, and your teeth look pretty good compared to the first post!!!
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: ian on 16 October, 2018, 11:20:40 am
Sadly, the anxiety never goes entirely, but it can become manageable.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 16 October, 2018, 01:20:49 pm
Sadly, the anxiety never goes entirely, but it can become manageable.

I am meant to go for EMDR, but have never gotten around to it. I will eventually, but I am fine training on zwift and keeping my riding for audaxes, where I feel pretty safe.

I've had other horrible crashes, but it's the "I can't see what I could have done differently" factor that has thrown me with this one. That, and the whole year off work, lips still don't work the same, implants not the same as teeth, scars...

It really has sucked a whole bunch of arse. Still, the latest version of the implant crowns are much better than the first lot.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: ian on 16 October, 2018, 01:45:58 pm
Hit from behind – not a lot I could do other than not be there. To this day, I certainly feel the anxiety whenever I hear a vehicle behind me. Even after the immediate physical damage is resolved, there's no real accounting for the fact that it'll be with you for a lifetime.

Not wishing to be negative, I now regularly cycle (it took a decade before I bothered to get on a bike again, not necessarily purposeful avoidance, a mix of that and circumstance) though, of course, I'm less likely to take risks and try to minimize aggravating situations (not the easiest of things).

It's not all bad, I learned some ninja wheelchair skillz and I had the best Halloween fancy dress ever. Are those stitches real? They certainly are, my dear.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Jaded on 16 October, 2018, 03:55:45 pm
I'd recommend EMDR, in the way that anyone who has had successful treatment recommends that treatment.

Happy to converse by PM about it, as my counsellor had views about how it should be done.

Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Rupert on 24 January, 2019, 11:55:59 am
Just noticed this thread while doing a search as I have recently been knocked off my bike.  In fact I collided with a car that had suddenly turned right across my path.  Plenty of help from passing people and they did a brilliant job.  Police and ambulance were called and arrived swiftly.  I thought that I had broken my lower arm but x-rays revealed bruising instead so that was good.  No damage to my bike and not too much to the car either.  However, i was told to contact one of those no win no fee injury solicitors which i now have.

My main concern now is will I actually get any compensation and was it really worth my trouble in contacting a company like these especially as I have very few injuries and that the bike has not sustained any damage.  Solicitors fees are huge and although they will obviously recover these, will there be anything left for me?

I dont want to make any money out of it really although I did lose my baselayer jersey which had to be cut off by the paramedic and a brand new pair of gloves ended with a big hole in them.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Little Jim on 24 January, 2019, 12:18:36 pm
Sorry to hear about your "off", but good news that you are OK.

A friend of mine had a similar incident quite a few years ago.  In his case a car turned right onto the main road that he was cycling along and hit him from the side.  The rear wheel got buckled and he was bruised on his arm and leg.  The driver did stop but was of the opinion that while it was his fault it wouldn't have happened if my mate hadn't been there and so on.  It was this attitude that made my mate seek compensation, just so that it was on his insurance record.  He used no-win-no-fee solicitors and it was all pretty easy.  The insurance company wrote the bike off and paid for a new one on the basis that there could have been underlying damage (hardly likely given the very low speed involved) and paid compensation for his injuries.  This did involve going to see a doctor appointed by the insurance company and showing him his arm and leg that had been bruised 3 months earlier  :facepalm:  It all took quite a while to sort out but was relatively easy, he got a new bike and some cash out of it and the driver got a claim on his record.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: rafletcher on 24 January, 2019, 12:29:30 pm
Get some timestamped photos of the bruising just in case (or use the kidnappers trick of a dated publication as background  ;))
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: ElyDave on 25 January, 2019, 09:29:31 am
Sadly, the anxiety never goes entirely, but it can become manageable.

Absolutely,  I'm back on the bike hoping to do the last of the ACME winter series having been knocked off the weekend before the first of them.  I was sideswiped at a roundabout, car from the left just did not stop. Seven weeks later someone pulled out from my left while I was in the car. Cue massive swerve and relatively minor damage to the Land Rover, no further injuries.

I think I'm processing both reasonably well, apart from being fucked off with continuing back pain, but I am nervous and reactive around junctions and roundabouts when half the population seem to think the right approach is to come screaming up to them and slam on the anchors at the last minute.

Reading this, I'm coming to the view of even with no obvious damage to frame, should I be pushing for a total replacement rather than just front triangle and some accessories?
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 07 June, 2019, 03:43:50 pm
I've spent a lot of time with my consultant since September '16. Finally got my porcelain crowns on my implants.

Finished EMDR, intrusive images and compulsion to blurt out the details of the crash have gone and stayed gone.

To anyone else who has the misfortune to get their face smashed up in an RTA, it can take a really long time to feel fixed. Finally, I feel like I'm there. I'm thinking ICBA with plastic surgery to fix the scars hidden by my beard.

Top tip, no matter how hard you are training, choosing bone harvesting from your face whilst under local anesthetic is a terrible idea. Get it from your legs, even if it sets your training back!(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190607/8042c554fc891d0e06387f57e2375aff.jpg)

Sent from my LLD-L31 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Hot Flatus on 07 June, 2019, 03:46:12 pm
 Well that is great news. Really happy to read this.  :thumbsup: :)
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: simonp on 07 June, 2019, 03:48:16 pm
 :thumbsup:

Great to see.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Jurek on 07 June, 2019, 03:55:37 pm
Good news. Dr. M.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: tonyh on 07 June, 2019, 04:08:12 pm
Yes indeed!
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: caerau on 07 June, 2019, 04:20:35 pm
Outstanding!  Very pleased to read this indeed - has been a long road indeed - very glad to see a happy ending.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: hellymedic on 07 June, 2019, 04:59:06 pm
Great to see this!

I don't think I'd bother with plastic surgery if I had a bear that hid things either!
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Kim on 07 June, 2019, 05:53:36 pm
TBAGO

Great news, DrMekon   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Chris S on 07 June, 2019, 05:54:32 pm
Top News there, Prof. Really great to read this.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: perpetual dan on 07 June, 2019, 06:13:29 pm
Plus 1 on the being pleased for you.

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Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Jaded on 07 June, 2019, 06:43:38 pm
Excellent! And glad to hear that EMDR worked well.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: hellymedic on 07 June, 2019, 06:50:19 pm
TBAGO

Great news, DrMekon   :thumbsup:

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 07 June, 2019, 07:09:24 pm
Looking good, sounding healed!
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 07 June, 2019, 07:29:51 pm
Excellent! And glad to hear that EMDR worked well.

Yes, as a psych with 18 years of causal modelling under my belt, I was sceptical, but it was freakishly effective. I wouldn't want to say whether it would work for more complex trauma (eg I am working in the area of reducing restraint among children and young people in mental health settings ATM, and I'm not certain it would work given the longstanding and complex nature of their trauma), but it was crazy effective for me. I think we spent more time chatting about how EMDR would work and setting up a safe space for me than actually doing the EMDR. I reckon it was just two <1hr sessions. and really it worked after 1. That cleared up persistent intrusive images immediately, and with that went the compulsive retelling. Amazing.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Jaded on 07 June, 2019, 08:15:28 pm
I had EMDR treatment over about 18 months, using a variety of techniques, with the Knight Rider lights being the last and most powerful. Safe space, I understand, yes. My counsellor dealt with traumas like mine, but also abuse and other causes. Sadly she has died, as I'd have recommended her to a number of people.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Paul on 08 June, 2019, 12:49:05 am
It's almost 3 years since those first, horrible posts. I'm so glad you're so recovered.

Who's the guy in the photo with you?
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: tom_e on 08 June, 2019, 07:10:25 am
That's great, looking confident.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 08 June, 2019, 12:22:29 pm
It's almost 3 years since those first, horrible posts. I'm so glad you're so recovered.

Who's the guy in the photo with you?
Dr Shash Bhakta. He's a consultant restorative dentistry a Leeds Dental Institute. He did all my surgery after the initial surgery on the day of the accident.

His PhD is in managing bone loss following trauma, so I feel very lucky to have had him looking after me. At every stage, it seemed like good enough wasn't good enough for him. I recall early on I told him how sad I was to have lost my smile. He grinned and said he'd make me look beautiful.

I'm very grateful to him and the whole team at LDI.

Sent from my LLD-L31 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: ElyDave on 16 June, 2019, 09:02:24 am
Great news DrM, looking good.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Phil W on 16 June, 2019, 06:02:21 pm
Great news, the beard suits you.

Last few weeks I've been watching Surgeons: Edge of Life and am frankly astonished at what they are able to do at the cutting edge.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 06 September, 2021, 10:52:11 am
Just going back through all my old records about this - court case this week. All being done via MS Teams. Can't talk about it now, but definitely have some experiences to share for anyone else who finds themselves in this situation.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: citoyen on 06 September, 2021, 11:43:15 am
Good luck, Dr M, hope you get the outcome you deserve.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Paul on 06 September, 2021, 02:53:52 pm
That’s disappointing, but these things sometimes have to go in front of a judge.

I hope it’s a fair hearing.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: barakta on 06 September, 2021, 10:13:36 pm
I hope all goes as well as these things can and you can talk more freely soon and get best possible outcome. MS Teams is less bad than the court's own video system which is atrocious.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 09 September, 2021, 12:56:21 pm
The claim failed. These are my immediate impressions.

The judge said it was 80% my fault. The circumstance was that I was travelling with traffic from an ASL towards a cycle lane through a crossroad when the car next to me braked, and apparently flashed the driver attempting to turn, which then hit me at the side of my front wheel as I rode through the junction. The judge said it would be a "counsel of perfection" to expect the driver turning across the path of traffic to take account of the likelihood of unsighted cyclists and motorcyclists emerging (even at the speed I was travelling which was accepted as between 7 and 13mph). I should have perceived the car slowing beside me as a warning to expect danger and adjusted accordingly.

The judge refused my barrister permission to appeal the finding of fault on the grounds that it represented the same counsel of perfection to me when I had the right of way and was in the main flow of traffic on the main road.

My solicitor is waiting to hear from the barrister, but his first impression was that it sounded like a "very harsh decision"

I don't find this unbelievable. I have pretty much entirely given up cycling in favour of running since completing LEL2017. There's no joy in cycling alone for me anymore. The infrastructure and attitudes, both generally and as I see in the judge's finding, convey a sense that the risk in the environment is all on me. That risk resulted in significant consequences for me, and the rewards don't justify exposing myself to them.

I came away with useful experience from the court. I think cyclists could do with a repository of those experiences of court so they can be prepared - my solicitor was good, but there were things I would do differently in preparing, and in the submission.

This was the judge - https://3newsquare.co.uk/barristers/geoffrey-pritchard/
This was my barrister - https://www.orielchambers.co.uk/barrister/deirdre-purcell
This was the defendent's barrister - https://www.12kbw.co.uk/barristers/lois-aldred/

My solicitor was  Aidan at Bikeline - https://www.bikeline.co.uk/content/about-us
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: arabella on 09 September, 2021, 01:50:04 pm
Sympathies. That doesn't make comfortable reading.

I'm wondering whether, had you been a motorist in a lane of motor traffic when the vehicle in the lane (presumably) outside you had slowed down, there would still have been the expectation that because the driver in the inside lane had slowed down then you in your motor car should take this as a warning to expect danger and adjusted accordingly?
And is it really reasonable to think that a car to your outside is slowing down to let somebody through (regardless of anyone being on their inside) as opposed to car to your outside slowing down because it is turning right.  The latter is far more likely.
Is there no requirement that if you are crossing 2 lanes of traffic you need to be sure they are both clear rather than just the lane nearest to you?????

But I'm not sure exactly what the junction looked like so the above mayn't be relevant.
Your experience doesn't exactly recommend the use of cycle lanes to me if I am going to have to assume that anything outside of me slowing down means I should slow down etc..  I may as well stick to the main carriageway.

The judge's comments could just about make sense if you were filtering on the inside rather than having your own lane. 
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: citoyen on 09 September, 2021, 01:59:18 pm
I'm appalled and angry on your behalf, DrM, but not entirely surprised. Yet another case of a judge needing to be introduced to the clue bat.

Is there no requirement that if you are crossing 2 lanes of traffic you need to be sure they are both clear rather than just the lane nearest to you?????

Exactly this.

The onus is surely on the turning driver to ensure the way ahead is clear, not just take it on trust that it's clear because another driver has flashed him through? I'm sure that's what I was taught when learning to drive - you don't pull out just because someone else has flashed you.

If you accept what the judge says as true, the driver doing the flashing then becomes culpable for indicating the road was clear when it wasn't - the flashing driver should have been aware of your presence.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DuncanM on 09 September, 2021, 02:13:44 pm
So riding in a straight line in the carriageway and getting hit by someone turning across the lane is 80% your fault.  ::-) So says a specialist in intellectual property law.  :-X
Commiserations on the ruling.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: nuttycyclist on 09 September, 2021, 02:54:41 pm
...
The judge said it was 80% my fault. The circumstance was that I was travelling with traffic from an ASL towards a cycle lane through a crossroad when the car next to me braked, and apparently flashed the driver attempting to turn, which then hit me at the side of my front wheel as I rode through the junction. The judge said it would be a "counsel of perfection" to expect the driver turning across the path of traffic to take account of the likelihood of unsighted cyclists and motorcyclists emerging (even at the speed I was travelling which was accepted as between 7 and 13mph). I should have perceived the car slowing beside me as a warning to expect danger and adjusted accordingly.

....

Commiserations.

This is one of the reasons I have a detest and hatred of cycle lanes and cycle infrastructure.  It puts the cyclist at risk.   I have been lucky more than once when I was riding past the stationary traffic in the cycle lane and a car pulled through the queue to turn right (as I understand your situation was).  The driver I was passing hit the horn and both I and the turning driver reacted - missing each other by inches.  Had the cycle lane not been there then the cars would have been nearer the kerb and I'd have been overtaking with the motorbikes in complete safety.  I only took the cycle lane as there wasn't enough room in the centre of the road due to the cycle lane >:( >:( >:( >:(

I have also been in court once after a car on the wrong side of the road (passing parked vehicles) hit me head on, and that case was also dismissed as not the driver's fault.

Bottom line is that if we cycle, we have no rights and the magistrates/judges will always side by the motorist.  I swore after that court ruling that I'd not bother reporting any accident again or relying on the justice system.   If the driver damages their vehicle driving into me, hard cheese.

Your case differs from mine in that you had serious injuries and family issues, and long term issues (worst I've had is a damaged bike, and a long standing injury that still pains me when I stupidly used a cycle path), so I really feel sorry for you that this case also collapsed.


The bit I've put in bold is on purpose.   Flashing of headlights is a "warning" and not the accepted norm of being courteous.  So if one driver flashed and the other moved, that's in contradiction to the highway code so how on earth could it be 80% your fault?

I am not telling you what to do, but I'd be appealing.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: matthew on 09 September, 2021, 02:56:47 pm
I'm appalled and angry on your behalf, DrM, but not entirely surprised. Yet another case of a judge needing to be introduced to the clue bat.

Is there no requirement that if you are crossing 2 lanes of traffic you need to be sure they are both clear rather than just the lane nearest to you?????

Exactly this.

The onus is surely on the turning driver to ensure the way ahead is clear, not just take it on trust that it's clear because another driver has flashed him through? I'm sure that's what I was taught when learning to drive - you don't pull out just because someone else has flashed you.

If you accept what the judge says as true, the driver doing the flashing then becomes culpable for indicating the road was clear when it wasn't - the flashing driver should have been aware of your presence.

I'm equally appalled, that judge needs to be introduced to Highway code rule 211:

Quote
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/road-users-requiring-extra-care-204-to-225 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/road-users-requiring-extra-care-204-to-225)

It is often difficult to see motorcyclists and cyclists, especially when they are coming up from behind, coming out of junctions, at roundabouts, overtaking you or filtering through traffic. Always look out for them before you emerge from a junction; they could be approaching faster than you think. When turning right across a line of slow-moving or stationary traffic, look out for cyclists or motorcyclists on the inside of the traffic you are crossing. Be especially careful when turning, and when changing direction or lane. Be sure to check mirrors and blind spots carefully.


my bold, if it is a council of perfection then it is one given by the highway code and therefore the standard of driving that all road users should aspire to. If a Judge is going to dismiss the guidance of the highway code why has it been written.  ???
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: nuttycyclist on 09 September, 2021, 03:21:41 pm
Hypothetical question:

If a driver is waiting at a junction and then pulls out in front of a car which is indicating left to take that junction, but isn't actually turning as they have left their indicator on, is it the fault of the driver who is incorrectly indicating, or the driver who has pulled out into moving traffic based on a signal from a flashing light?   (I never pull out until the vehicle has started turning, even if that compromises my ability to take the gap and pull out.)




I am extremely angry on DrMekon behalf.    This sucks.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: matthew on 09 September, 2021, 03:26:11 pm
Nutty this is again covered in the highway code where you are specifically advised

Rule 170
Take extra care at junctions. You should
...
not assume, when waiting at a junction, that a vehicle coming from the right and signalling left will actually turn. Wait and make sure
...

Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: hatler on 09 September, 2021, 03:53:56 pm
Would it be worth contacting the CDF (Cyclists' Defence Fund) ?

This is atrocious, and a complete mis-reading of the law and the HC.

Judge is a nincompoop.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 09 September, 2021, 04:29:48 pm
Would it be worth contacting the CDF (Cyclists' Defence Fund) ?

This is atrocious, and a complete mis-reading of the law and the HC.

Judge is a nincompoop.
That is my thought.

Need precedence where a car has been hit when someone turned across traffic in similar circumstances.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: citoyen on 09 September, 2021, 04:44:03 pm
Hypothetical question:

If a driver is waiting at a junction and then pulls out in front of a car which is indicating left to take that junction, but isn't actually turning as they have left their indicator on, is it the fault of the driver who is incorrectly indicating, or the driver who has pulled out into moving traffic based on a signal from a flashing light?   (I never pull out until the vehicle has started turning, even if that compromises my ability to take the gap and pull out.)

Same principle - signals are never to be taken as definitive, whether it's an indicator light or someone flashing you. You are always responsible for ensuring the way ahead is safe for you to proceed, regardless of any signals made by other road users.

I'm exactly the same as you when turning right out of side roads - wait until it's absolutely clear the approaching driver really is turning before assuming it's safe to pull out.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: hatler on 09 September, 2021, 04:50:30 pm
As my dad always used to quiz me : -
Q  "What does that indicator flashing mean?"
A  "It means the bulb works."
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: ian on 09 September, 2021, 05:10:27 pm
Many, many, many years ago in a land far, far, far away I was in a serious accident that had legal repercussions. The upshot was while everyone was clear that it wasn't technically my fault (I hadn't cycled backwards at 60mph into the front of a slow-moving car, after all), had I done a, b, and c through z, it wouldn't have happened would it?

Sadly, not much has changed. It's still that terrible logic that says yes, he shouldn't have hit you in the face, but then but you were nagging him, love.

This will continue while there's no real concept of a hierarchy of vulnerability and a higher duty of care applies to the top than the bottom and that all parties aren't somehow always equal.

One of the reasons I don't cycle very much on the roads is simply that I know I have no protection from the police or the legal system. If someone knocks me off, either accidentally or on purpose, I have zero faith anything at all will be done and that it somehow be a fate that I invited. It's an atrocious situation.

ETA: it wasn't an accident, of course. How easily we slip into this discourse.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: nuttycyclist on 09 September, 2021, 05:59:08 pm
to both responders to my hypothetical question, you are correct and hence why I stated that I'd wait.  However in context of how I understand the thread the opposite occurred here in that the OP was going straight ahead, another driver "flashed/indicated" and a turning driver pulled across a moving traffic lane.

If it wasn't a moving lane, or I have misunderstood,  I stand corrected.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: citoyen on 09 September, 2021, 06:34:44 pm
to both responders to my hypothetical question, you are correct and hence why I stated that I'd wait.  However in context of how I understand the thread the opposite occurred here in that the OP was going straight ahead, another driver "flashed/indicated" and a turning driver pulled across a moving traffic lane.

In either case, the principle is that you never take signals made by other road users on trust. You are always responsible for your own actions.

I've had drivers take umbrage with me because they've flashed to give way and I refused to move, because I didn't consider it safe to proceed, or wasn't 100% confident that it was safe. But I'd always rather piss them off than knock a cyclist off his bike who I didn't see.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Deano on 09 September, 2021, 07:33:09 pm
Ah that's shit, DrM. They really are holding you to a higher standard than the driver. Hope you appeal, but I'd understand of not.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: fruitcake on 09 September, 2021, 07:45:31 pm
DrM, here's a virtual hug. You've had a stressful and disappointing time and I imagine you feel exhausted right now. Look after yourself over the next few days. Eat well, get some rest, do the things that make you feel grounded and calm. Take care of yourself.

Unquestionably, it is the responsibility of a car driver to check that the road is clear at a juncttion, regardless of whether he has been flashed by another car driver.

You could seek advice from CDF (Cyclists' Defence Fund) which is administrated by CyclingUK (the organisation formerly known as CTC). You'll find an email address on how to get in touch with them at this link:
https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/changes-cyclists-defence-fund (https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/changes-cyclists-defence-fund)

If you contact them by email, you might point to your post upthread (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=99501.msg2657279#msg2657279) to save yourself having to type out your story again.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: handcyclist on 09 September, 2021, 08:19:38 pm
This is an outrageous verdict.

If the CDF won't fund your appeal Dr M, I'll happily contribute to crowdfunding.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: Paul H on 09 September, 2021, 08:50:15 pm
That's shocking, on the face of it it appears to be a simple case, but then the other side considered it worth going to court so maybe they felt otherwise.  I thought such cases were based on what was reasonable, the idea that it isn't reasonable to cycle along a cycle lane, it's just absurd.
The grounds for appeal seem logical, is that denial the end of it?  I do hope not, you seem to be getting good legal support, maybe they will find a way to pursue it.
Good luck and look after yourself, this must feel like another assault, it's hard to imagine that, insult to injury.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: fd3 on 09 September, 2021, 11:14:05 pm
So sorry to hear this.  If you have the spoons for it, please contact the CDF.

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: DrMekon on 16 September, 2021, 03:55:18 pm
Thanks to everyone for the kind words. I've found the verdict very hard to swallow. I'll consider approaching the CDF carefully, but it's taken quite a toll on me emotionally and practically.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: nuttycyclist on 16 September, 2021, 04:12:51 pm
I can understand that.

<hugs>
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: ian on 16 September, 2021, 05:33:20 pm
I confess that even after my incident, even with the promise of a potentially large payout, I called it a day and decided to move on with my life, it would have been another couple of years of legal wrangling and I didn't have the heart for it. Don't feel bad if you don't either, fair or not sometimes it is the reasonable option to accept things as they are and take the opportunity to move on.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: fruitcake on 16 September, 2021, 05:35:44 pm
Just to add to my previous post, here is the description of the Cyclists' Defence Fund mission from the organisation's own website:

Quote
The Cyclists’ Defence Fund helps fight significant legal cases involving cyclists and cycling, especially those which could set important precedents for the future and could affect the safety of all cyclists. Over time, its remit has expended to cover all aspects of cycling and the law. It is funded through donations.

I realise I previously linked to a news article about CDF's relationship with CyclingUK, so here is the main page for CDF:
https://www.cyclinguk.org/campaign/cyclists-defence-fund (https://www.cyclinguk.org/campaign/cyclists-defence-fund)
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: fruitcake on 16 September, 2021, 06:42:56 pm
I should also add I think you've done really well since the collision. Recovery has taken resilience and patience.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190607/8042c554fc891d0e06387f57e2375aff.jpg)

I really like the pic of you from 2018. Big smile from me when I saw this.
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: sojournermike on 16 September, 2021, 07:42:32 pm
DrM - really sorry to hear this. Take your time and make your own clear choice of any next action. You’ve been through too much and this is just adding more.

I completely understand your move to running. It’s a shame that the world leaves any of us feeling that there are things we can’t do because we have no protection, but completely understand how you feel.

Thinking of you of course

Mike
Title: Re: Knocked off - tell me what I need to do
Post by: perpetual dan on 16 September, 2021, 07:58:55 pm
I’d missed the update last week, but want to +1 the outrage and best wishes in dealing with the stress and result.