Bike Collision Survivor Checks In

Mar 2010
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Hello,

I saw your post about my accident on your blog. I was the cyclist, hit on a shoulder by a swerving old, ununisured driver who appears to have been medically unfit to drive (he was on chemo).

Because of the speed of the collision (65 mph and the rate that I was cycling ~30mph) I was thrown > 220 feet. However, I somehow missed all the rocks and trees and luckily managed to hit only berry bushes (I was completely full of thorns). I suffered massive bruising over my entire body and a fracture (stable) to my C7 vertebrae (severe whiplash). It hurt a lot, but I was extremely lucky not to hit anything massive, and will survive and probably cycle again. My neck should heal without surgery, although it will be somewhat weaker for the rest of my life. While I am angry about what happened to me, I am mostly grateful that I am alive and that my injuries were not worse.

I grew up in Trinidad and attended McKinleyville High, and was there in August visiting my parents. A few years ago I moved to England, where I do have to say that the drivers are much more cautious, in part because of the rigorous standards to drive (difficult testing and your car is checked every year to verify that it is safe) and in part because the roads are more narrow. You would think that the latter would make is more dangerous, but I have noticed that Americans tend to take the "safety" of wide roads for granted, often not paying attention for seconds at a time to mess with cell phones, drinks, makeup, etc. as they swerve all over the wide roads endangering everyone around. UK drivers know that if you do that you risk killing yourself or someone else and will be help liable.

The USA may be moving in this direction, as Utah and Alaska have just passed laws that will put drivers who kill people when driving while texting in prison for up to 15 years. It's ironic that in California a non-violent person can be sent to prison for life for stealing a $2.50 pair of socks or a $0.75 can of soda (just to cite two examples of the many trivial offenses of the 3-strikes law), costing California taxpayers $50k per year for 50+ years. However, a driver can swerve all over California roads while driving (the #1 killer of Americans under 50) without any real responsibility for those killed or the massive financial damage that caused -- just really a slap on the wrist considering the real dangers posed to society.

I would be happy for this letter to be posted on your blog ... so the readers know that I am OK and what happened.

Best regards,

Rolf

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