3) heading to prompt care after police report. Then maybe we'll buy a helmet. Or maybe just a second car.
courtney Thursday, August 7, 2008
4) On a bike in a bike lane. Hit by a public works giant truck. Flew thru air. Lost hearing temporarily. Shoulder is f'ed up. Lots of scrapes. A little blood.
7) Jeez! And you thought to blog about before going to the doctor? Good boy, Dave! And great, another lawsuit for the city! I can hear the Humzoo expansion plans already. Hopefully SallyPants won't hear about this because she may never ride her bike again. On a serious note, hopefully it's nothing too serious. I'll be watching for updates.
8) still waiting for police to finish. All grandparents out of town. Gonna have to take kids to doctor with us. God help us.
courtney Thursday, August 7, 2008
9) Wish I could return the favor for you guys, but alas I'm at work.. Let me know if I can help. I can take a lunch hour and bring you guys some lunch if need be. I'm sure your kids will be chewing their arms off at 11 am.
10) I took the call at work and was impressed when Dave told me he had already posted a blog. I was joking when I told him that I expected a blog up by lunchtime.
13) My boss is gone today. I guess you could drop the kids off at my work and I could lock them in the server room. There's no way they could break 200 servers by the time your done, right?
14) courtney is driving me to prompt care now. Right shoulder is bad. I'm seriously lucky to be walking. Head is bleeding a little - not bad. The cop ticketed the cwlp truck driver even though I asked him not to. It was just an unfortunate accident and the driver never even saw me. I was in the bike lane next to the truck and didn't see a turn signal and had no idea he was turning across the bike lane. I took a couple pics but will have to wait till I get to a computer.
15) Say what???? You are saying it is not the driver's fault??? Dave - you are on a bike - he is drivinga truck - he has a responsibility to be on the look out. I agree that you do also - but I would have to think that the majority of the responsibility lies with the person driving the motorized vehicle
18) I agree with Justmeg - Bike lane means bikes, right?
Hope you get a good report from dr. You are mighty lucky indeed!
Get ready to be more than a little sore~
D Thursday, August 7, 2008
19) 1st of all, I'm glad your injuries weren't any more serious, Dave. Good luck with the kids at the Dr.
Meg, yes the drivers of motorized vehicles should be alert to bicyclists and pedestrians, but the reality is that they aren't. I was carless for a couple years and rode my bike to work down 6 miles of busy roads on good-weather days. Even though there was a marked bike lane on most of my route, cars would only be looking for other cars.
I don't think it was Dave's fault that he got hit, but I do remember being in similar close calls when I was on my bike. If you're on a bike, you have to be the one looking out for yourself. Sadly, most drivers don't like to share the road.
22) Sounds like from his description that he was out of sight for the driver. I'm not arguing the driver shouldn't be aware and was (or not) but having driven in Portland with all the bikers and pedestrians, it's not easy watching everything AND the lights AND the traffic as well. Maybe Dave was in the blind spot and it sounds like Dave didn't see the turn signal on the truck until too late. I think he is being very gracious about it all and I hope the driver will take the accident to heart and be even more diligent in watching for bikers. But, on the other hand, I've seen some bikers who need to be more careful too. In the last week I saw 4-5 of them run a red light with traffic coming the opposite direction or their view of oncoming traffic blocked. Both bikers AND drivers need to be responsible and share the road and obey all signals and signs.
Dave, is this like the President when he is shot--do you have to sign something to relinquish power of Humzoo to Denny during your time of incapacity?
Glad to hear you are ok...but it sounds like you still have a ways to go to be "all right". Please take care of yourself and get better soon!
27) For the purposes of having the city's insurance cover your medical bills, you're better off with the driver being ticketed. It also puts you in position for a multi-million dollar lawsuit if you can prove that Gus Gordon paid the driver to take you out.
Dan at BFS Thursday, August 7, 2008
28) technically it's express care. They are usually faster than prompt care. Not today. Still here. Might have broken right clavicle. Kids are driving me nuts and are probably covered in germs.
cpurtney Thursday, August 7, 2008
29) I am not far from prompt care-if you trust me enough-id be glad to take the kids!
31) OUCH! They don't do anything for a clavicle break do they? Maybe put him in a sling and give him some pain killers? I hope everything is okay. Losing the hearing temporarily is kind of a scary thing. Are they going to check out his brain?
37) Here's the funny thing about blogging, I wanted to offer to help in some way, yet you don't know me. I feel like I know you guys though. I'm seriously driving by there in about an hour to head home for lunch. Want a perfect stranger to drop off some lunch for you and the kids?
Hope Dave is alright. That little Walgreens in there has a few snacks and drinks in case you don't accept food from strangers. (lol)
-Brett
P.S. Any chance he will post a video of the crash?
40) I'm with Dave and LGrant in terms of the accident being just that. I have cycled tons, and in London. Cyclists are nimble, elusive and stealthy. It is hard enough to spot them when you're driving a car, let alone a honking truck. I had a very similar close shave once when a large truck overtook me and then turned left (think driving on the left here) across my path of travel. Although it was indicating left, it had pulled to the right lane as if it was going to turn right. At the time I didn't realise that it was doing that so it could make the turn and I shot across its bow and to this day, I'm amazed I wasn't killed because it must have missed my by inches. The driver probably had a heart attack and if he'd hit me it would have been a total accident.
Sometimes these things just happen.
I would offer my wife as babysitter but she is on her way to St Louis today to pick up some Germans.
41) out of clinic. CT scan looked good. X-rays revealed no broken bones, although my right shoulder is in a lot of pain and cannot move much. They told me to take the next couple days off work, but I'm heading back to work now. Too bad it's my right arm.
52) Dave's as hard as nails. I've tried hitting him over the head with heavy objects and he hardly notices......just waves his hand as if there is a fly bothering him.
54) I'm so sorry to hear about your accident Dave! It sounds like you took quite a fall, I'm glad your head is ok. You don't wear a helmet!! You gotta wear a helmet!
I hope you' feel better, really soon. You might have torn the rotator cuff in your shoulder, a friend of mine had that happen when she was in an accident. We'll be keeping you in our thoughts here in SoCal!
56) Geez dude, that's scary stuff. I'm glad you're not worse off than you are. You are one lucky bastard. And I'm going to go into MOM MODE here but please wear a helmet if you don't already. I know you don't want to muss up that perfectly tousled i-look-like-I-just-woke-up-but-really-i-spent-an-hour-putting-gel-in-my-hair style, but it won't look so good on a corpse.
BTW, I think it's pretty cool how people in the area stepped forward to offer help in various ways. Humzoo - bringing communities together since 2008.
58) Ok- if you insist - back to work today but tomorrow when you are really sore---Go Buy A Helmet! Really gald you are ok with no broken bones and still a brain.
D Thursday, August 7, 2008
59) Now Dave, I did not want to give the helmet speech but I feel it is a must. Ever since my best friend died Sophomore year (Dani Allen), I have feared bicycles just as I have motorcycles etc. My children are probably being deprived because they are not allowed to ride their bikes unless they are suited up in their helmets, knee and elbow guards.
Just remember, serious accidents and fatalities occur on bicycles. You travel during commute times and have to deal with a large amount of traffic. Please consider wearing a helmet.
60) Am back at work and feeling great! I think I might jog home.
Kidding aside, I'm doing ok. My right shoulder is in a lot of pain and has very limited range of motion, although is not broken. I have road rash in a few spots that will feel great in the shower. My bleeding scalp isn't bleeding anymore. I still have not regained complete hearing out of my left ear though, but the doctor thinks it's either displaced wax or fluids in there that will work itself out. My lower back is a sore, and my right foot hurts a little. My right elbow has seen better days, but it'll be ok.
I will download pics from my iPhone and post them above in the blog in just a minute. Thanks to everyone for the offers to help. Fortunately my parents left me a car when they went on vacation, so I will be driving myself around until I can get back on the bike (which needs a little work due to an out-of-round back wheel).
61) I have a short movie of Dave's triumphant return to work....I'll post this evening for your viewing pleasure.
Actually its not too exciting, I just thought it would be good for the Humzoo archive.
62) Glad to hear nothing is broken and the CT scan came back ok. I really can't believe you went to work though, I took days off of work for less than that!
It was on Stanford Ave just East of 6th Street (kinda by Birds & Brooks and Chantilly Lace). There's a big red warehouse there by the train tracks, and it was right in front of that warehouse (which I now know is owned and operated by CWLP).
66) I guess I should elaborate on exactly what happened. There is a bike lane all the way down Stanford, which is why I take that road. I had crossed 5th street and was coming up on a red light on 6th street, which turned green. At the front of the right lane of traffic (on my immediate left) was a big red CWLP truck waiting to go straight. They proceeded to go before I caught up to them, and it would have been unlikely that they would have seen me approaching.
Right after the intersection is a big gravel parking lot and a red warehouse on the right. The CWLP truck never went that fast from the intersection, and I was planning on passing them on the right in the bike lane. MOST cars in that right lane merge left, as the right lane ends shortly after the intersection, so I assumed the red truck would do the same.
The truck slowed a little as I came right along side of it, and right when I was about to pass the front passenger side of the truck, I saw the wheel turn to the right. There was an entry there to get into the gravel parking lot. I turned right as well, hoping to skirt around the truck, as I had no way of stopping in time. It all happened really fast, and I was cruising at about 17 mph.
Next thing I know the truck clipped me and I'm on the ground. I remember how hard the impact on the ground was, but luckily your body tends to black those things out as it's happening.
I stood up right away, feeling shaken but not injured. The driver and his coworker (in the passenger seat) got out and asked if I was alright. They were very nice and talked to me for a long time making sure I was ok. They called their supervisor, and the police were called in that time as well. This is when I got out my iPhone and started the blog.
I called Courtney to come pick me up, and she and the cop showed up at the same time.
There was a bit of a wait while all the paperwork was being filled out, but I was becoming more and more aware of my injuries. Bleeding scalp. Right shoulder wouldn't move. Lower back was skinned up. Couldn't hear out of my left ear much at all.
The cop gave the CWLP driver a ticket, although I really don't think that guy could have seen me if he tried. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I don't think the truck did much damage to me. They just knocked out the back wheel which sent me airborne. My speed plus the gravel is what did me in.
Will I wear a helmet next time? Maybe. Courtney will insist on it I know, and it might not be a fight I want to fight. But my shoulder is the worst, and my head is really ok. It could have been a lot worse though, and I'm lucky to be back at work so soon.
68) Dave Heinzel, wear a helmet! My nephew was hit by a truck last year, and though he survived a severe brain injury (enough for neurosurgeons to remove his front plate [forehead] to allow the brain to swell out and heal) and beat the odds of a 10% chance of survival, he will never be the same. If you don't do it to protect your own head, do it for Ethan and Mia...
Glad you're doing OK - keep us posted as you heal, and don't overdo it, please!
69) My missus always makes me wear a helmet when i bike even though I protest that cycling is far safer in this country. Well....perhaps not but it seems less scary.
70) Oye! I have a feeling you'll be sore all over soon, I'm just worried about what won't heal on its on. Take it really easy for the next couple days.
The Humzoo community thing is great, but now we all know you don't wear a helment and we'll probably all jump your bones until you do. You'll probably never hear the end of the helmet thing, until we all get photographic proof of said safety device. Courtney is very correct to insist!
I've never heard of prompt care, I've heard of urgent care... maybe they're the same thing. Meanwhile, I'm contemplating dusting off my Joy of Cooking and making some baked goods for you all. Although I'm pretty sure whatever I make wouldn't compare to LGrant. ;-)
Have I told the story of my bike trauma? When I was a kid I had a bad year where I got run over (literally), knocked off my bike into a stinking waterlogged gutter, and kicked by a horse. Man, its a wonder I survived childhood.
71) Lionheart - I would never pass up an opportunity to receive baked goods, no matter how many times zones they have to travel through. If I have to go back out there and receive an actual broken bone, so be it.
74) Jeez Dave! I'm glad you're ok!! I'm wearing my horse helmet now, so you have to wear your bike helmet. We can both look like a dork. GOSH. FRICKIN IDIOT.
75) Ericka, I bring up Dani almost every time I tell Dave to wear a helmet. The whole family is getting helmets this weekend. And we'll never take them off. Also, I'm going to get Dave a big orange flag to put on the back of his bike.
Dave, we very nearly had a second trip the Express Care/ER about an hour ago. I rammed the inside tip of my kneecap into the edge of our bed. The bad kneecap. The one that dislocates if the wind blows too hard. It was awesome.
Thanks to everyone for all the offers of help! The kids were really well behaved considering their age and the fact that they were cooped up for so long. So, I treated them to Happy Meals and playtime at Southern View Park after we dropped Dave off.
76) Yeah, that is a really bad intersection. I’m glad that you managed to walk away unscathed for the most part. Your mother always told you to wear protection! It applies here too!! Haha
78) Courtney sent me a link to an awesome bike safety page. This has a ton of good tips, and I was violating a few common sense rules that I wasn't even aware of. Check it out if you ever ride a bike in town: http://bicyclesafe.com/
83) Totally is! Also there's some stuff outside of our garage (on the right). I can't tell for sure, but that might be a box that I was using to spray paint a cabinet door. It was in the morning for sure, and our blue garbage bin is out (which we got rid of a couple months ago). So I think it was a Thursday morning, probably between 7:30 and 9:00. I'll get more precise - just you wait :)
85) Really glad you are ok so far but Courtney needs to keep you awake to be sure.....The mention of the torn rotator cuff is something to pay attention to. Its all been said but being a mom, grandmom and a RN I just have to say ditto to all the comments about helmets and safety.I imangine they gave you instructions but be sure and take lots of (Motrin or Alleve)with food.
86) I discovered that street view deal when I was getting some driving directions recently....how they heck did they do that? Is somebody driving around taking 360 degree photos of every street?
92) Don't they recommend you wearing bells on your person? Oh, wait, that's for grizzly bears. Trucks probably wouldn't hear the bells.
I checked your blog first to see if you were still alive and made it. Well, after I checked my own site for comments and told KT how to ship a cake. But, I swear after that your blog was next!
I've been in a couple of tame fender-bender car accidents and they were scary and I felt aches and some shock as the day went along more than right after when your system is keeping you insulated from it all. And that was with a big car body to protect me. Can't imagine it with a bike and so little protection. Glad you got the helmet. I was going to suggest we all boycott Humzoo until you did. I would have really missed Humzoo if I had to do that.
Take care of yourself and remember those bike safety rules next time you ride!
93) Hi Dave,
Your mom called to tell me about your accident this morning and fortunately I had not seen your story on Humzoo......I am so sorry you had to go through this today but glad to hear you will be ok....tomorrow may not be fun with the shoulder pain and jaw pain, etc....
Do hope you will listen to all the advice here and WEAR A HELMUT when you bike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You were lucky this time and we don't want anything to happen to you!!
Hope Courtney's knee is feeling better now, too!
Wish I could have been there to help with the kids!!
Love to all and feel better soon,
AJ
94) Hi Dave, Sorry Dad and I had to leave just when you needed help. I want everyone to know what a considerate son you are. Just as we were sitting down to lunch near Indianapolis, Dave called to tell us about his accident because he didn't want us to have to see it on Humzoo first.
OK, my darling son, Courtney isn't the only one who is going to lay it on big time about a helmet. You got a second chance today. What if today had been worse, much worse, and we would have had to explain to your kids several years from now that Daddy hasn't been around to help raise you because he was too stubborn to wear a helmet. What about Courtney having to raise those two precious children without your help. Not good.
As I've said before, WEAR A HELMET FOR ETHAN AND MIA AND COURTNEY. Don't they deserve that much??
97) I was wondering when Nancy would let you have it. Glad to hear you're pretty much in one piece. Ditto ditto ditto to everything everyone has said. Now the next time someone at work complains of a cold or calls in sick from a little flu you can remind them of the time you were run down by a massive utility truck and still came to work.
101) Dave, Did the doctor put you in an immobilizer for your shoulder? It will help a lot. If not you can pick up one at the drug store. And ICE!!!! The ice pack will help take down the swelling. It's especially effective the first 24 hours after an injury. Aleve (or any generic Naproxen sodium) is a good over the counter anti-inflammatory. You may need something stronger for pain...hopefully they gave you a Rx. Make an appointment for a follow up visit with an orthopedist.
I will be looking for updates on your condition. You are very lucky that you didn't land on your head.
102) My get well Haiku for Dave (who I love like a brother-in-law):
You Lucky Dummy;
Who needs a helmet? Not You!
You like feeding tubes?
Glad you're okay. Get a brain bucket.
EyePulp Thursday, August 7, 2008
103) Ames, Steve and I left on vacation yesterday morning so we were without the Internet all day (dont have iPhones!). I hated not to be there to at least help out with the kids.
I just want everyone on Humzoo to know how touched I was by all the messages of concern that poured in for Dave and by all the words of advice to help him get through this. When a mother can't be right there at a time of need, it is so nice to know that other people are willing and eager to step up to bat and help out. I would do as much for you....and I really thank you for being there for Dave.
Dave, I tried to call you last night and couldn't get an answer so I need to talk to you this morning to see how you are. Please call me. I hope you're not feeling too bad. I love you. Mom
! Friday, August 8, 2008
104) Hi Dave!
Hope you are feeling ok today. Please give us an update when you can!
Isn't it nice to know you have so many friends on Humzoo who are thinking about you and care about your well being?!??!
You are loved!
AJ
105) Thanks to everyone for the comments. I slept alright last night and woke up today feeling pretty sore, but not as bad as I thought I would. I think I'll survive. WOOT!
107) Sorry Will, I know you keep asking. I meant to reply earlier. The bike sustained minor damage, but I have not had time to evaluate exactly what's wrong. The back tire rubs against the brakes now when it spins, and I would imagine that it's out of round. I will take a closer look this weekend, and if it's beyond my simple fix-it-up abilities, I'll take it in to the shop. Also my bike told me to tell you thanks for being the only one concerned about its well being.
110) Glad to see I'm not the only one that Google's StreetView got pictures of my house with trash cans in front of it. Wish they announced their "drive-by" so I could have picked the place up a bit!
112) The official story I got from my mom, which she claims to have gotten from the ladies at work, is that you lost an arm and are deaf in one ear. Be advised that my mom is not listening 109% of the time. I'm glad you're okay-ish, and to echo everyone else - WEAR A HELMET!!!
I don't know what your power bill looks like, but there's a dash of irony in getting hit by the CWLP truck while riding your bike to work. I feel a little bit like I've been hit by a truck everytime I open my power bill too.
113) I think his first worry was the iPhone and it was, indeed, broken but he sprinted to the nearest store to buy a new one just so he could blog before going to prompt care.
114) Dave, Just checking to see how you are doing. How is your shoulder and range of motion? Has your hearing cleared, if not you need to go back and see your regular MD. What about your jaw pain? I havn't seen road rash like that since Matt (son) had a 4wheeler wreck when he was 16.Salt water really heals that up so maybe you need to tell the utility company they should pay for a week at the beach. Seriously, I hope you are doing better.
115) Thanks Dannie. I'm doing better today. Jaw doesn't hurt as much, and not much at all unless chewing tough food. Hearing in left ear is fine, although there is a slight bit of liquid or wax out of place causing a very minor "water in the ear" feeling like after you get out of the shower. It goes away if I tilt my head back and is not a discomfort. Doesn't affect hearing.
My right shoulder took the brunt of the fall, and it's going to be awhile before I have full range of motion. I cannot rotate my arm quickly, although I CAN stick my whole arm straight out and support its weight (which is an improvement over yesterday). I can't lift it up or over my head though. I'm not wearing the sling, and I'm just trying to use my arm as much as possible and not baby it too badly. I don't have the feeling that anything is seriously wrong with it, just a good ol' general ache that will likely heal itself.
I never did fill my prescription for pain killers, and I've been off ibuprofen most of today. I'm not a fan of drugs in general.
118) glad there's no breaks. hopefully you'll be back to 100% in a few weeks.
I've been hit by a car and it's scary. especially when you start to see it coming and there's nothing you can do about it. can hardly image a humugo truck coming at me.
119) I can't believe this didn't make Police Beat! I haven't been handling it this week (I'm on fair duty) or I probably would have put it in there when I saw the crash report.
Sounds like a very scary accident. I'm glad to hear you're recovering. Hang in there.
Jayette Saturday, August 9, 2008
120) I'm way late to this, but I'm glad to hear you are doing okay Dave. But for reals man I'm gonna go buy you a helmet. The world needs good people like you, not to mention Courtney and the kids! :) Glad to hear you are doing okay, stay safe and I know REI usually has online sales on their knoggin protectors.
123) it took me five whole minutes to scroll down just to put a comment here! you are sooooooo loved by all the humzoo peeps! Mom told me about it. That's a crazy story! I hope you heal quickly :)
trippygolightly Monday, August 11, 2008
124) i've been hit by a car twice while on my bike. the first time i was, get this, rear ended by an suv. yea, thats right, rear ended on a bike by a suv. i was riding, i heard a screech - which i knew couldnt be good, and then all of a sudden my bike was going faster than my body was. in other words, it went out from under me and i was rolling on the ground. basically i tucked and rolled, for real. the person stopped and got out and started yelling at me as if it were my fault. i shouldve sued her. yea, it was a woman driver, in a suv, probably on a cell phone - just stating the facts. oh, and i wasn't wearing a helmet and still dont. got some road rash, a great scar on my elbow, and of course pretty sore for a few days. second time i was riding in a bike lane, got doored by an idiot who didnt look before he opened his door. but i did flip over the front of the bike and it landed on the dudes car, which i hope really scratched up his car. basically what i'm getting at dave, is when you get hit by a car all you have to do is close your eyes and go limp and you'll be fine.
125) Geez! We heard about this a week after the fact, from Bobbie! We're chowing corn dogs at the fair and she's like "oh yeah, did you hear Dave got hit by a truck?" Remember Coreen and Kirby (aunt and uncle)??? We would have happily rescued the kids and they could have come to our house and scared the cats. Put us on speed dial - and I'll check your blog more often so we know what's going on. Glad you're OK.
Coreen & Kirby Saturday, August 16, 2008
126) I know in the midwest you look like a fool if you are wearing a helmet on a bicycle but out west you look like a complete asshole if you don't.
vikingivan Monday, August 18, 2008
127) That does it - I'm moving back to California.
128) Protect the dome. I know it was one of the hardest things I had to get used to when I moved to Utah but then It seemed to be smart. but then again we have bike paths up the yin yang and people always wear helmets. My biggest fear is a small stretch of frontage road I have to ride everyday with no shoulder . . . reminds me of Spfld. minus mountains.
vikigivan Tuesday, August 19, 2008
129) Dave
Please ignore what everyone else is saying about helmets- they are for suckas. Seriously, why do we have little wussy safety kids nowadays? Can we not build a sketchy jump with some cinder blocks and some plywood and skins some freaking knees? Man up. If the 17 year old skater version of you saw adult version wearing a helmet, he'd point and laugh and throw rocks at your nerdy ass. Be cool Dave. Don't rock the helmet. Let freedom and the liberty bell ring.
Ben, I assume this will be the lead story on the 6 o'clock newscast?
Who do I give your shares of Humzoo to? They currently owe money, but I am sure they will be glad to be part of the company right?
Sounds like you might be ok, but its important that I find out this information while you are still conscience in case things go South.
Hope you get a good report from dr. You are mighty lucky indeed!
Get ready to be more than a little sore~
Meg, yes the drivers of motorized vehicles should be alert to bicyclists and pedestrians, but the reality is that they aren't. I was carless for a couple years and rode my bike to work down 6 miles of busy roads on good-weather days. Even though there was a marked bike lane on most of my route, cars would only be looking for other cars.
I don't think it was Dave's fault that he got hit, but I do remember being in similar close calls when I was on my bike. If you're on a bike, you have to be the one looking out for yourself. Sadly, most drivers don't like to share the road.
Dave, is this like the President when he is shot--do you have to sign something to relinquish power of Humzoo to Denny during your time of incapacity?
Glad to hear you are ok...but it sounds like you still have a ways to go to be "all right". Please take care of yourself and get better soon!
Courtney - good luck with the munchkins at Prompt Care. I know how difficult that can be.
Pack a lunch.
Hope Dave is alright. That little Walgreens in there has a few snacks and drinks in case you don't accept food from strangers. (lol)
-Brett
P.S. Any chance he will post a video of the crash?
Sometimes these things just happen.
I would offer my wife as babysitter but she is on her way to St Louis today to pick up some Germans.
Hope you have a speedy recovery!
Go home and rest you dufus! You are going to be so sore tomorrow.
The meat and cheese tray is being sent to 1900.
I hope you' feel better, really soon. You might have torn the rotator cuff in your shoulder, a friend of mine had that happen when she was in an accident. We'll be keeping you in our thoughts here in SoCal!
BTW, I think it's pretty cool how people in the area stepped forward to offer help in various ways. Humzoo - bringing communities together since 2008.
Just remember, serious accidents and fatalities occur on bicycles. You travel during commute times and have to deal with a large amount of traffic. Please consider wearing a helmet.
Kidding aside, I'm doing ok. My right shoulder is in a lot of pain and has very limited range of motion, although is not broken. I have road rash in a few spots that will feel great in the shower. My bleeding scalp isn't bleeding anymore. I still have not regained complete hearing out of my left ear though, but the doctor thinks it's either displaced wax or fluids in there that will work itself out. My lower back is a sore, and my right foot hurts a little. My right elbow has seen better days, but it'll be ok.
I will download pics from my iPhone and post them above in the blog in just a minute. Thanks to everyone for the offers to help. Fortunately my parents left me a car when they went on vacation, so I will be driving myself around until I can get back on the bike (which needs a little work due to an out-of-round back wheel).
Actually its not too exciting, I just thought it would be good for the Humzoo archive.
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=39.766715,-89.647316...
It was on Stanford Ave just East of 6th Street (kinda by Birds & Brooks and Chantilly Lace). There's a big red warehouse there by the train tracks, and it was right in front of that warehouse (which I now know is owned and operated by CWLP).
Right after the intersection is a big gravel parking lot and a red warehouse on the right. The CWLP truck never went that fast from the intersection, and I was planning on passing them on the right in the bike lane. MOST cars in that right lane merge left, as the right lane ends shortly after the intersection, so I assumed the red truck would do the same.
The truck slowed a little as I came right along side of it, and right when I was about to pass the front passenger side of the truck, I saw the wheel turn to the right. There was an entry there to get into the gravel parking lot. I turned right as well, hoping to skirt around the truck, as I had no way of stopping in time. It all happened really fast, and I was cruising at about 17 mph.
Next thing I know the truck clipped me and I'm on the ground. I remember how hard the impact on the ground was, but luckily your body tends to black those things out as it's happening.
I stood up right away, feeling shaken but not injured. The driver and his coworker (in the passenger seat) got out and asked if I was alright. They were very nice and talked to me for a long time making sure I was ok. They called their supervisor, and the police were called in that time as well. This is when I got out my iPhone and started the blog.
I called Courtney to come pick me up, and she and the cop showed up at the same time.
There was a bit of a wait while all the paperwork was being filled out, but I was becoming more and more aware of my injuries. Bleeding scalp. Right shoulder wouldn't move. Lower back was skinned up. Couldn't hear out of my left ear much at all.
The cop gave the CWLP driver a ticket, although I really don't think that guy could have seen me if he tried. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I don't think the truck did much damage to me. They just knocked out the back wheel which sent me airborne. My speed plus the gravel is what did me in.
Will I wear a helmet next time? Maybe. Courtney will insist on it I know, and it might not be a fight I want to fight. But my shoulder is the worst, and my head is really ok. It could have been a lot worse though, and I'm lucky to be back at work so soon.
Glad you're doing OK - keep us posted as you heal, and don't overdo it, please!
The Humzoo community thing is great, but now we all know you don't wear a helment and we'll probably all jump your bones until you do. You'll probably never hear the end of the helmet thing, until we all get photographic proof of said safety device. Courtney is very correct to insist!
I've never heard of prompt care, I've heard of urgent care... maybe they're the same thing. Meanwhile, I'm contemplating dusting off my Joy of Cooking and making some baked goods for you all. Although I'm pretty sure whatever I make wouldn't compare to LGrant. ;-)
Have I told the story of my bike trauma? When I was a kid I had a bad year where I got run over (literally), knocked off my bike into a stinking waterlogged gutter, and kicked by a horse. Man, its a wonder I survived childhood.
Also, I have purchased a helmet and am back on the bike. See for yourself:
http://www.daveheinzel.com/helmet.jpg
Dave, we very nearly had a second trip the Express Care/ER about an hour ago. I rammed the inside tip of my kneecap into the edge of our bed. The bad kneecap. The one that dislocates if the wind blows too hard. It was awesome.
Thanks to everyone for all the offers of help! The kids were really well behaved considering their age and the fact that they were cooped up for so long. So, I treated them to Happy Meals and playtime at Southern View Park after we dropped Dave off.
http://bicyclesafe.com/
My accident was collision type #5 on that site.
And Courtney - yes, still in stinky clothes.
http://tinyurl.com/5pzzqa
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=spring...
"I'm Henry the VIII, I am..."
http://www.flickr.com/groups/googlestreetviewcar/
I checked your blog first to see if you were still alive and made it. Well, after I checked my own site for comments and told KT how to ship a cake. But, I swear after that your blog was next!
I've been in a couple of tame fender-bender car accidents and they were scary and I felt aches and some shock as the day went along more than right after when your system is keeping you insulated from it all. And that was with a big car body to protect me. Can't imagine it with a bike and so little protection. Glad you got the helmet. I was going to suggest we all boycott Humzoo until you did. I would have really missed Humzoo if I had to do that.
Take care of yourself and remember those bike safety rules next time you ride!
Your mom called to tell me about your accident this morning and fortunately I had not seen your story on Humzoo......I am so sorry you had to go through this today but glad to hear you will be ok....tomorrow may not be fun with the shoulder pain and jaw pain, etc....
Do hope you will listen to all the advice here and WEAR A HELMUT when you bike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You were lucky this time and we don't want anything to happen to you!!
Hope Courtney's knee is feeling better now, too!
Wish I could have been there to help with the kids!!
Love to all and feel better soon,
AJ
OK, my darling son, Courtney isn't the only one who is going to lay it on big time about a helmet. You got a second chance today. What if today had been worse, much worse, and we would have had to explain to your kids several years from now that Daddy hasn't been around to help raise you because he was too stubborn to wear a helmet. What about Courtney having to raise those two precious children without your help. Not good.
As I've said before, WEAR A HELMET FOR ETHAN AND MIA AND COURTNEY. Don't they deserve that much??
I'm so thankful you're sort of OK.
Dave, maybe you should invest in a 'Zorb' to get to work... !
www.zorb.com
I will be looking for updates on your condition. You are very lucky that you didn't land on your head.
You Lucky Dummy;
Who needs a helmet? Not You!
You like feeding tubes?
Glad you're okay. Get a brain bucket.
I just want everyone on Humzoo to know how touched I was by all the messages of concern that poured in for Dave and by all the words of advice to help him get through this. When a mother can't be right there at a time of need, it is so nice to know that other people are willing and eager to step up to bat and help out. I would do as much for you....and I really thank you for being there for Dave.
Dave, I tried to call you last night and couldn't get an answer so I need to talk to you this morning to see how you are. Please call me. I hope you're not feeling too bad. I love you. Mom
Hope you are feeling ok today. Please give us an update when you can!
Isn't it nice to know you have so many friends on Humzoo who are thinking about you and care about your well being?!??!
You are loved!
AJ
I don't know what your power bill looks like, but there's a dash of irony in getting hit by the CWLP truck while riding your bike to work. I feel a little bit like I've been hit by a truck everytime I open my power bill too.
My right shoulder took the brunt of the fall, and it's going to be awhile before I have full range of motion. I cannot rotate my arm quickly, although I CAN stick my whole arm straight out and support its weight (which is an improvement over yesterday). I can't lift it up or over my head though. I'm not wearing the sling, and I'm just trying to use my arm as much as possible and not baby it too badly. I don't have the feeling that anything is seriously wrong with it, just a good ol' general ache that will likely heal itself.
I never did fill my prescription for pain killers, and I've been off ibuprofen most of today. I'm not a fan of drugs in general.
I've been hit by a car and it's scary. especially when you start to see it coming and there's nothing you can do about it. can hardly image a humugo truck coming at me.
Sounds like a very scary accident. I'm glad to hear you're recovering. Hang in there.
PLEAZ TO WEAR HELMET!
Please ignore what everyone else is saying about helmets- they are for suckas. Seriously, why do we have little wussy safety kids nowadays? Can we not build a sketchy jump with some cinder blocks and some plywood and skins some freaking knees? Man up. If the 17 year old skater version of you saw adult version wearing a helmet, he'd point and laugh and throw rocks at your nerdy ass. Be cool Dave. Don't rock the helmet. Let freedom and the liberty bell ring.